INTERNATIONAL FIELD TO COMPETE IN 17th MANHATTAN ISLAND MARATHON SWIM ON SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1998 NEW YORK, N.Y., June 4, 1998 -- Swimmers from five countries and at least nine U.S. states will compete on Saturday, July 11 in one of the premier annual international marathon distance swim events--the 17th annual Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (MIMS). More than 20 individuals as well as several relay teams of six swimmers each will swim 28.5 miles around Manhattan. The winner receives the Gallagher Cup, named for the event's founder, Drury Gallagher. The swim will have a truly international flavor, with competitors from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia and Ireland. U.S. swimmers will represent California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Virginia. At least six of the individual swimmers will be women. The age range of the swimmers is 17 to 63. The event is sponsored by the Manhattan Island Foundation (MIF), in conjunction with Hudson River Park Conservancy, Hudson River Clearwater, Inc., the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and corporate sponsor D'Agostino Supermarkets. The swim will begin at 8:50 a.m. to take advantage of favorable tide conditions. Starting at Gangway 6 on the Hudson River side of Battery Park, the swimmers will take the traditional counter-clockwise route, proceeding up the East River with the incoming tide, preserving their energy to face the treacherous currents of Hells Gate in upper Manhattan, the crossing the Harlem River to the long home stretch down the Hudson River back to Battery Park. Depending on conditions that day, swimmers should begin finishing at approximately 4 p.m. An awards ceremony will be held at Gangway 6. The swim is organized by the MIF, which each year makes a donation to help New York City neighborhoods establish and expand swimming prigrams for children, called the Learn to Swim program, and to rehabilitate swimming pools. More than $50,000 has been donated so far. Three other swims are being organized by the MIF and the Hudson River Park Conservancy in 1998. They include: - The 7.8 mile Little Red Lighthouse Swim, to be held Saturday, June 20. The swim will run from the George Washington Bridge to Pier 62 (Chelsea Piers at 23rd Street). - The Second Annual Great Hudson River Swim, a 2.8 mile event to be held on Sunday, August 2. It will run from the 79th Street Boat Basin to Pier 62. - The Hudson River Park "Wrong Way" Harbor Swim, a 2.4 mile against-the-tide swim to be held on Sunday, September 13. That swim will run from the World Financial Center up the Hudson River to Pier 62. More information about MIMS, the other swims ands the MIF, including history, past results, media coverage and this year's events, can be found at http://www.nycswim.org. # # # We are still seeking kayakers to support and assist the swimmers. If you are interested in assisting as a kayaker, please contact Richard Clifford at W: (212) 599-2780, H: (914) 834-7612 or E-mail: rcc7_at_ix.netcom.com Please let us know if you are interested in participating. Thanks again, Richard Clifford on behalf of MIMS *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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