The ILDSA Annual Awards
As part of our vision to “Be a forum for rewarding and recognising Irish swims and swimmers”, after the end of each swimming season the ILDSA hosts an annual awards event at a location in Ireland.
The awards are the highlight of the year where the ILDSA rewards, recognises and celebrates the passionate and vibrant long distance swimming community and their achievements. As a national organization, the ILDSA alternates the location of the event around the country, and in recent years it has also been live streamed for those that are unable to attend in person.
Whilst we enthusiastically celebrate the current explosion and participation in open water swimming we also respectfully continue to search out our historical swims and swimmers and recognise the achievements of those that were pioneers in open water swimming before many of us were born.
There are 35 categories of awards.
Nominations for the following awards are provided by the public.
Provincial Swimmer of the Year
This award requires the swimmer to reside in the province during the past year. Swimmers who move during the year will not be penalized. Province of birth is not a factor – for example, a Kerryman living in Dublin could win the Leinster award.
It is awarded for the most impressive record during the year. It could be multiple swims or just one big swim. Extra credit given for longest distance, difficulty, steps up from the swimmer’s previous best.
Nominations for the following awards are not provided by the public.
In some cases they are based on recorded achievements and awarded to all swimmers who meet the criteria. In other cases the award winners are selected by the ILDSA committee in collaboration with the award’s sponsor.
ILDSA (Non North Channel) Ratified Swims Island of Ireland
Presentation of ILDSA medals to those who have had a non-North Channel marathon swim ratified during the swim season.
Fastnet Swim Awards
Presentation of ILDSA medals to those who have completed the Fastnet Swim during the swim season.