Courtesy of Ned Denison, International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, California.
For many years since it was first established in 1971 by the swimmers and administrators of the World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation, the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies have long been held at the International Swimming Hall of Fame facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Under the leadership of World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation president Cliff Lumsdon, vice president Judy van Berkel de Nijs, and Joe Grossman, the members selected Commander Gerald Forsberg of the Channel Swimming Association, Buck Dawson of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and Joe Grossman to nominate, discuss and decide classes of six electees for each year from 1963 (when the World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation began to collect historical data on the sport) through 1970. Ever since, the classes of honourees have been named and recognized at annual ceremonies:
Most recently, the induction ceremonies have toured the world and been held at the United Nations in New York City, on the Queen Mary in Long Beach in California, in Cork, Ireland, and on the Isle of Bute in Scotland.
The 2017 ceremonies are now heading to England where a total of 57 individuals over the decades have been honored with the designation as an Honour Swimmer, Honour Pilot or Honour Administrator.
Beth Yudovin, Christopher Guesdon, and Ned Denison will host the 2017 International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the De Vere Beaumont Estate in Windsor, England on April 22nd.
Tickets for GBP 60 can be ordered here.
David Barra, Colin Hill, Tamara Bruce, Ricardo Ratto, Richard Broer, David O’Brien, John Pittman and Mickey Pittman, Stephen Redmond, and the Asociación de cruce a nado del Estrecho de Gibraltar (Strait of Gibraltar Swimming Association) will be honored during the ceremonies.
Among the many luminaries from the open water swimming, channel swimming and marathon swimming communities who will attend the ceremonies, Ned Denison (American International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Catherine Fravalo, Sally Minty-Gravett (British International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Peter Gravett, Jacques Tuset (King of the Prison Island Swims), Fabienne Tuset, Kathrin Lammers (International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame), Valerio Valli, Daniel Martinez Lobo (Chorizo Four), Roger Parsons (British International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Valerie Parsons (British International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Kate Steels-Fryatt, Beth Yudovin (International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame), Matthias Kaßner (Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming), Ina Kaßner, Christopher Guesdon (Australian International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Susanne Guesdon, Rory Fitzgerald (ice swimmer), Deirdre Ward (24-hour Club), Mike Barron, Colin Hill (British International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Stephen Millar (Irish Long Distance Swimming Association), Tamara Bruce (Australian International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Roger Bruce (Australian Olympic coach), Vojislav Mijić (Serbian International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Jasmina Mijić, Daniel Curtis, Paul Massey, Howard James (English Channel record holder), David Barra (American International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Clare Kelly-Barra, Attila Mányoki (Hungarian International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Monica Mányoki, Ricardo Ratto (Brazilian International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Tatiana Ratto, Richard Broer (Dutch International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Wendy Broer, Stéphane Lecat (French International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Nick Adams (Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation and British International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Sakura Adams, John Tierney (Serpentine Swim Club), Jenny Starr, Storrm Bowman, Dale Petranech (dual International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), David O’Brien (Australian International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), John Pittman (American International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Siadbh Redmond, Stevie Redmond, Dermot Redmond, Stephen Redmond (Irish International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Ann Redmond, Adra Pittman, Margaret Redmond, Scott Feely-Henderson, James Feely-Henderson, Carol Sing (American International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Captain Timothy Johnson (American International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Dr. Jane Katz (American International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee), Margaret Smith (British Long Distance Swimming Association), Graham Smith, and John York (American Catalina Channel Swimming Federation) will participate.
A dinner, speeches, commemorative films, and memories will be shared on April 22nd at The Chapel, part of the Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor, England. The Estate is close to Heathrow Airport.
The hotel has reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate on the Saturday of £89 for double occupancy including breakfast. Call +44 1753 640000 or email reservations.beaumont@principal-hayley.com, ask for a room in the Beaumont Estate and cite the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame special rate Block Code INTE220417.
On April 23rd, there will be an International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Congress (no fee involved). All attendees from the ceremony are welcome.
To register, visit here.
Photos from top to bottom show David Barra (USA), Colin Hill (Great Britain, Tamara Bruce with father Roger Bruce (Australia), David O’Brien (Australia), Asociación de cruce a nado del Estrecho de Gibraltar (Spain), Ricardo Ratto (Brazil), Richard Broer (Netherlands), Mickey & John Pittman (USA), and Stephen Redmond (Ireland).
Copyright © 2008-2017 by World Open Water Swimming Association