It’s a classic: Ian
McCloy Island Swim is the oldest open-water race in Ontario, if not Canada. It
was launched in 1983 as part of the Sudbury Fitness Challenge. The swim runs
out of the southeastern bay of magical Lake Nepahwin in Sudbury’s south end.
In 2021, the swim turned virtual and donated
$350 to the Sudbury Food Bank. The global pandemic forced the swim to postpone
in 2020.
The swim route can be found by walking down
the Loach’s Road Backpath to the University Beach. Then you can discover why
the swim is an original.
Laurentian Masters (and now Sudbury Masters
Swimming) has hosted the event since 2000. Ian McCloy was a co-organizer of the
swim, a retired waterpolo player who loved lake swimming, and a national Masters record holder in the
1,500 metres. He died suddenly in 2003.
Did
you say Dilly Bars? Distances are 100m in the
DQ Youth Challenge; 500m, 1.6K and 3.2K swims. We offer a fabulous selection of
healthy snacks and Dilly Bars. The treats come from the Anderson Family, owners
of Dairy Queen in Sudbury and long-time supporters of the Sudbury Fitness
Challenge.
Please note: City of
Greater Sudbury lifeguards supervise the swim. Volunteer paddlers in kayaks and
canoes, stand-up paddleboards and outrigger canoes also keep a watchful eye on
all participants.
There is, however, inherent risk with
open-water swimming. All participants are encouraged to train for the event and
take all necessary precautions during the swim – including swimming with a
fluorescent swim buoy attached to the waist.
Race
conditions – Knock on wood: The
weather is usually excellent for open-water swimming. Water temperatures range
from 69F to 80F over the course of the summer swimming season. As
such, it’s a
wetsuit-free event.
Laurentian Beach on Nepahwin Lake.