Port Erin Dip 2011

HUNDREDS of milky skinned souls braved the chilly Irish Sea on New Years Day with one thing in mind - to raise as much cash as possible for local charities.
Scores of people opted for fancy dress and so from midday on Saturday, Deemsters, pirates, chickens and postmen were visible clattering down the island’s beaches in a hail of sea-spray and good cheer.
Cited as one of the best Manx hangover cures, the New Years day dips have been growing in popularity since 1983 when the first arranged dip took place in Peel.
Since that date £135,891.84 has been raised by Peel swimmers.
Jackie Green from Green’s Jewellers said: ‘This year in Peel we had 203 people take part. So far this year we have made over £1500 from bucket collections and sponsorship and, as usual, the money will be divided between three island based charities - Multiple Sclerosis, Peel lifeboat and Sailing for the Disabled.’
The best dressed team in the west were The Pirates and the best dressed man was Chris Daine. In a double triumph Marie Andrea, 61 ,was the oldest and best dressed woman and one-year-old M’Kyla Quinn was the youngest. The oldest man was David Maddison.
Jackie Green asked that all sponsorship should be dropped into Green’s, 37 Michael Street in Peel.
The Great Southern Dip comprises of four swims (Chapel Beach, Port St Mary Inner Harbour, Gansey and Port Erin) and enjoyed a record attendance this year with 138 swimmers in the grand finale at Port Erin Beach.
This year charity was Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation, in memory of postman Ben Bowman who tragically died in September. The Foundation raises cash for heart screening of men and women between the ages of 14 and 35 here in the Isle of Man.
Lenny Conroy, from Triskel Promotions, who arranges the mass swim, said: ‘This is our tenth anniversary, so with the generosity of our sponsors Pokerstars and the Manx public we are hoping to beat last years total of £4386.88. I am particularly pleased to be keeping the money local and for such a worthy cause.’
The fancy dress, judged by Ben’s widow Lesley and children Tom, 9 and Charlie, 7, saw first place awarded to a postbox worn by Rich Ashcroft. Second went to the best dressed postman - Josh Smith. Jennie Costain took home a bottle of moonshine being the booby prize for ‘changing her mind two days prior and deciding to swim’.
Lenny asked that all monies be made payable to Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation and should be dropped into The Bay, Port Erin or Primrose House, St Mary’s Rd, Port Erin, IM9 6JJ. Anyone with pictures or video of the day is asked to email copies to 2011dips@triskelpromo.com
Now it it’s 17th year, the Laxey Dip has been renamed The Deemster’s Dip in honour of Deemster JM Kerruish who sadly passed away in July this year.
From 2003 until his death, he served as First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls, presiding as Chief Judge of the Island’s High Court of Justice.
Speaker of the House of Keys, Steve Rodan piped 60 swimmers into the sea on Laxey Beach, before they returned to the Shore Hotel for soup and a pint.
Paul Phillips from The Shore Hotel said: ‘So far we have managed to raise £800 for Manx Muscular Dystrophy and we are hoping for £2000 once all the sponsorship has been handed-in. It was a great event and several dippers dressed up in Deemster’s robes for their swim.’
He asked that all outstanding sponsorship be dropped into the Shore Hotel in Laxey.