COLLEEN Mallon broke the existing record when she won the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association kilometre East Coast Adventure Gunnaway swim from Rostrevor to Warrenpoint, on Saturday.
Despite choppy waters the gutsy and superbly talented 24-year-old clocked a stunning 51.13 for the 3.5 kilometre distance, in the process knocking over a minute from Irish butterfly record-holder Gerard Carty's time of 52.14.
The Gunnaway swim was Colleen's fifth win (in five outings) this season, her previous victories coming in the Copeland Island four kilometre Challenge, the Clewbay 10-kilometres, swim in Westport, Lough Sheelin's 10kilometre swim, and Blackwater's six-kilometre race.
Four other members of Colleen's family participated in the Gunnaway swim, mother Bridgeen along with brothers Sean, Padraig and Martin.
After her victory the majestic Mallon told the Democrat: "I was delighted to win today. There was a good field and to break the record for the swim was a huge bonus."
In the male section Bill Donnelly triumphed after going close several times.
The big Warrenpoint man stormed to the finishing yellow buoy in the excellent time of 56.15.
He said: "I was chuffed to get Sean Mallon's scalp, but even more pleased to leave Geoff 'John Lennon' McCracken trailing in my wake."
Geoff Wilson was second male in 60.17 while Sean Mallon was third in 64.28.
In the women's race Lurgan's Catherine Hanratty was second woman (and third overall) while Alison Cardwell was third in 65.43.
In the wetsuit challenge, that took place 15 minutes after the brave swimsuitclad competitors started, Keith Garry took top podium place in a fast 51.08 with Geoff McCracken second in 55.22. Top triathlete Myles McCourt was third in 58.20.
And it must be said ISLDA vice chairman Stephen Miller, along with Maria Murphy, Padraig Mallon and Siobhan O'Connor did a great job in organising the event.
RESULTS Ladies, non-wetsuits: 1. Colleen Mallon: 51.13, 2. Catherine Hanratty: 56.53, 3. Alison Cardwell: 65.43, 4. Bridgeen Mallon: 87.02, 5. Irena Kennedy: 119. 09.
Ladies wetsuits: 1. Donna Cooke: 63.03, 2. Anne Marie Featherstone: 69.27, 3. Linda O'Hare: 83.42.
Male, non-wetsuits: Bill Donnelly: 56.15, 2. Geoff Wilson: 60.17, 3. Sean Mallon 64.28, 4. John Ward: 65.18, 5. Padraig Mallon: 68.11, 6. Ian Hutchins: 67.08, 7. Adrian Poucher: 73.47, 8. Cameron McKeever: 82.10, 9. Paul Watters: 85.19, 10. Cormac McKenna: 85.52, 11. Martin Mallon: 87.16, 12. Simon Conroy: 87.32, 13. Robert Fennelly: 88.16, 14. Patrick Taggart: 94.58.
Male-wetsuits: 1. Keith Garry: 51.08, 2. Geoff McCracken: 55.22. 3. Myles McCourt: 58.20, 4. Harry O'Hagan: 58.50, 5. Liam Mathers: 59.46, 6. Kieran Hanratty: 61.16, 7. Chris Cooke: 62.09, 8. John O'Hanlon: 62.37, 9. Louis Murtagh: 64.39, 10. Maurice McKevitt: 64.43, 11. Stephen Murphy: 65. 31, 12. Des McParland: 67.29, 13. Aaron McCourt: 67.32, 14. Sean McNulty: 69.31, 15. Barry Patterson: 69.33, 16. Sean Hughes: 73.29, 17. Paul McCann: 75.33.