London Silver Dolphins
&
UWO Aquatic Masters

St Marys 5 km Swim
27 Years of Competition

The Course | Map Location
Photos: 1998 | 1999 | 2001 | 2002
Winners since 1986 | Oldest since 1986 | Best Times

Results (PDF): 1982-1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987

Results & Splits (PDF): 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008

Results (HTML): 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008

Tributes: Jack Galvin | Beverley Tucker

Town of St Marys | Stratford Tourism Location
London Silver Dolphins - Home Page

The St Marys 5 km swims were started in 1982 by The University of Western Ontario Aquatic Masters, with Bob Miles as the championship secretary. Since that time Bob moved several times and changed his career from Nurse to Native Minister in the Nass Valley of British Columbia. Reverend Miles is seen in the photo providing a spiritual message to the participants before the start of the swim in the mid-1990's. In 2008, Reverend Miles retired with his wife Donna and moved back to Ontario. With the departure of Bob Miles, Bryan Finlay took over the management of the swims from 1988 until their termination 20 years later.

In 2001, due to dwindling membership, the remaining members of UWO Aquatic Masters joined the London Silver Dolphins. The organizers of the St Marys swim, however, maintained the original UWOAM funds for the continued running of the St Marys 5 km Masters swims.

Due to a lack of volunteers and club interest, the swims were eventually discontinued in 2009.

In 1982, the course involved 20 circuits of a 250 m course. In 1983, it was changed to 17 circuits of 300 m, and in 1984 and 1985 the course was 10 laps of 500 m.

In 1986, the swim was established as an Ontario Provincial championship and the course became standardized at 11 circuits. Trophies were established in four categories for swimmers finishing the course:
* UWO Aquatic Masters donated the trophy for the overall fastest lady;
* Manulife Financial donated the trophy for the overall fastest man; and
* UWOAM donated two trophies in the name of Ed Thomas for the oldest lady and man completing the course within the specified time limits.
Photo of trophies courtesy of John Potocska.

St Marys quarry and the associated Lind Sportsplex (near Stratford, Ontario, Canada) are located at 429 Water Street (east side) on Perth Road 123 (Old 25) - due south of the town of St Marys and north of Highway 7 - with global coordinates of 43° 14' 56" N and 081° 08' 58" W.

The course from 1986 to 2008 involved eleven counterclockwise circuits of a triangular course. Since its inception, the water temperature on the day of the swim ranged from 20°C to 25°C (68-76°F). The swim was governed by the rules of Masters Swimming Ontario and no wet-suits were permitted to be worn by the swimmers.

A number of swimmers made this swim an annual pilgrimage and used it as an excuse to attend a weekend of performances at the theatre in Stratford. The social aspects of the swim were a highlight of this end-of-the-season event.

Contact WebMaster

Created: 1998
Last Updated: 23^rd March 2014