Anne-Marie Ward

Athlete IDATH-1050733

IRLIrelandSport:Swimming

Biography

Anne-Marie Ward of Portnablagh, County Donegal, began marathon swimming with a wetsuit crossing from Tory Island to Magheroarty in 2003. Three years later she helped a six-person team swim around Ireland in stages. At 41 she crossed the English Channel, finishing in rising winds after 20 hours 4 minutes.

Ward completed the North Channel on her fourth attempt, swimming overnight from the Gobbins to Scotland in September 2010. She received the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year award. She went on to complete an Ice Mile in Mulroy Bay and entered the Ireland Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2019.

Anne-Marie Ward's published record includes performances from 2007 to 2012 in Open-water swimming — English Channel solo, Open-water swimming — Ice Mile, Open-water swimming — North Channel solo. Selected recorded events include English Channel solo (2007; source checked); Ice Mile (2012; source checked); North Channel solo (2010; source checked).

English Channel record

Ward crossed the English Channel in 20h04 in 2007. In 2010 she became the first woman from Ireland to swim the North Channel.

Also recorded as Anne Marie Ward, Ann Marie Ward, Anna Marie Ward, Annemarie Ward.

Crossing details, recordings & verification

Sporting nationality: Ireland
Name in the CSA results: Anna Marie Ward
Home community: Portnablagh, County Donegal

Selected Channel swims

Dover coast to France, 5 September 2007

Registered crossing · Solo, England to France in 20 hours 4 minutes. The register gives 03:20 to 23:24. The register does not specify a time zone.

Route and clock discrepancy · A contemporary report places the start on the Dover coast at 03:00. The register’s 03:20 start matches its finish and duration. The precise French landing remains unconfirmed.

Escort and ratification · Pilot R. Cooper, vessel Sea Venture II and crew member Kieran Fitzgerald. The Channel Swimming Association ratified the swim.

Recognition · The Irish Hall of Fame records a CSA award for swimming in arduous conditions and reports force 5–6 winds at the finish.

Other events & swims

North Channel, 1–2 September 2010

Result · 18 hours 59 minutes 26 seconds. The register dates the crossing 2 September, when Ward finished. She started on 1 September and became the first woman from Ireland to complete the solo crossing.

Clocks and escort · Ward recalled roughly 08:30 to 03:30. Crew member Kieran Fitzgerald logged the shore signals at 08:36 and 03:36. His account names Lucky Lizzy as the main support boat and two inflatables. The solo register names Derek Flanaghan as pilot.

Ice Mile, Mulroy Bay, 5 February 2012

Certified swim · The International Ice Swimming Association records 1.04 miles in 35 minutes 51 seconds, with a water temperature of 4.5 °C. This was Ward’s first certified Ice Mile.

English Channel questions

When did Anne-Marie Ward swim the English Channel?: On 5 September 2007 she crossed from England to France in 20 hours 4 minutes.
Who was the first woman from Ireland to swim the North Channel?: Anne-Marie Ward started on 1 September 2010 and landed in Scotland early on 2 September.
How cold was the water for Anne-Marie Ward’s certified Ice Mile?: The water in Mulroy Bay was 4.5 °C on 5 February 2012. She swam 1.04 miles in 35 minutes 51 seconds.

Achievements & next milestones

Achievements update from recorded results. A tick means the supporting results are verified.

Achieved

3 finishes completed
Based on 3 distinct completed events in your linked record.
Verified
Raced in 3 calendar years
At least one recorded finish in each year; this does not imply an uninterrupted streak.
- 2007
- 2010
- 2012
Each year counts once. A tick means at least one result from that year is verified.
Verified

Next milestones

5 finishes
2 more finishes needed
3 of 5 recorded
2 different sports
1 more different sport needed
1 of 2 recorded
5 calendar years with a finish
2 more calendar years with a finish needed
3 of 5 recorded

Career highlights

Selected events from this athlete’s recorded career. Verification is shown for each record.

English Channel solo
2007 · Open-water swimming — English Channel solo
Performance: 20h 04m
Source checked
Ice Mile
2012 · Open-water swimming — Ice Mile
Performance: 35:51
Source checked
North Channel solo
2010 · Open-water swimming — North Channel solo
Performance: 18:59:26
Source checked

Latest results

Showing 3 of 3 recorded performances.

Athlete results history
Race date	Race name	Sport	Distance / discipline	Location	Performance	Place	Category
Sun, 5 Feb 2012	Completed event · Finisher · Ice Mile	Swimming	Open-water swimming — Icemi	Mulroy Bay, Donegal—	35:51VerifiedTiming unknown	—	—
Wed, 1 Sept 2010to Thu, 2 Sept 2010	Completed event · Finisher · North Channel solo	Swimming	Open-water swimming — North Channel solo	The Gobbins, Northern Ireland to Scotland—	18:59:26VerifiedTiming unknown	—	—
Wed, 5 Sept 2007	Completed event · Finisher · English Channel solo	Swimming	Open-water swimming — English Channel solo	Dover coast to France—	20h 04mVerifiedTime recorded to minutes · Timing unknown	—	—

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