Cliff Lumsdon Award of SSO

Awarded for Outstanding Achievement
in the sport of Marathon Solo Swimming
and for Meritorious Service
in Association with
SOLO SWIMS of ONTARIO Inc.


Cliff Lumsdon	Awards Ceremony: Greg Taylor & John Potocska	Jack Ramsden

The Cliff Lumsdon Award of Solo Swims of Ontario was instituted in 1993 in memory of Cliff Lumsdon who was one of Canada's most outstanding marathon swimmers and contributed so much to the success of the swims of others.
The award, when warranted, is presented at the Annual Awards ceremony of Solo Swims of Ontario which is typically held in November.
Except for an exceptional circumstance (to be determined, when needed, by SSO), the DEADLINE for receipt of nominations by SSO is September 15.
The funds to establish the plaque and support it for its first 17 years were donated in 1992 by Jack Ramsden - a founder of SSO and a Swim Master, Jack was a friend of Cliff and was closely involved with many of Cliff's swims.

To recognize the most outstanding and/or exceptional achievements in, or contributions to, solo marathon swimming in Ontario and to provide a vehicle for public recognition by the peers of those so honoured.
To honour the memory of the late Cliff Lumsdon, a world class swimmer and coach who contributed greatly to the sport of swimming and, in particular, to the promotion and development of marathon swimming.

The recipient may be a Swimmer or Contributor who has made a significant achievement or contribution to the sport in association with SSO.
A successful crossing of a major lake in, or bordering on, the province of Ontario. This definition may include Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay, but does not include lakes, rivers, or other bodies of water in other provinces or countries.
The citation must involve a singular accomplishment of great noteworthiness, something unique which can distinguish the individual from all others.

As a minimum, it should also be special in some sense.
Outstanding recipients meet a number of these criteria, as both a Swimmer and Contributor, and so truly achieve the ideals set by Cliff Lumsdon.
Examples of such achievements and contributions are shown below:

Swimmer	Contributor
A record distance or time for a distance on a recognized course.	A contribution to marathon solo swimming with SSO in Ontario that made a singularly significant impact on the development/organization of this sport.
Oldest or youngest swimmer for a particular crossing.	The creation of incentives (e.g. an Awards scheme) to promote participation in open-water swimming with SSO.
Multiple swims in the same year.	Establishment, or significant development, of Safety regulations to improve the efficacy and efficiency of SSO safety regulations.
Multiple continuous crossings (2-way, 3-way, etc.).	Long-term meritorious service with SSO as a Board Member, Swim Master, Boat Captain or Coach.
Disabled swimmer.
A unique stroke (Other than Front Crawl).
Successful major crossing under unusual or challenging conditions.

Submissions should be submitted by e-mail to the Cliff Lumsdon Awards Coordinator using the Official Form.

Year	Individual(s)
1993	Cliff Lumsdon, Marilyn Bell, Gus Ryder
1994	Carlos Costa
1995	John Scott
1996	Bob Weir
1997	Colleen Shields
1998	Joan Lumsdon, Jack Ramsden, Ted Roach
1999	Cindy Nicholas
2000	Vicki Keith
2001	No Recipient
2002	James Salter
2003	Marilyn Korzekwa
2004	Bryan Finlay
2005	Kim Middleton
2006	No Recipient
2007	No Recipient
2008	John Potocska
2009	Brian Keith & Neville Lewis
2010	Paula Stephanson
2011	Greg Taylor
2012-2022	No Submissions
2023	Loren King

Created: 20^th September 2000
Last Updated: 23^rd November 2023