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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 04 October 2009 14:54 |
Date of Birth: 16.03.50
Place of Birth: Dublin
Current City: Skerries
Swimming Biography
Mike started swimming at the age of 6 at Clontarf baths and later joined North Dublin Swimming Club. From an early age he represented his club in local swimming events and water polo. Mike was the captain of the Royal Marines water polo team in the Far East and the U.K. He is currently a member of Eastern Bay Master Swimming Club.
He has completed one and two way Dublin Bay swims, numerous east coast swims, Camlough Lake, and was a member of the successful relay from Holyhead to Dublin in 1993. In 1996 he was a member of the relay team that crossed the North Channel. In 1997 he was a part of a relay from the Aran Islands to Salthill.
Swimmer's Report – English Channel
Direction: England to France
Mike set off at 4.10am from Shakespeare Beach. Weather conditions were good, wind force 2-3, sea state calm. However, Mike found the first half hour difficult swimming in the dark until the dawn broke.
At 7.10am Mike was making good progress but noticed that he had left the support boat behind. Some fishing net had wrapped itself around the boat's propellers and running the risk of stopping the swim. Mike swam in circles around the boat until the pilot Mike Oram, donning scuba gear, untangled the net.
Mike continued to make good progress in reasonable conditions until 3.40pm with less than two miles to go to Cape Gris Nez, the tide had turned and he battled worsening conditions until he finally landed on the beach at Cape Blanc Nez, just under three hours later.
The total time for the swim was 14 hours and 23 minutes. Mike was the first person from the Republic of Ireland to swim the English Channel.
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