THE countdown is on as Newry Triathlon Club move inexorably stroke by stroke towards a Guinness World Swimming Record.
As we go to press the kilometres are mounting up and things are well ahead of schedule. Initially it was thought that it would take until Friday to catch and then overhaul the existing world record of 480 kilometres.
But with super weather, the dedication of all involved, sensational swimming and the massive support of spec -tators who throng the lakeside night and day, it now seems certain the record will go on Wednesday.
Chief organiser Aoiffe McCourt-Lynch is confident and she told the Democrat: “We’re going to smash the record and then add mabe 150 kilometres onto it.”
WITH the kilometres mounting up, Newry Triathlon Club’s ambitious project of swimming 500 kilometres and making the Guinness Book of Records gets tantalisingly closer.
As the Democrat goes to press with well over 330 kilometres completed, joint chief organiser Padraig Mallon, who is masterminding the event with Aoiffe McCourt, is confident they will smash the existing record of 480 kilometres.
Initially it was thought that it would take nine days to break the record but now it appears that, fingers crossed, it could go on Wednesday or Thursday.
Padraig told the Democrat: “The weather has been brilliant (organised by St Catherine of Camlough), and we are 100 per cent sure we’re going to crack it - and perhaps add up to 150 kilometres onto it.
“The spectators who throng the lakeside day and night are really helping the swimmers and we would love to have a big crowd when the record goes.” Check for updates on the Newry Triathlon website or listen in to 5FM for a more accurate assessment of when the organisers think the record will go.
Last Wednesday evening in glorious weather and in the full glare of the media, Conor Murphy kicked off proceeding at 6pm by covering two specially designated 750-metre laps of the lake.
After exiting the water in 40 minutes and looking as fresh as before he started, the Minister of Regional Development told the Democrat: “It felt as though I was swimming for three hours but at my age I feel incredibly lucky to take part in a world record attempt.”
Conor was followed into the water by World Transplant Games record-holder Geoffrey McCracken who, despite almost jettisoning the event by starting from the wrong place, and then bizarrely heading for Camlough Mountain and then Meigh, sizzled round 1500 metres in 22 minutes.
At the start line was Mayor John Feehan who wished all the swimmers and organisers the best of luck while English Channel swimmer Peter Legge sounded the hooter to officially get the event underway.
Crowds lined the wall around the lake every day and night to cheer on the swim-mers and there was a carnival atmosphere about the place.
One wee story: Bridgene Mallon and her husband Mickey arrived at 2am last Thursday. The pair operated as timekeepers until their five-to 6am slot in the lake, --swimming in the darkness. Then Bridgene took over at 6am as foreperson until noon, overseeing everything.
Back to bed for a much-needed rest then one would think? Not a chance. At 1pm Mickey and Bridgene set off for the airport for a long trip to meet their daughter Colleen in Dubai!
They would rather have been at the lake but the holiday had been pre-booked.
Anyway best of luck to Padraig, Aoiffe, the massive crowd of helpers and, of course, all the 200 plus swimmers as Camlough eases ever closer to a new world record.