UNION NEWS
John Tierney (1981 Boarder) Swam Solo Across the English Channel
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Date : Friday, 27th October 2017
John Tierney has harboured an ambition to swim solo across the English Channel for a number of years and in the summer of 2017 he finally achieved his goal.
On August 14th he joined an elite group of individuals who have successfully navigated themselves across one of the busiest seas in the world. With a support boat beside him he accomplished this challenge through sheer willpower and by consuming liquid carbohydrate every 30 minutes along with a slice of banana or chocolate.
âAlthough I did all the swimming, this was a team event, as I placed all my trust in the boat pilot and my four friends, Debs, Stu, Rob and James. Without their support, I would not have made it. Collaboration and complete trust in others were the key to my success.â
He had previously taken part in a number of relay swims across the English Channel and swims from Turkey and Italy, and Robben Island to Capetown in South Africa. 5 weeks before the solo attempt he swam across Windermere in the Lake District of England which was a challenging 6 hours 27 minutes 16.8 km crossing in 16 degrees C water. His channel crossing took 14 hours 37 minutes from England to France.
We must congratulate John who at the youthful age of 53, is one of only 1,834 swimmers to successfully complete this particular solo swim. This is significant when you realise that the average age of a solo swimmer is 35 years.
To the best of our knowledge, and we stand to be corrected, he is the only past pupil from Blackrock College to do this.
John Tierney said: âA few months ago, I was delighted to achieve a long time ambition to swim solo across the English Channel. Aged 53, I finally did it swimming to France in 14 hours 37 minutes, and possibly becoming the first Rock Man to do it, certainly the oldest and definitely the only boarder. Iâm now one of about 1,800 people to have swam solo between England and France.â
As part of the Crouching Tiger Swimming Dragons swimming team that successfully swam a relay of the English Channel on 5 August 2012 John was noted as saying: âIf there is one thing you must practice, then that is get acclimatised to cold water swimming all year round. Remember open water swimming isn't just for Christmas, it's for life.â
For those on twitter here is a short snippet of the swim. https://twitter.com/swimmingdragons/status/897010371445305345
A few years ago, John penned a poem which explains his love of open water swimming. We have a few stanzas below but if you want the full poem you can get it here â¦. http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2017/08/john-tierney-just-getting-on-with-it.html
Some say that swimming is boring, perhaps a trifle dull,
Splashing past chlorinated lane ropes, with very little to mull.
But other places are more profound, such as in lake, river and sea,
Like many a dry-docked Londoner, itâs the Serpentine for me.
Itâs open in the summer, when the Serps has shine and shimmer,
Translucent arcs, are water-carved, by the open water swimmer.
Itâs open in the winter, the bitter cold is strangely more inviting
You shrink your skin, and freeze your bits, to move in icy waters biting.
At Serps we have our own rush hour, around seven in the park,
And when the changing room is full, weâre noisier than the lark.
Why yes, itâs cold, you know all that, perhaps you think us fools
Big respect for Captain Webb who created English Channel Rules.
On August 14th he joined an elite group of individuals who have successfully navigated themselves across one of the busiest seas in the world. With a support boat beside him he accomplished this challenge through sheer willpower and by consuming liquid carbohydrate every 30 minutes along with a slice of banana or chocolate.
âAlthough I did all the swimming, this was a team event, as I placed all my trust in the boat pilot and my four friends, Debs, Stu, Rob and James. Without their support, I would not have made it. Collaboration and complete trust in others were the key to my success.â
He had previously taken part in a number of relay swims across the English Channel and swims from Turkey and Italy, and Robben Island to Capetown in South Africa. 5 weeks before the solo attempt he swam across Windermere in the Lake District of England which was a challenging 6 hours 27 minutes 16.8 km crossing in 16 degrees C water. His channel crossing took 14 hours 37 minutes from England to France.
We must congratulate John who at the youthful age of 53, is one of only 1,834 swimmers to successfully complete this particular solo swim. This is significant when you realise that the average age of a solo swimmer is 35 years.
To the best of our knowledge, and we stand to be corrected, he is the only past pupil from Blackrock College to do this.
John Tierney said: âA few months ago, I was delighted to achieve a long time ambition to swim solo across the English Channel. Aged 53, I finally did it swimming to France in 14 hours 37 minutes, and possibly becoming the first Rock Man to do it, certainly the oldest and definitely the only boarder. Iâm now one of about 1,800 people to have swam solo between England and France.â
As part of the Crouching Tiger Swimming Dragons swimming team that successfully swam a relay of the English Channel on 5 August 2012 John was noted as saying: âIf there is one thing you must practice, then that is get acclimatised to cold water swimming all year round. Remember open water swimming isn't just for Christmas, it's for life.â
For those on twitter here is a short snippet of the swim. https://twitter.com/swimmingdragons/status/897010371445305345
A few years ago, John penned a poem which explains his love of open water swimming. We have a few stanzas below but if you want the full poem you can get it here â¦. http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2017/08/john-tierney-just-getting-on-with-it.html
Some say that swimming is boring, perhaps a trifle dull,
Splashing past chlorinated lane ropes, with very little to mull.
But other places are more profound, such as in lake, river and sea,
Like many a dry-docked Londoner, itâs the Serpentine for me.
Itâs open in the summer, when the Serps has shine and shimmer,
Translucent arcs, are water-carved, by the open water swimmer.
Itâs open in the winter, the bitter cold is strangely more inviting
You shrink your skin, and freeze your bits, to move in icy waters biting.
At Serps we have our own rush hour, around seven in the park,
And when the changing room is full, weâre noisier than the lark.
Why yes, itâs cold, you know all that, perhaps you think us fools
Big respect for Captain Webb who created English Channel Rules.
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