Latest news with #OscarBlack
RTÉ News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Teen eyes 'Triple Crown' after Ireland to Scotland solo swim
A 15-year-old boy from Lurgan in Co Armagh, has set his sights on a swimming 'Triple Crown', after he became the youngest person to swim the North Channel from Ireland to Scotland solo. Oscar Black swam from the Gobbins to Portpatrick in 16 hours and 38 minutes last week. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said that he is "absolutely thrilled" to have completed the swim. He described feeling like he was not getting any closer to his destination. "It seemed like it wasn't getting any closer and when you see that it makes your brain stress and worry that you're not going to get it all done, all the different emotions rushing through your head". He said that mental preparation is probably more important than the physical training. The estimated ten-hour swim turned into an 16-hour swim due to the current. Oscar said he "thought it went really fast". "I did not expect to get out of the water then for me to be told I was in the water for 16 hours," he said. "I wasn't expecting it at all." However, he said he got between ten and 20 stings from lion jellyfish on his swim. Oscar said that he plans in the future to try to complete the Irish Triple Crown. It consists of three swims; the North Channel, Galway Bay, Fastnet - and swimmers qualify for the 'Triple Crown' once all three are completed.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Teen battles jellyfish and strong currents to swim North Channel solo
A 15 year old has become the youngest swimmer to complete the North Channel swim from Northern Ireland to Scotland solo. Oscar Black, from Lurgan, County Armagh, swam from the Gobbins to Portpatrick last Wednesday in 16 hours and 38 minutes. Advertisement As the crow flies, the two locations are 35km (21.7 miles) apart but due to strong currents Oscar swam a total of 46km (28.5 miles). The Lurgan College student said it was "hard to explain" the emotions he was feeling after his record-breaking swim. The Gobbins cliff-face runs from Whitehead to Portmuck Harbour in County Antrim [Getty Images] When he was 14, he completed the channel swim as part of a relay team. He told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that he had to overcome jellyfish, strong currents and swimming in the wrong direction to set a new record. He had up to 20 jellyfish stings, "all over my body, from my feet to my nose", he said. "There was a few times when I was contemplating why am I doing this," he added. Advertisement "It was more of a mental challenge than an actual physical challenge." But Oscar says "it was all worth it in the end". Jessica Robson supported Oscar during his swim [BBC] Jessica Robson was Oscar's support swimmer for the challenge. She said it was her job to "get in and swim with him to make sure he was sane". "It was a very emotional swim to watch," she said. "I got in with him from hour four to five and hour eight to nine. "I had to swim into Scotland with him as he started going the wrong way." 'Tired and exhausted' After finishing the open water swim and standing upright on the shore in Scotland, Oscar found out that he had to swim back to the boat. Due to shallow water, the boat was unable to dock close to the shore. "I couldn't believe it, I was tired and exhausted," he added.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lurgan: Oscar Black completes solo North Channel swim from NI to Scotland
A 15 year old has become the youngest swimmer to complete the North Channel swim from Northern Ireland to Scotland Black, from Lurgan, County Armagh, swam from the Gobbins to Portpatrick last Wednesday in 16 hours and 38 the crow flies, the two locations are 35km (21.7 miles) apart but due to strong currents Oscar swam a total of 46km (28.5 miles).The Lurgan College student said it was "hard to explain" the emotions he was feeling after his record-breaking swim. When he was 14, he completed the channel swim as part of a relay told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that he had to overcome jellyfish, strong currents and swimming in the wrong direction to set a new record. He had up to 20 jellyfish stings, "all over my body, from my feet to my nose", he said. "There was a few times when I was contemplating why am I doing this," he added."It was more of a mental challenge than an actual physical challenge." But Oscar says "it was all worth it in the end". Jessica Robson was Oscar's support swimmer for the challenge. She said it was her job to "get in and swim with him to make sure he was sane". "It was a very emotional swim to watch," she said."I got in with him from hour four to five and hour eight to nine."I had to swim into Scotland with him as he started going the wrong way." 'Tired and exhausted' After finishing the open water swim and standing upright on the shore in Scotland, Oscar found out that he had to swim back to the boat. Due to shallow water, the boat was unable to dock close to the shore."I couldn't believe it, I was tired and exhausted," he added.
