Latest news with #recordBreaker
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Teen becomes youngest to swim from Northern Ireland to Scotland
If you like swimming and one day fancy being in the record books then this story might just be the inspiration you are looking for.A 15-year-old has become the youngest person to swim the North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland who is from County Armagh, swam from the Gobbins to Portpatrick - that's a distance of 35km (21.7 miles), but he actually swam further due to strong said it was "hard to explain" the emotions he was feeling when he finally reached the finish. It took Oscar 16 hours and 38 minutes to finish his record-breaking if swimming for that amount of time wasn't enough, he also had jellyfish to deal said he was stung by the creatures around 20 times during the he said there were points that he thought "why am I doing this?". Oscar got support from a boat during the swim to make sure he was safe and heading the right strong currents this can be quite tricky, they were that strong during the swim, that it meant he actually swam a total of 46km (28.5 miles).He said there were points he would look up to see if he was any closer to Scotland and he simply wasn't, he added "it was more of a mental challenge than an actual physical challenge".To top it all off, once he reached the shore and was finally standing, he found out he had to swim back to the boat as the water was too shallow to dock close to the after all that, he says "it was all worth it in the end".
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.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Gloucestershire in pics: Lamprey pies and a record-breaking ride
Local traditions, local scenery and local success - it's been another beautiful week in Gloucestershire. The ongoing tradition of the Lamprey pie being presented to the King continued, but with a twist this year. A few raindrops this week, but nothing to dampen the spirit of a local record breaker - whose story inspired people not just in Gloucestershire but around the UK. Fabulous Framilode: A stunning start to the week with Abstract Emotion sending this setting through to our Weather Watchers page. The clear blue sky reflecting off the river is a beautiful example of those hidden, beautiful corners of the county. A taste of Highgrove: Here we can see RHS President Keith Weed and King Charles III, patron of the Royal Horticultural Society, looking around the Highgrove stand during a visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London. Inspirational stories: A woman who lost the ability to walk as a teenager has broken the world record for cycling the length of the UK and Ruggins, from Gloucestershire, was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called complex regional pain syndrome, which also meant she lost her ability to move her hands without cycled 1,677 miles (2,700 km) from John O'Groats to Land's End and back again in five days, 11 hours and 14 minutes. Beauty in the rain: A bit of a drizzly week in between some sunshine in Gloucestershire this week - but that doesn't stop our weather watchers. This was a firm favourite for us this week as the raindrops look so beautiful despite the grey skies. Pie anyone? Lamprey pie is made from sea lampreys which were a delicacy for the wealthy in medieval England. The pies were often given as gifts to royalty as a means of seeking favour. It then became a tradition for the city of Gloucester to give the monarch a lamprey pie. This year though, there's a twist, after local sculptor Deborah Harrison made a permanent fixture for Highgrove with this stone lamprey pie to celebrate the King's coronation. Stunning captures: We spotted this photo and instantly loved it. The colours are just gorgeous, and Tewkesbury Abbey looks amazing with that backdrop.
