Write a comment
A group of young swimmers from Newry and surrounds are embarking on an amazing world record attempt in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
Incredibly the team who call themselves the Red Hot Chilli Dippers range between just 14 and 16 years of age. By this time tomorrow they hope to be the youngest relay team ever to swim the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland.
The 12 member team are Hannah McKeown, 15; Oisin Smylie, 16; Isabella Leary, 16; Leona McCartney, 15; Niall McManus, 15; Ellen Boyle, 16; Tom Magill, 16; Daniel Smyth, 16; Joseph Salisbury, 15; Sophie Lindsay, 15; Holly Robson, 15 and Oscar Black, 14. Most of the swimmers are based with Newry and Mourne Swimming Club and Infinity Swim Academy.
It's the culmination of months and months of planning and many training swims around Warrenpoint and Carlingford. They have all completed two hour qualification swims in cold temperatures as well as braved the waves and jelly fish stings.
Their record attempt will start tomorrow morning at 5.30am in Donaghadee with a minimum distance of 21.5 miles to be swam.
Their incredible feat will involve 2 teams of 6 who will be kitted out just in swim suits not wetsuits and they'll be out on the water for a minimum of 11 hours, swimming 1 hour stints between Donaghadee and Port Patrick.
Red Hot Chilli Dippers are raising money for PIPS Hope and Support, Autism NI and AWARE.
Already they have raised over £12,000 on their Just Giving Page. Get behind these young superheroes at www.justgiving.com
