Trim man prepares for challenge of a lifetime

A Trim resident is planning to undertake a daunting swim across the English Channel for two charities in August. Father-of-four John Downes, who moved to Trim seven years ago from Ratoath, plans to swim solo from Dover to Calais for the Irish Down's Syndrome swimming team and Temple Street Children's Hospital. Forty-seven year-old John will also be one of the oldest Irish swimmers to ever accomplish the gruelling crossing - just 45 Irish people have successfully made the crossing, with only six of those over 45. A well-known face around Trim sporting circles, he served as juvenile chairman of Trim GAA Club for three years and was one of the founding members of the Meath Masters Swimming Club who train in Aura swimming pool in the town. "It's definitely the toughest thing I've done," said John of the 40-50km swim "but now I'm ready to go". He added: "Although I did tear a rotator cuff in my shoulder doing Lake Zurich (26km) for the last seven hours, I won't say I did it one-armed but one arm wasn't doing a whole lot. "Completing that was a huge test, a big mental boost and the toughest up to that point because, in lake swimming, you don't have the same buoyancy because of the lack of salt, and also on larger lakes it can get choppy enough." Apart from the obvious hazards of the cold, possible exhaustion, disorienting tides and stinger jellyfish, John says that smaller problems can become big ones with a repeated stroke and his right shoulder tends to bleed from continued friction with his stubble, making for more than some discomfort in salt water. It's just one of many challenges he faces. Although he has trained solidly for four years, there is still a huge role the current in the English Channel plays. "You swim in an 'S' shape, you can't swim through the current so, to a certain extent, you have to swim with it. First, you are pushed north (from Dover), then south in the middle, then north again nearing Calais. "That can be fairly vicious if you haven't thought it through because you are being pushed north diagonally and there is an outcrop of land, a cap, that you have to hit. "The coast recedes after that outcrop and you are still being pushed north so it could be hours before you hit the shore. Unfortunately, a lad from Waterford made the attempt but pulled up within a mile from hypothermia. That's the cruel part of the challenge, you could be 50 yards from the shore and not make it," remarks John. After turning 40, John said that he wanted to regain fitness and took up swimming. During his training, he has completed swims like Cleggen to Inisboggin (15k), Cork to Cobh (16k), Lough Sheelin (15k) and Lake Zurich in Switzerland. His regime on the 40km to 50km is a liquid 500ml carbohydrate and protein mix every hour and "a banana in the middle". He chose to raise funds for the Down's Syndrome swimming team because of the dedication shown by them at Trim swimming pool and in particular, Eleanor Murray, the "hugely dedicated" World Games gold medal winner from Trim, and Temple Street "for all the great work they do" and for which he has been fundraising since his Innisboffin swim. John has to be in Dover from 4th August to catch the most favourable tide, which is predicted to be suitable for him anytime between 7th and 14th August, during which time he will have to be on call 24 hours a day for his start time. The 4.55am starts are behind him now and John says he feels ready: "It's a huge challenge but I'm looking forward to it now." He has thanked his family, wife Brid, children Shane, Cian, Aideen and Riona, extended family and friends for their support. "Thanks also to my sea training buddies, John, Ferg, Rache, Pat C, Pat G, Sorcha, Suzanna, Jgal, my mentor Colm, all in Meath Masters Swimming Club, Trim GAA, Trim SuperValu and Eastern Bay Swimming Club for their support, help and encouragement," he added.