Tassie mates take plunge for Channel swim

AN idea hatched over a few beers has culminated in an epic feat accomplished by a group of former Tasmanian mates.

Matthew Atkinson, 37, of Queensland, Jason Osuchowski, 39, of Melbourne, Simon Gardner, 37, of Melbourne and Nick Mauger, 40, of Queensland have each swum the English Channel over the past two weeks.

Mr Atkinson and Mr Osuchowski are St Virgil’s College old boys and Mr Gardner is also formerly of Tasmania.

Overnight Mr Atkinson swam the Channel in 12 hours and seven minutes.

Mr Osuchowski made the swim on August 3 in 11 hours 44 minutes

Mr Gardner made the swim on August 8 in 11 hours 31 minutes and Mr Mauger took 10 hrs and 42 minutes to swim the Channel on August 8.

The average swim time for the Channel crossing is 12 hours and 45 minutes, depending on weather and prevailing conditions.

Mr Atkinson’s swim had been delayed due to choppy conditions.

He was said to be relieved and excited when he reached French shores south of Calais on Monday night Australian time. The weather began to play a major factor in the final swim and whether Matthew as the final team member, would be able to make it before the conditions deteriorated.

“He was just so excited and relieved to get the swim done,” said Mr Atkinson’s wife Sophie, speaking from Queensland. “We are obviously absolutely thrilled for him and the team, and delighted the weather didn’t finally have its way.”

The four friends have been swimmers and water polo players for most of their lives, deciding a few years ago over a few beers that they should swim the English Channel by the time they turned 40.

All have been training for the event for the past two years in their respective states, coming together in Melbourne a few times to discuss the swim and to compare training notes.

Ms Osuchowski dedicated his swim to Beyond Blue.

In 2007, Hobart schoolteacher Anne Steele was the first Tasmanian to swim the English Channel.

He was just so excited and relieved to get the swim done ... we are obviously absolutely thrilled for him

— SOPHIE ATKINSON