Last Friday (15 August), local swimmer Jenny Cray achieved an incredible feat by swimming from St John’s Point in Killough to Newcastle Harbour.
Covering 10.6 miles in seven hours and 30 minutes, Jenny took on the challenge as part of her training for even longer swims planned for next year.
Originally from Belfast but now living in Temple, Jenny was supported throughout by a dedicated crew, including a rib boat and kayak alongside her to provide fuel, guidance, and safety.
Friends Lesley Keown, Ursula Tumelty, and Tom Murphy kept a close eye on conditions and helped spot jellyfish along the way—though a large lion’s mane still managed to sting her just a few hundred metres from the finish.
Despite the pain, which kept her awake into the early hours, Jenny successfully completed the swim and arrived into Newcastle Harbour to cheers and relief.
Support also came from land, with Michael Starkey organising logistics, coordinating the rib boat drop-off and collection, and ensuring coffee and food were ready for Jenny when she came ashore.
As she neared the harbour, some of her friends from Down Triathlon Club swam out to join her for the final kilometre, turning the finish into a celebration of community and endurance.
By the time she touched land, a small crowd had gathered to applaud the swimming teacher’s achievement.
While not a charity event, mother-of-two Jenny hopes her accomplishment will inspire others in the open-water swimming community to believe in their ability to tackle ambitious distances.
Although records are hard to verify, it’s thought she may even be the first woman to have completed this particular route.
This remarkable swim shines a spotlight on the growing open-water swimming scene along the County Down coast and sets the stage for even greater challenges ahead.
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