Media Release—Penrith City Council

Two long-term Penrith Swimming Centre users, Steve Payne and Geoff Evans, leave Australia this Saturday on an adventure to each swim across the English Channel later this month.

Steve also works part-time as a lifeguard at Council’s Penrith Swimming Centre.

Steve’s attempt to cross the Channel from England to France was thwarted in 2004 due to bad weather, and a valiant attempt in 2005 was stopped after seasickness stopped him 33 kilometres into the swim. He hopes for a third time lucky this year after training extremely hard for months.

Geoff Evans is making it a family affair with his family also making the trip so that his wife Annette can act as handler, and children Brett and Larissa can swim parts of the journey with him.

The summer temperature in the Channel is normally about 16 degrees. Australian swimmers have the added problem of getting used to colder water than that they usually swim in. Steve and Geoff have undertaken outdoor swims at Penrith Lakes and in the Nepean River to help acclimatise to the colder water.

John McLean became the first wheelchair athlete to cross the Channel in 1998 after similar Penrith Swimming Centre training and support.

The men expect to start their swims on about 20 July, weather permitting.

Geoff Evans and Steve Payne