05.08.12: Swimmer, Alex Clark, whose mother lives in Rosevine near Portscatho, is to attempt to circumnavigate Gull Rock tomorrow in what is suspected to be a swimming first.

Alex, who has already swum the channel ten times, enjoys challenging himself to swim interesting distances as a way of meditation.

Alex told Roseland Online, “I enjoy the personal challenge of swimming distances like this. Having swum Loch Tay in Scotland and also the British channel ten times, I particularly like swimming in Gerrans bay each time I visit my mother, who lives in Rosevine. I came up with the idea of swimming around Gull Rock and back again in April, but didn’t have anyone to spot me in a boat. But a Portscatho local, who I was chatting with one morning, said he would be happy to do it, so the challenge was on.”

With the successes of the Olympics and our own Roseland Triathlon, which was a huge success despite the tragic accident of one cyclist – who is firmly in everyone’s thoughts and prayers this Sunday for a safe and speedy recovery – the Roseland Peninsula is about to record another first in its sports annuls.

Alex, who is a customer relations manager in Edinburgh, will be leaving Tatums beach tomorrow morning at around 9am. He hopes his Indian Meditation teacher who urged him to swim as a way of meditation, will be of inspiration for this arduous task, and everyone here at Roseland Online wishes him the best and looks forward to reporting on his success later in the day.

Update 06.08.12: Alex, with his friend, Ian Down (who turned up the night before and agreed to go with him) finished the swim in just four hours seventeen minutes. Here with his spotters, including local boat owner Michael Lippold, and his friend directly after the swim. You can read more about Alex’s swims by clicking here.