Jess To Take On North Channel

Jessika Robson from Northern Ireland is aiming to be the youngest swimmer to ever complete the North Channel crossing, from Donaghadee in Northern Ireland, to Portpatrick in Scotland in August this year. The North Channel is considered, the toughest of the Ocean Seven swims. It is very cold, is plagued by the notorious lions' main jellyfish and involves many competing tides and currents all the way across the channel.

With a love for distance events, Jess joined Lisburn City Swimming Club at eight years old and now swims in the national senior squad with coach Stan Sheppard. During the pandemic, when pools closed down, Jess took up open water swimming to keep her training going. She quickly fell in love with the sport and the community around it. She started training with the Lough Neagh Monster Dunkers, under open water coach, Dorothy Johnston.  Last year she swam the length of Carlingford Lough, aged 16 becoming the youngest person to ever swim the 22.5km lough and her time of 5 hours and 2 minutes broke the record by 56 minutes. She is the current Swim Ireland Open Water Swimmer of the year and the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association, Female Junior Open Water Swimmer of the year.

To brighten up her hours of training, Jess wears Funkitas and wore her favourite pair for the Carlingford Lough crossing.

Aside from her swimming commitments, Jess is studying for her A Levels at HunterHouse College and trains in the cold water at locations such as Oxford Island, Carlingford Lough, Newcastle, and Donaghadee.

We will keep you updated on Jess’ North Channel crossing in August annd you can follow her @jessika_r06 and Infinity Channel Swimming @infinitychanne3