Age just a number for long distance swimmer Anthony

(Above) Anthony Hughes at the start of his swim across the length of Lough Owel.

While many celebrate reaching pension age with a meal or a few drinks, well known swimming coach and former publican Anthony Hughes decided to mark the occasion in an altogether more memorable and energetic fashion.

On Sunday August 29, a few weeks after he turned 66, the Mullingar native swam the length of Lough Owel, and he covered the more than six kilometres in a highly impressive two hours and 20 minutes.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner this week, Anthony, who has been the lead coach at Mullingar Jets since its formation more than 30 years ago, revealed that while he swims across Lough Owel – a distance of 2.7km “every couple of years”, this was the first time that he swam the length of the lake.

After travelling with his support team – sons Darragh and Conor and Janice Carey – from the Tullaghan side of the lake to the Mountmurray side in a rib boat borrowed from Mullingar Triathlon Club, Anthony realised that he had forgotten his togs.

Luckily, Darragh, who has represented Ireland at international swimming competitions, had a pair with him and his grateful father borrowed them.

There was a heavy mist on the lake on the morning in question, but Anthony says it ended up being more of a help than a hindrance.

“I was going a little bit crooked at the start, but Conor said just stay about five metres out from the boat [to stay in a straight line]. The mist was a godsend as I didn’t know how far I had to go. I would have got a fright otherwise,” he joked.

Despite the length of time he was in the water and the distance he covered. Anthony says that for the majority of the swim he was comfortable.

“I was fine physically and mentally. The hardest thing with a swim like that is to hold your concentration.

“You have to keep reminding yourself to finish your stroke and to hold your hand out in front. The concentration part – that’s the hardest thing.

“The swim slipped by nicely but with about a kilometre left to go. I began to be away of my shoulders and biceps. I wouldn’t say I was in pain, but they were aware that they were doing more than normal.

“I slowed down and I actually really enjoyed the last kilometre and a half. The surprising thing for me was the cold of the water had no effect.

“It was one of my big fears before I got in – the cold – but I was surprised to see how warm it was.”

Despite the relatively benign conditions, Anthony says that one of the best parts of a memorable day were the hot whiskeys his wife Mairead had waiting for him when he emerged from the water!

Anthony believes he is only the second person to swim the lake without a wetsuit and certainly the first pensioner to do it. It is an itch that he has wanted to scratch for decades, he says, and having his sons with him in the support boat made it all the more special.

“It was a lifetime ambition. Alan Pender did it back in the early ’80s. I was very friendly with Alan at the time he did it, but I didn’t get the chance to do it with him.

“I must have been working or away or something. It has been in the back of my mind for 40 years.”

At a time in life when most people are slowing down, Anthony says that completing the swim was a “great morale boost”.

“In the middle of August I was 66 years of age and drew down my pension. I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t that old,” he laughed.

Time nor tide waits for no man, but it looks as if for Anthony age really may only be a number.