A 79-year-old pensioner has completed the Western Swimming Pool TT challenge, swimming the 2,416 lengths, equivalent to the length of the Mountain Course.
The challenge is to swim the equivalent of the 37.73-mile TT course in swimming pool lengths, in just 14 weeks, between January 20 and April 28.
Wes Maddock, who lives in Rhencullen, has completed the challenge with well over a month to spare.
He said: ‘I’ve been swimming for 71 years, I’ve always loved it, I swim 320 lengths a week. It keeps you fit.’
The pensioner, originally from Cheshire, moved to the island 20 years ago. He spent three years in the army stationed in Egypt and Berlin.
‘It was the best move I ever made coming to the island. I love it,’ he said.
Wes, who also enjoys golf and gardening, has so far raised £460 for Hospice Isle of Man, and has already started trying to complete the TT course again.
‘Someone told me I would find mermaids but I didn’t on the first lap so I thought I’d better go round again.’
Kath Andrews, manager at Western Swimming Pool, said: ‘This year we had 36 individual entries of which we have 10 finishers so far.
‘We also have 28 teams entered of which seven have currently finished.’
Hospice’s Mary Doyle said: ‘Congratulations to Wes, the swim is a real challenge and for him to have completed it so quickly is amazing.
‘Wes has been involved in supporting Hospice for a number of years.’