Paul meets with chilly reception
Cross Channel swimmer Paul Hopfensperger braved temperatures of 6C when he competed in the 2008 World Winter Swimming Championships at the weekend.
And while the setting was not the Arctic but Tooting Bec Lido on a day of warm springtime temperatures, water conditions were decidedly chilly for the Suffolk county councillor, who last year successfully swam the Channel.
Paul, 44, of Bury St Edmunds, is gearing up to become the 19th person to swim the Channel both ways later this year while raising money for charity.
At the weekend event he competed in the 25m heads-up breaststroke, coming 14th out of 83 contestants worldwide. But it was in the following day's 62m freestyle event that he excelled, coming fourth, just pipped to the post by Russian contestant Vitaly Poborchiy.
Paul was swimming on behalf of West Suffolk Swimming Club.
Paul, who has raised 10,000 for St Nicholas' Hospice and Clic Sargent already, needs to raise 6,500 from corporate sponsorship for his Channel swim in September, having already had 1,000 pledged.
He said: "The water at the weekend was much colder than the Channel but I had a great time."
To sponsor him, go to www.hoffyswims.com or call 07887 711333.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
