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AUSAustraliaSport:SwimmingSue Oldham, also listed as Susan Oldham, developed her swimming career as an adult in Perth, Western Australia. In a 2013 interview she recalled joining a Masters club because swimming could fit around a job that involved frequent travel. Her early sessions were modest, but club friendships drew her into Rottnest Channel relay swimming and eventually longer individual challenges.
She began working with coach Pauline Pratt in 2003. Preparing for a Channel relay in 2006, she joined extra training with fellow swimmer Selwyn Jellie and then asked whether she could attempt a solo crossing herself. That summer she participated in the Masters relay and completed her own England-to-France swim. The historical record places her arrival at Cap Blanc Nez on 25 August, after 16 hours and three minutes. She was recognised as the oldest woman to cross at the time.
Oldham returned for another solo in 2010, completing 17 hours and 11 minutes and regaining the women’s age record. Her Channel involvement also continued through teamwork. In 2012 she joined Roger Allsopp, Kathy Phillips and Tom McCarthy in the four-person Barracudas Aquaholics relay. Her published account describes the swimmers taking one-hour turns and her final swim to the French shore. The team’s 15-hour-three-minute result is kept distinct from her two solo achievements.
Two solo Channel crossings · Masters swimmer and relay teammate
Also recorded as Susan Oldham, Susan [Sue] Oldham.
Crossing details, recordings & verificationSolo swim
Friday, 25 August 2006 (completion)
England → France
Elapsed time · 16h 3m 0s
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · 15:28:00 · Time zone not specified
Published account checked · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Solo swim
Sunday, 8 August 2010 (recorded swim date)
England → France
Elapsed time · 17h 11m 0s
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Published account checked · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Relay · team performance
Monday, 23 July 2012 (completion)
England → France
Four-person relay. The elapsed time belongs to the team; no formal committee ratification decision was inspected.
Barracudas Aquaholics · Roger Allsopp · Kathy Phillips · Tom McCarthy · Sue Oldham
Team elapsed time · 15h 3m
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Published account checked · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
2003
Oldham identifies this as the year she began working with Pratt.
2006
Participated with fellow Masters swimmers before her solo success; exact relay date remains unresolved.
Friday, 25 August 2006
Arrived at Cap Blanc Nez in 16:03:00.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
The historical entry records 17:11:00 and a renewed women’s age record.
Monday, 23 July 2012
Four swimmers completed the crossing in 15:03; this is a team time.
Achievements update from recorded results. A tick means the supporting results are verified.
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First recorded finish
1 more finish needed
0 of 1 recorded
Selected swimming performances appear in the English Channel record above.
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