A University of Chichester staff member is swapping his computer for the Channel as he puts the finishing touches to his preparation for a world record attempt.
By day, Matt Argyle is the e-learning manager at the University, but away from campus, Matt is one of the country’s leading stand-up paddleboarders. At the end of the month, he will attempt to stand up paddle board across the English Channel from Dover to Calais, raising money for Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and setting a new world record at the same time.
He will be joined by four other colleagues from British Stand Up Paddleboarding Association (BSUPA), the organisation that Matt chairs. Between them, they hope to raise £10,000 for SAS to help in their efforts to clean up the coastal waters of the UK.
Matt said: “SAS has recently received national TV coverage, exposing the scandal of water companies discharging raw sewage into the sea around the UK, threatening the health of potentially anyone who enters the water. During my training, I have seen slicks of sewage in the Solent. This is the same water that my children play in. This is why I support Surfers Against Sewage in their work to raise the profile of this, and in their efforts to clean it up.”
As part of his training regime, Matt and his colleagues followed in the footsteps of Olympic athletes and were subjected to a series of tests at the University of Chichester to assess their current fitness levels. A programme of activities was then designed to increase their stamina and core muscle strength that will be required during the record attempt.
Matt said: “I am now very close to the crossing, and I hope that the training and support that the University of Chichester has given me will pay off. May was the start of the stand up paddle race season in the UK - I have managed to get two third places in the national series so far so I am feeling fit and confident that I am ready to go. I am currently training six times a week, mostly in the water paddling between Selsey and West Wittering depending upon the wind conditions.”
The record attempt is scheduled for a date between 18-25 June, depending on tides and weather. Looking ahead, he said: “Crossing one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world is the bit that worries me. We have a support boat which normally escorts cross channel swimmers over to act as our pilot which should mean we do not get run down, so let’s hope his radar is working.”
Matt is looking to beat the current world record of five hours and nine minutes, set in 2006 by American paddler Michael O’Shaughnessy. If you are interested in sponsoring Matt in his world record attempt, visit his fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/matt-argyle
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