Richard Haan of the Czech Republic is on the Half Century Club list for the English Channel. After three unsuccessful attempts between 1999 and 2002, he completed his Channel swim in July 2005 in 14 hours 7 minutes as a 57-year-old.
He is also a member of the Half Century Club for the Strait of Gibraltar for his 5:35 crossing as a 51-year-old.
Richard is a well-known opera singer and bard who performs all over the world. He is still swimming, but he prefers the winter swimming. And winter swimming in the Czech Republic is real extreme.
Note: Members of the Half Century Club in the English Channel:
1. Roger Allsopp (England), 70 years and 4 months, England-to-France in 17:51 in 2011
2. George Brunstad (USA), 70 years and 3 days, England-to-France in 15:59 in 2004
3. Clifford Batts (Australia), 67, France-to-English in 18:37 in 1987
4. Ashby Harper (USA), 65, E/F in 13:52 in 1982
5. Roger Allsopp (England), 65, E/F in 15:30 in 2006
6. Sue Oldham (Australia), 65, E/F in 17:11 in 2010
7. Michael Read (England), 63, E/F in 15:29 in 2004
8. Veljko Rogosic (Croatia), 63, E/F in 11:27 in 2004
9. Robert West (USA), 61, E/F in 15:35 in 1996
10. Sue Oldham (Australia), 61, E/F in 16:03 in 2006
11. Jean-Paul Madelenat (France), 60, E/F in 14:46 in 2002
12. Linda Ashmore (England), 60, E/F in 15:11 in 2007
13. Vijaya Claxton (USA), 59, E/F in 22:27 in 2007
14. James (Doc) Counsilman (USA), 58, E/F in 13:07
15. Mo Siegel (USA), 58, E/F in 14:18
16. Carol Sing (USA), 57, E/F in 12:32 in 1999
17. Kevin Murphy (England), 57, E/F in 15:14 in 2006
18. Alan Macleay (England), 57, E/F in 22:14 in 2006
19. Richard Haan (Czech Republic), 57 in 14:07 in 2005
20. Peter Urrea (USA), 56, E/F in 14:38 in 1996
21. Kevin Murphy (England), 56, E/F in 13:35 in 2005
22. Jackie Cobell (England), 56, E/F in 28:44 in 2010
23. Duke Dahlin (USA), 55, E/F in 14:37 in 2003
24. Christopher Blakeslee (USA), 54, E/F in 14:44 in 2004
25. Michael Miller (USA), 54, E/F in 16:10 in 2008
26. Otto Thaning (South Africa), 53, E/F in 10:29 in 1994
27. Klaus Stutzer (Germany), 53, E/F in 14:09 in 1997
28. Morris Finkelstein (USA), 53, E/F in 15:21 in 2003
29. Bill Hoehn (USA), 53, E/F in 15:53 in 2004
30. Hugh Tucker (South Africa), 53, E/F in 13:37 in 2004
31. Tom Hecker (USA), 53, E/F in 15:21 in 2005
32. Steven Smith (England), 53, E/F in 14:28 in 2005
33. Vasanti Niemz (Germany), 53, E/F in 16:50 in 2010
34. Dan Richards (USA), 53, E/F in 12:32 in 2010
35. Henry Eckstein (USA), 52, E/F in 14:24 in 2000
36. Peter Jurzynski (USA), 53, E/F in 17:18 in 2004
37. Peter Jurzynski (USA), 52, E/F in 14:57 in 2003
38. Dennis Dressel (USA), 52, E/F in 12:08 in 2003
39. Jorge Rikarday (Mexico), 52, E/F in 20:24 in 2003
40. Tim Cheesman (England), 52, E/F in 15:07 in 2007
41. Elizabeth Fry (USA), 52, E/F/E in 24:39 (13:20 + 11:19) in 2011
42. Tim Cheesman (England), 52, E/F in 15:07 in 2007
43. Gilles Chalandon (USA), 52, E/F in 14:31 in 2010
44. Kevin Murphy (England), 51, E/F in 14:29 in 2000
45. Peter Jurzynski (USA), 51, E/F in 17:08 in 2002
46. Anne Cleveland (USA), 51, E/F in 11:33 in 2007
47. Michael Ball (England), 51, E/F in 12:55 in 2009
48. Nancy Steadman-Martin (USA), 50, E/F in 11:20 in 2004
49. James Fitzpatrick (USA), 50, E/F in 14:32 in 2005
50. Frank Chalmers (Scotland), 50, E/F in 16:48 in 2005
51. Timothy Cheesman (England), 50, E/F in 16:14 in 2005
52. Terry O’Brien (Australia), 50, E/F in 15:50 in 2006
53. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico), 50, E/F in 12:54 in 2009
54. Jim Bayles (USA), 50, E/F in 10:59 in 2002
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