A swimmer from Norwich has set herself the task of crossing the North Channel as part of a global challenge.

Eastern Daily Press: Sea swimmer Tracy Clark who will be swimming across the Irish Sea. Picture : ANTONY KELLYSea swimmer Tracy Clark who will be swimming across the Irish Sea. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Tracy Clark, 47, can often be found swimming in one of her favourite spots at Sea Palling but later this year she will be half-way between Scotland and Ireland,

The swimming coach is not shy to endurance swimming though as she has completed channel crossings across the world.

The mother of two said: 'There is a challenge called Oceans Seven and only seven people have completed it. Like the Seven Summits, it is the seven toughest seas in the world. The North Channel will be number four for me.' Mrs Clark has already swum the English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar and the Catalina Channel in California, USA. The remaining swims are the North Channel, Cook Strait in New Zealand, the Molokai Channel near Hawaii and the Tsugaru Strait in Japan. She said: 'I started with the English Channel when I was 42 and I thought that would be it, but I loved the day so much and the sport of it, the training and the people you meet.'

Mrs Clark is the only New Zealander to have the Triple Crown for completing the English Channel, Catalina Channel and swimming round Manhattan Island off New York in the USA.

Eastern Daily Press: Sea swimmer Tracy Clark who will be swimming across the Irish Sea. Picture : ANTONY KELLYSea swimmer Tracy Clark who will be swimming across the Irish Sea. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

'It will be the weather that stops me as I won't be stopping,' she added. 'The water temperature is around 12C so I train at Sea Palling all-year-round which the locals think I'm crazy for.'

The coach has been swimming since she was a teenager but had not done endurance swimming until she was 42.

'I always do my swims for something close to my heart,' Mrs Clark added. 'Sea Palling really is my sole training ground.'

Mrs Clark is raising money for the Sea Palling Lifeboat.

Eastern Daily Press: Sea swimmer Tracy Clark who will be swimming across the Irish Sea. Picture : ANTONY KELLYSea swimmer Tracy Clark who will be swimming across the Irish Sea. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

'The Norfolk coast is just beautiful and knowing the lifeboat station is there is so comforting, so I'm raising money for all the volunteers there. Hopefully this will be number four and I can join the seven people in the world who have completed the Oceans Seven.'

To support Mrs Clarks' feat, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tracy-clark-north-channel-swim-northernireland-toscotland

Eastern Daily Press: Sea swimmer Tracy Clark who will be swimming across the Irish Sea. Picture : ANTONY KELLYSea swimmer Tracy Clark who will be swimming across the Irish Sea. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)