Riddington’s record-breaking swim in July 2013 at the age of 68 saw him become the third oldest person in history to make the long-distance ocean crossing between Britain and France, doing so in a time of 19 hours and 45 minutes.
But on Sunday, it was a more relaxed 43 minute, 20 second effort in the Wharf to Winery 3km swim along the Murray River that Riddington undertook for the first time.
Riddington competed alongside friends Arnold Ehlers and fellow English Channel swimmer Kevin Cassidy, who also tackled the channel in 2009.
“(Conditions) were good, obviously a bit different from swimming in the bay,” Riddington said.
“I’m in the ‘driftwood’ category so I was out the back. It was certainly different in my first run up there.
“I’ve been up to Echuca a few times but that was the first organised swim I’ve done. I was watching the triathlon and I thought that was really well run as well.
“It was just something different, I’ve done a lot of events down in the bay.”
Reflecting on his monumental effort 10 years ago, Riddington said the 3km swim along the Murray was far more pleasant than the final three he experienced in the English Channel.
“The last 3km of my channel swim took me four hours,” Riddington said.
“Forty minutes for the river swim I’ll take. Three kilometres and an egg and bacon roll is also definitely worth travelling for.
“It’s coming up 10 years since I made the swim. At the time I did it, I was the oldest Australian and third oldest ever to swim the channel.
“The total distance in a straight line is ‘only’ 34km, but I swam about 68km because of the tide.
“It was a massive swim that I’ll never do again.”
A hose down from Moama Fire and Rescue, and the handy addition of the complementary pair of thongs contributed for the event, added to an excellent experience for Riddington, who said he would love to come back and tackle the 2024 edition of the Wharf to Winery.
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