Channel Swimming History
The colourful and courageous story Channel swimming has its beginnings in the summer of 1875 when Captain Matthew Webb, by swimming from Dover to Calais 21 hrs 45 mins. Blazed a trail which has been followed by thousands of valiant men and women bent on emulating the gallant Captain's feat.
By modern standards Webb's time was comparatively slow but it must be remmembered that he was a pionee. He had few of the advantages available to the present-day aspirants. Weather forecasts, radar, echo sounders, Decca skilled pilots with an intimade knowledge of the Channel coastguard monitoring, better swimming facilities and expert trainers hardly any of which was available in Webb'stime. The very fach he close to make his attempt from england to france shows just how little was known at the time of the conditions to be encountered in the 21 milles of sea separating England from France.
Records have subseguently proved that it is less difficult to swim from France to England and to Webb no doubt, it seemed the natural thing to make his attempt from his native shore. Before the las war hte five swims from England to France averaged 20 hrs 3 4 mins including the longest solo ever Henry Sullivans 1923 swim in 26 hrs 50 min while the 15 successes from France to England avaraged 15 hrs 57 mins. By 1977 the numbers each way were abaut egual England to france 141 france to England 137. 1990 saw the 410th solo success from England to France while those from France to England totalled 175. To complete the to date, 1990 there have been 16 two way successes and 3three way and they have been made by 399 persons 269 men 130 women out of of some 4.200 people who have tried 116 years.
Relay swims now show a similar prepoderance in one way successes 140 England to France against 47 France to England with 3 England to Belgium. There have been 17 two way relays England/France/England and 1 three way England/France/England/France.
The problem with the England/France swim arises if the swimmer after some 10 hours that is at the end of the ebb tide is west or north-west of Cap Gris Nez The flood tide against the west coast of Franse will cause a northwards current to arrest the swimmers progresss towardas the coast eventually push him/her eastwarda towards Calais.There are observers logs showing that a swimmer has failed by less than 400 yards to gain Cap Gris Nez eventually to land two or three later near to Calais or not to succeed at all. It will be realised that after a 10 hour swim in the Channel the swimmer is not at his/her best as exemplified by Captain Webb's Chart.
An indication of the amount of information about Chanenel Swimming which has been built up since the Captain opened an entireky new era in marathon swimmming can be seen from the pages of this book.
What of the man who pioneered this new era? Born at Dawley in 1848 Weeb was the second son of a doctor. His prowess as a swimmer earned early recognition when he sawed one of his brothers from drowning in the River Severn. He was only 12 years of age when he helped to save a drowning comrade who had fallen overboard from the training-ship "Conway" in the Mersey.
In the following year he was appointed ship's but soon afterwards turned to professionel swimming. His ambition was to be the first man to swim the English Chanenell. In prebration for the attempt he swam 20 miles from Blackwall Pier, London, to Gravesend in 4 hours 45 mins a record that stood for 24 years. On August 12th 1875 he made his first attempt on the Channel which ended in failure after 6hrs. 49 mins on account of rough seas but on 24th 25th August he tried again and succeeded in 21hrs 45 mins. The magnitude of his achievement can be gauged by the fact that for 36 years thefeat was not emulated in spite of 70 attampts.
Captain Webb lost his life in an attempt to swim across the rapids and whirlpools below Niagara Falls in July 1883. he was buried at Lewiston, seven miles beyond the migty falls where his body was found.
A comprehensive and fascinating biograpy of Captain Webb by David Elderwich, and published by K.A.F. Brewin Books Studley Warwickshire 1987 is available from the Channel Swimming Association together with "Conguest of the English Channel" by Thomas J.Hetzel Ph.D.D published by T. Becket Publishing Co. Corpus Channel Texas U.S.A.Tom is of course famous for his 8 successful crossings of the Channel from 1967 to 1977 and for his success in training many of his compatriots to emulate his feat.
At a reception given to Captain Webb in Dover after his swim, the Mayor of Dover said; "I make bold to say that ı do not believe that in the future history of the world any such feat will be performed by anybody else" He was of course right for 36 years but on 6th September 1911 T.W. Burgess of Rotherham swam from the South Foreland to Le Chatelet a mile east of Cap Nez 22hrs 35 mins after 11 unsuccessful attempts. Anather 12 years passed before Henry Sullivan's(U.S.A.)marathon success, while 6 days later Enrico Tiraboschi of Italy succeeded in 16 hrs. 33 mins. The first succesful swim from France to England , beating Webb's time from England to France by 5 hrs. 12 mins., at least suggesting that the France/England swim was the eaiser route. Against this argument , however , are the figures showing that out of the 10 fastests swims , 7 including the first two , are from England to France , but one has to keep in mind that there have been in 116 years to 1990 , 410 succeses from England to France , and less than half , 175 , from France to England. Another factor influencing the choice of the start from England is that the weather forecast may coincide with the time of the turn of the tide ; assuming that the pilot leaves to England to take the swimmer to start from France , there may be only 9 hours of a favourable forecast left in which to make sure of a successful swim. Charles Toth , ( U.S.A ) certainly emphasised the "easy" theory in the same year as Tiraboschi 1923 , by making a successful swim from France in 16 hrs. 58 mins.
The "Easy" theory was again demonstrated three years later when Gertrude Ederle (U.S.A.) astounded the swimming world particulary the male aspirants by her 14hrs 39 mins. In 1926 from France to England the first woman to do so and create an all-comers record.
Attempts on the more difficult England to France swim became less freguent but in 1934 Edward H. Temme who had alreday swum from France to England in 14hrs 29 mins in 1927 set up a record by swimming in the opposite direction in 15hrs 34 mins to become the first person to conguer the Channel in both directions.
Following a false claim to have successfully swum the Channel by Dr. Dorothy Logan in 1926 the Channel swimming Association was formed. It is worthy of note that the English Channel is known throughout the world as "the Channel" in all swimming circles no adjective is necessary. The first meeting was held on 30th March 1927 at 6E Beckenhall Mansion Baker Street London with Mr.A. Jonas in the Chair Mr. Harry Bretton becam the first official Chairman in 1928 with Mr. Jonas as Secretary and Lord Desbordough became the first Preident in 1928 while Monsieur A.Vincent Mayor of Calais became the Association's Delegate in France.
The Association's main purpose as today is to investigate and authenticate the claims of persons to have swum the English Channel and very thorough searches were made before the claims of those that were made before the Association was formed were accepted.
The finances of the Association by 1928 give some idea of what inflation has done to our currency and an indication of the growth of the Association2s scope. The Financial Statemant for 1928 shows cash in hand of 8 shillings and 2 pence with liabilities of £915s:11d and in 1929 50 certificates were ordered at a cost of £117s6d while subscriptions were:Patrons: £1:1:0,Life Members £1:1:0, AssociateMembers 5s Od: The financial Statement for 1929 showed a deficit of £7:5s:2d, while there was much improvement at the end of 1930 with 4s:1d in hand compared with our Accumulated Fund at 31.03.1990 of £15,212.00
After the war the Association was revived largley under the direction of Inspector Bill Floyddof the Folkestone Police, following a meeting convened by him on 31st October 1949 Most of the erley records of the Association were destroyed during the blitz on London but the first Minute Book survived and is in the possesion of the Hon. Secretary.
By 1951 the Association had been reformed at Folkestone with Mr. Ted Maples in the Chair Inspector Bill Floydd as Hon. Secratary and Ernest Keighley as Hon Treasurer.
Lord Freyburgh had accepted the office of President-he had made 5 unsuccessful attempst on the Channel one lasting 16hrs 24 mins. England to france in 1936.
A rift in the Association 1960 resulted in Ray Scott's appointment of Chairman with John Wood as Hon Secretary and Bill Scohling as treasurer. Comander Gerald Fosberg O.B.E., R.N. became President in 1962 and Audrey Scott took over as Hon Secretary in February 1973 from John Floydd son of Bill.
Relay swims were started in 1954 with folkestone Swimming Clup making a successful crossing from France to England in 14 hrs. 57.mins.Two of the team were sons of Inspector Bill Floyd ,John and Robin swimming has introducet many people to Channell Swimming whit perhaps Kevin Murphy being the most notable example he was a member of the Phoenicians S.C. successful Realy swim in 1965.
Up to and including 1990 , 44 countries have had successful swimmer in the Channel and have procuded the flowwing record holders.(buraya yapıştır)
Records are made to be beaten, but it will be noted above that Penny Deans rekord has defided all efforts so far.Unitel 1985 whith Philip Rush's record two-way swim of 17hrs.56 mins no man had got within 3 hours of the two- ways of two grlis Cyntia Nicholas Canada and ırene van der Laan,Holland.
The C.S.A.has establihed a world-wide camaraderie in possibly one of the world's most demanding of sports,andmay we hope one day become the parent of a world-wide enduring friendship of nations.
With the possibility of existing records being broken by a matter of a minute the need for the most accurate timing of swims is obvious and necessary.The C.S.A. is most fortunate in having the gerosity and sportsmanship of the Polex Watch Companyto support us by its loan of Rolex Oyster Perpetual Watches to ensure that mistakes or erros are not made in our timing No instrument could be better desingned for our purpose their shock resistant water proof anti magnetig self windig durable gualities are perfecct for the extremely testing demans that we put on them In addition to this The Rolex Wathch Company maskes a gift each year of a rolex Oyster Perpetual to the year's fastest swimmer.
