Pershore swimmers swim to France and back
18 Feb 2012
Pershore swimmers swim to France and back.
Last Saturday 22 of Pershore swimmers set about raising money for St Richard's Hospice at the same time setting themselves a challenge to see if they could swim the equivalent of the channel in the distance covered at Pershore leisure Centre. They had no idea they would eventually not only surpass their target but double it by the swimming the equivalent of the channel BOTH ways. It was all made possible by the kindness of Wychavon Community Leisure who must be thanked for backing the charity and allowing the two hour swim together with Sharon Burton the organiser.
There were some great individual swims from all ages the youngest being 7yr old Tamara Marsden recording 1,100m with older sister Naomi 2,500m. In fact it was a true family affair with their and father Vicky and David joining in to make a stunning combined family total of 6,200m. Another youngster impressing was 8yr old Luke Betteridge completing 3,050m in the two hours allowed with older brother Jack joining in the relay swim. The distance of 3,100 was completed by 9yr old Isobel Cumming alone raising £100, with 12yr old Joseph Doyle swimming 1,750m whilst younger brother Sam Doyle (9) swam 2,220m which was the same distance covered by 9yr old Chris Vizard whilst his elder sister helped in the separate relay swim.
Other young swimmers staying in the water for the duration were 10yr old Makenzie Christys with 5,000m and raising £55 and 13yr old Emily Burton not only completing 5,000m but raising an incredible £220 for St Richard's Hospice. Following 17yr old James Gribble's fine example of swimming the 5,000m distance other senior swimmers recording 200 lengths were Chloe Naughton and Vicky Wassell with John Sweatman's (father of Simon) completing 3,000.
Meanwhile 9yr old Simon Sweatman himself completed both the individual and relay swims joined by sister and brother Katie and Josh Sharratt, Lizzie Vizard and brothers Angus and Drew Jones. The relay swimmers covered just less than 9,000 between them and added to the individual swims the total distance covered was in excess of 72,000m being the equivalent of 38 nautical miles roughly the distance of the English Channel there and back. With getting on for over £700 raised for St Richard's Hospice with just a few weeks notice was another fine achievement for the swimmers taking part and one the club is justifiably proud of.
Ian