Newbies of 2004 (& other heroic swims!)

When I arrived on Dover shore, I was totally in awe of the Alison Streeters & Kevin Murphy's of this world. I couldn't conceive of swimming the channel once let alone 43 or 34 times respectively (note: 4th August 2006 and counting!). And the "General's" reputation preceded her...how could anyone devote that much energy to one sport over so many years? Or how could Cliff Golding go back in 7 times before he successfully conquered the channel.

What I found on the shore was something quite different. A truly unique community of people who focused their energies on just one thing - getting every single swimmer across that channel. There was no sense of competition - except with the elements of cloud, wind & tide. There was a camaraderie that was and is unique. On that shore, it didn't matter who you were swimming with or how good a swimmer you were, you were a "Channel Swimmer in Training".

I can't remember who coined the phrase - but it sounds like a Landells-ism - but I also found myself inducted into another special group - the "Newbies of 2004". These were the individuals who started swimming in the harbour in 2004 for a 2004 crossing. Of course, this is the English Channel and whilst they might have thought they were crossing in 2004, the weather and swims had other plans for them. Only on July 21st 2006, were all the swims finally complete! And boy were there some swim stories along the way!

To capture the spirit of the English Channel, each swim story of that group (and a few honorary members who we met along the way!) is captured here. Hopefully by sharing them, some of the "crests" and "troughs" of the English Channel will come through!

These are the stories of the motley crew - minus the unmissable Mike Cross (photo taken after their 6 hour qualifying swim in 2004!):

Swimmers in order of their stepping foot on French soil!

Lennard Lee (#4 from left): Lennard was the fastest in the group. On July 13th, he set off from Shakespeare Beach at the same time as Astrid and like the cartoon "Tas of Tasmanian" disappeared off towards France in a spray of exuberant energy. I should know - I was on Astrid's boat as support - watching the display in dis-belief at his speed! Lennard's time was 9 hours 45 minutes.

Astrid von Linde (#2 from the left): I trained a lot with Astrid because although faster than me, she seemed to tolerate me pounding beside her in time with her stroke. Perhaps that is why I ended up helping to "pace" her during her swim - and learning that it is so, so much better in the sea than feeling sea-sick on a boat! Astrid's time was 13 hours 38 minutes.

Nicola Joyce (not pictured): Nic managed to get away early in one of the few weather windows in 2004 and crossed in 14 hours 15 minutes on the 24th July 2004

Katherine Mearman (right hand end): Another speedy swimmer who looked so different with her red hair replacing her swim hat that I had to post 2 photos on the "Who's who on the (virtual) Dover shore" mugshot site. Katherine sped across on 14th August 2004 in 12 hours 54 minutes.

Julian Critchlow (#3 from the left in lovely orange towel): That's me with the nervous smile. Pleased to have survived 6 hours and very pleased not to have been removed from the harbour on a stretcher! I had quite a while to wait until my swim on the 4th September...but not nearly as long as some people in this group! I finally beat the channel in 14 hours 8 minutes.

Emma Spinks (not pictured): Emma managed to sneak in her swim at the end of the season before heading back to Oz the next year. A great swim in 12 hours 25 minutes on the 27th September 2004.

Mike Cross (not pictured - probably had got out early for breakfast!): Another fast swimmer, Mike liked to charge up the harbour then bob for a while waiting for us slow ones to catch up. Although he didn't have a crossing booked in 2004, he hoped for a slot to open up. The weather had other ideas and he eventually got his chance on the 14th July 2005...but the channel is a great leveller and his time of 15 hours 25 minutes shows how even the fastest swimmers learn to respect her in time!

Peter Thompson (#5 from the left): A fine figure of a man, I am sure you will agree. Peter started for France in 2004 only to be hauled out "after 15 enjoyable hours". He finally finished what he had started on the 14th July 2005 in 1 year 17 hours later...yup there is a story in there!

Steve Landells (#2 from the right): Due to swim the day after me in September 2004, the weather just didn't oblige and Steve never got in for 2004. In 2005, he booked his swim for the day of my daughter's christening. So I rearranged the christening (for which I will never be forgiven!) so I could accompany him...and he then chose to go a week early when I was at my brother's wedding (he wouldn't re-arrange that for some reason?). His swim story tells what happens when you snub Julian Critchlow...all 21 hours 15 minutes of it!

Katie Hope (on the left): Like Lennard, Mike & Katherine, Katie sped around the harbour. But with so little natural insulation, she felt the cold from the start. But that wasn't going to defeat her! The weather however had other plans and like Steve, Katie didn't get to swim in 2004. In 2005, she was back to suffer a summer's training again and finally got a swim. Unfortunately success was "deferred" and she prepared herself for a second attempt in the same season. Again France remained tantalising close but not within her reach. So she returned for a 3rd summer (it doesn't get any warmer you know!). And her story shows what true determination can achieve (in 13 hours 37 minutes).