Search swims

Currently displaying: 112 results

You've searched for:

1. Surname: "R" x

Field to search

Search term

Filter by Success
- Successful (74)
- Failed (38)
Filter by Direction
- England-France (65)
- France-England (43)
Filter by Crossings
- One Way Swim (72)
- Two Way Swim (2)
Filter by Ratified
Filter by Nationality
Filter by Year
Filter by Decade
Filter by Century
- 20th (109)
- 21st (3)

Sort by:

PAGE: 12 3 4 5 Next >

Rees, Jack - 19/08/1908
Description
Started South Foreland 5.55 am. Grease: Russian Tallow. Food: Meat sandwiches, milk biscuits, and hot meat essence. Fell ill and touched support boat, ending attempt
Swimmer(s)

Rees, Jack
Date
19/08/1908
Duration of swim
03:00
Pilot boat
Sea Wolfe steam yacht
Trainer
William Kellingley
Notes
MISFORTUNE FOR JACK REES. ABANDONS HIS CHANNEL SWIM. [By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] DOVER, Wednesday. If ever the spirit of Captain' Webb hovers over the English Channel it must be its burden to witness the monotonous failure of the flower of Britain's manhood to emulate an historic and hitherto unparalleled feat. Prior to this day England and Scotland had deputed their strongest swimmers to make several attempts to plough their way across the treacherous sheet of water which separates England from France, but the sum total of them all has been failure. Jack Rees, enjoying the unbounded faith of Llanelly, was chosen by that town as the first representative of Wales to make the effort, and as one who knows something of Tinopolis, its people, and their patriotism, I can appreciate the sadness of heart with whioh the news of their champion's defeat by the Channel will be received by them. The day had just dawned when the dead silence of the night which had brooded over the smart steam yacht Sea Wolf was broken by movements on deck. Punctually at four o'clock Jack Rees, accompanied by his Llanelly friends, Messrs. D. E. James. J. S. Davies, and Edwin Rees (brother), came on board, and the hero of the moment reported himself in perfect fettle. Before five o'clock the yacht steamed round to the South Foreland, and Rees was rowed ashore to a sheltered cover beneath the shadows of the lighthouse. There he stripped and was well covered with a thick covering of Russian tallow. He adjusted a borrowed and ill-fitting pair of goggles, and after wading a few yards he struck out for the nearest point on the French Coast. A stiff north-east wind was blowing, and the sea was lumpy, and Rees, swimming on his right side, had to suffer the incessant flopping of chopping waves on the left side of his face. He kept as near as he convemiently could to the right side of the yacht so as to secure all possible protection, but it was so little as to be infinitesimal. He had covered a mile in the most promising style when he facetiously inquired in his own language, "B'le mae Ffrainc yma.?" ("Where is France here?"). From that point to the end of the swim all conversation that passed between Rees and his friends was in good Carmarthenshire Welsh, and the English friends on board had to resign themselves to a state of curiosity and wonderment as to what was being said in this strange language. It was the first Channel swim ever attempted in Welsh, and the only pity is that I have not a more glowing tale to tell. I ought to have said, so as to be in chronological order, that Rees entered the water at five minutes to six, and at ten minutes past seven he signalled for refreshment, with which he was promptly supplied. He was swimming splendidly, and looked like keeping it up all day. Grease having found its way to the goggles Rees complained that he could not see ahead, and a combined mask and goggles was substituted. He seemed more at ease in this, and for some time swam steadily on and on, without taking his eyes off the undulating French Coast - so near and yet so far. He maintained his powerful right-arm stroke almost continuously, and was carried by the tide to the left towards the South Goodwins Lightship, which is three and a half miles distant from the shore. He had now been in the water two hours, and his pace, according to the skipper and pilot of the yacht, was quite up to the average of the other swimmers. "GOOD OLD WALES." In the next moment the attention of all aboard was diverted from the swimmer to a big battleship breaking across the horizon and pointing her nose to our starboard side. From a mere spectre she swiftly developed into a huge monster, and she was steered until she was well within hailing distance. Officers and men assembled on the fore deck, and to the evident great delight of Jack Rees they applauded and cheered as only British Jack Tars can do. "What's his name?" they shouted in chorus. "Rees, of Llanelly," replied the skipper in a voice that shivered our timbers. "Good old Wales", was the enthusiastic response of some hundreds of voices, and just as the echoes of this were dying away a shrill voice carried the still more encouraging message: "Good old Sospan Fach." The small boat in which James, his attendant, had carried to him the nourishment, was kept within reach of the swimmer, and there was a deep gasp of disappointment and chagrin when he was seen to stretch out his hand and touch the boat - that touch was fatal. It was all over. HELPED INTO THE BOAT. Rees, still suffering from pain, was quickly helped into the boat, and in another minute he was assisted to climb up the ladder and to step on board the yacht. He was able to stand without the aid of his friends. Recovering himself he called for his clothes and began to chat with his comrades."How do you feel now, Jack?" I asked him. "I feel bad," he replied. "Don't you think you would have recovered if you kept afloat?" "No; I am not right yet - that last dose settled me. I swallowed some salt water with it. Oh dear, I'm sorry I didn't do better, but I did my best. The flapping of the waves hurt me terribly, and the goggles worried me. I am not used to them." "Well, now, what do you think of the Channel?" "It's a big job, and no man can do it without having had a reasonable amount of practice in these waters, which are much colder and altogether different to what I have been used to at home. I am not sorry for myself, because I have done my best; but I think it a greqat pity that more Welshmen don't go in for long-distance swimming, so that Wales might have a chance of doing the trick". "Do you think you'll try again?" "No, I don't think so. It costs so much money, and I can't afford it. A man ought to be down here for three months and practice daily to get himself thoroughly fit for the task. Mind you, I am not complaining. I only say what I think is an essential to a successful attempt. I confidently counted upon sticking it for eight or nine hours, and making a good show at least; but that sickness settled me. Never mind, I wanted to have a go at the Channel, and I've had it." Weekly Mail 22nd August 1908
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Record, Fred - 15/08/1910
Description
Sailed from Dover from Cap Gris Nez but too rough to land swimmer
Swimmer(s)

Record, Fred
Date
15/08/1910
Duration of swim
00:00
Pilot boat
Woodcock tug of London
Notes
Abandoned at start due to rough weather
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Record, Fred - 18/08/1911
Description
Started Cap Gris Nez 2.55pm abandoned 11.40pm, about 8 miles off South Foreland, about 13 miles swum. Accompanied by members of Medway Swimming Club, pacemaker was brother Arthur Record, Hedley and Rose
Swimmer(s)

Record, Fred
Date
18/08/1911
Duration of swim
08:45
Pilot boat
Woodcock tug
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Record, Fred - 01/09/1911
Description
Due to start Cap Gris Nez on 1st or 2nd, Start abandoned due to bad weather
Swimmer(s)

Record, Fred
Date
01/09/1911
Duration of swim
0:00
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Record, Fred - 24/07/1912
Description
Started Cap Gris Nez 3.45 am, abandoned 2.30 pm
Swimmer(s)

Record, Fred
Date
24/07/1912
Duration of swim
10:45
Pilot boat
Woodcock tug
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Record, Fred - 04/08/1912
Description
Start Cap Gris Nez. Start cancelled due to bad weather
Swimmer(s)

Record, Fred
Date
04/08/1912
Duration of swim
0:00
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Record, Fred - 10/08/1912
Description
Start cancelled due to storms
Swimmer(s)

Record, Fred
Date
10/08/1912
Duration of swim
0:00
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Record, Fred - 11/08/1913
Description
Dover start - abandoned due to weather
Swimmer(s)

Record, Fred
Date
11/08/1913
Duration of swim
0:00
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Richards, Sam - 02/09/1922
Swimmer(s)

Richards, Sam
Date
02/09/1922
Duration of swim
02:00
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Richards, Sam - 11/08/1923
Swimmer(s)

Richards, Sam
Date
11/08/1923
Duration of swim
04:45
Notes
Shakespeare Beach. Daily Sketch £1000 prize attempt
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Retief, Miss Pat - 01/09/1930
Description
Left Boulogne in the tug Jenner at eleven o'clock on Saturday night, landed near Dover - Retief greased and in water when stopped due to fog
Swimmer(s)

Retief, Miss Pat
Date
01/09/1930
Duration of swim
00:00
Pilot
Joe Costa
Pilot boat
Jenner
Trainer
Jabez Wolffe
Notes
Abandoned in fog
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Roux, Gabriel - 01/09/1936
Description
Started 6.58 pm Cap Gris Nez. Gave up after 4 hours due to cold, was 9 miles west of Cap Gris Nez. Returned to Calais on tug, arriving 1.30 a.m.
Swimmer(s)

Roux, Gabriel
Date
01/09/1936
Duration of swim
04:00
Pilot boat
Le Ramier tug of Cherbourg
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Rehim, Hassan Abdel - 29/08/1948
Swimmer(s)

Rehim, Hassan Abdel
Date
29/08/1948
Successful swim number
28
Successful swimmer number
27
Successful swim number France - England
24
Duration of swim
17:38
Notes
Cap Gris Nez to St. Margarets Bay
Success/failure

Successful (681)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Number of crossings

One Way Swim (644)
Rijsel, Miss Willi Croes van - 26/07/1949
Swimmer(s)

Rijsel, Miss Willi Croes van
Date
26/07/1949
Duration of swim
14:15
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Rijsel, Miss Willi Croes van - 26/08/1949
Description
Cap Gris Nez. Abandoned 2 miles off Dover, thick fog and vomiting. Pacemaker Philip Mickman
Swimmer(s)

Rijsel, Miss Willi Croes van
Date
26/08/1949
Duration of swim
16:52
Pilot
John 'Jack' Burwill
Trainer
E. H. Temme
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Rehim, Hassan Abdel - 17/09/1949
Swimmer(s)

Rehim, Hassan Abdel
Date
17/09/1949
Successful swim number
32
Successful swimmer number
27
Successful swim number England - France
6
Duration of swim
15:46
Notes
St Margarets Bay to Cap Gris Nez
Success/failure

Successful (681)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Number of crossings

One Way Swim (644)
Ratified

Independent (34)
Rehim, Hassan Abdel - 22/08/1950
Swimmer(s)

Rehim, Hassan Abdel
Date
22/08/1950
Successful swim number
36
Successful swimmer number
27
Successful swim number France - England
30
Duration of swim
10:49
Notes
Cap Gris Nez to South Foreland
Success/failure

Successful (681)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Number of crossings

One Way Swim (644)
Ratified

Daily Mail (47)
Rijsel, Miss Willi Croes van - 22/08/1950
Swimmer(s)

Rijsel, Miss Willi Croes van
Date
22/08/1950
Duration of swim
04:15
Notes
First Daily Mail Race
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Ratified

Daily Mail (47)
Rockett, Walter 'Sam' - 22/08/1950
Swimmer(s)

Rockett, Walter 'Sam'
Date
22/08/1950
Successful swim number
39
Successful swimmer number
34
Successful swim number France - England
33
Duration of swim
14:17
Notes
First Daily Mail Race. Landed Shakespeare Cliff
Success/failure

Successful (681)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Number of crossings

One Way Swim (644)
Ratified

Daily Mail (47)
Rising, Philip - 28/07/1951
Swimmer(s)

Rising, Philip
Date
28/07/1951
Successful swim number
46
Successful swimmer number
40
Successful swim number France - England
40
Duration of swim
15:55
Notes
Cap Gris Nez to Fan Bay
Success/failure

Successful (681)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Number of crossings

One Way Swim (644)
Rehim, Hassan Abdel - 16/08/1951
Swimmer(s)

Rehim, Hassan Abdel
Date
16/08/1951
Successful swim number
50
Successful swimmer number
27
Successful swim number France - England
43
Duration of swim
12:25
Notes
Second Daily Mail Race
Success/failure

Successful (681)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Number of crossings

One Way Swim (644)
Ratified

Daily Mail (47)
Roach, Winnie Francis - 16/08/1951
Swimmer(s)

Roach, Winnie Francis
Date
16/08/1951
Successful swim number
54
Successful swimmer number
44
Successful swim number France - England
47
Duration of swim
13:25
Notes
Second Daily Mail Race
Success/failure

Successful (681)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Number of crossings

One Way Swim (644)
Ratified

Daily Mail (47)
Radii, Hassan - 15/08/1952
Swimmer(s)

Radii, Hassan
Date
15/08/1952
Duration of swim
04:30
Notes
One of a large Egypt team that trained for the 1952 Race which never happened
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Ruiz, Luis Gilberto - 29/08/1952
Swimmer(s)

Ruiz, Luis Gilberto
Date
29/08/1952
Duration of swim
12:15
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)

PAGE: 12 3 4 5 Next >

Terms of use
Privacy and cookies
Accessibility
Admin login

Website by CommunitySites

Search swims

Filter by Success

Filter by Direction

Filter by Crossings

Filter by Ratified

Filter by Nationality

Filter by Year

Filter by Decade

Filter by Century

Sort by: