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You are here: HomenextSwimsnextNumber of crossingsnextOne Way Swim

One Way Swim

  • Webb, Captain Matthew - 25/08/1875

    Description
    Temp 65°f. Porpoises sighted at 3:08 and 4:30. Mainly Breast stroke some side stroke. Start 26 strokes per min, after 1 hr 22 for 2 ½ hrs then a steady 20.
    Swimmer(s)
    Webb, Captain Matthew
    Date
    25/08/1875
    Successful swim number
    1
    Successful swimmer number
    1
    Successful swim number England - France
    1
    Duration of swim
    21:45
    Pilot
    Capt George Toms, (Mate) John Dodd. Five crew - Bowles, Jell, Gates, Gates, Decent, and Stanley.
    Pilot boat
    Lugger Ann, two rowing boats.
    Notes
    START 12:56 pm. Tue, Aug 24; FINISH 10:41am. Aug 25; TIME 21h 45m E-F. Step at End of Admiralty Pier to Calais Sands. Recognized by C.S.A. 16-8-1928. Grease; Porpoise Grease. Neap tide, started on half ebb. Start; 3½ hrs before high water. Tide 15ft 10 inch. Food; Ale. Beef tea.Coffee.Brandy.Cod liver oil. Allotted Witnesses were; Mr. A. G. Payne and Mr. Harry F. Wilkinson, of the Ilex swimming club. Others on board; J. B. Jones, (Editor Dover Express) Mr Warman (Dover Chronicle) Mr Bell (Illustrated News) taking pictures. George Ward (cousin). At the start the sea was so calm that the sweeps had to be plied to keep the Lugger up with the swimmer. In the last two hrs large waves were breaking over the swimmer and Webb’s haggard face could occasionally be seen above the waves. The Porpoise grease was provided by the Athone Boot Company. His woolen costume weighed 10 lbs. A French Doctor thrust himself into the room uninvited, then sent a bill for 50 Francs. On Capt George Toms Tombstone is recorded the fact that he piloted Capt Webb when he swam the Channel. Webb presented him with a gold ring. Webb had already swam 21 miles, from Blackwall to Gravesend. And Dover to Ramsgate.
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Westley, Wilfred - 19/07/1957

    Description
    Started St. Margarets Bay, gave up after about 4 miles
    Swimmer(s)
    Westley, Wilfred
    Date
    19/07/1957
    Duration of swim
    2:00
    Notes
    ...English Channel this summer gave up last night two hours after entering the water at St. Margaret's Bay, near Dover. He is Wilfred Westley (40), an estate agent. of Beryl Rd., Hammersmith. London. He had covered about four miles: 20 July 1957 - Birmingham Daily Post
    Success/failure
    Failed (725)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)

  • Wetherly, Alison - 18/08/1983

    Swimmer(s)
    Wetherly, Alison
    Date
    18/08/1983
    Successful swim number
    485
    Successful swimmer number
    279
    Successful swim number France - England
    212
    Duration of swim
    16:20
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CSA (473)

  • Wheatcroft, Fernley - 28/08/1938

    Swimmer(s)
    Wheatcroft, Fernley
    Date
    28/08/1938
    Successful swim number
    24
    Successful swimmer number
    23
    Successful swim number France - England
    20
    Duration of swim
    13:45
    Notes
    Cap Gris Nez to Abbots Cliff
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)

  • White, Margaret - 02/09/1961

    Swimmer(s)
    White, Margaret
    Date
    02/09/1961
    Successful swim number
    144
    Successful swimmer number
    102
    Successful swim number France - England
    119
    Duration of swim
    15:08
    Pilot
    Hutchinson, Len
    Pilot boat
    Victor
    Notes
    Cap Gris Nez to The Warren
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CSA (473)

  • Wildschut, Monique - 20/09/1984

    Swimmer(s)
    Wildschut, Monique
    Date
    20/09/1984
    Successful swim number
    506
    Successful swimmer number
    267
    Successful swim number England - France
    288
    Duration of swim
    08:44
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CSA (473)

  • Wildschut, Monique - 31/08/1982

    Swimmer(s)
    Wildschut, Monique
    Date
    31/08/1982
    Successful swim number
    460
    Successful swimmer number
    267
    Successful swim number England - France
    257
    Duration of swim
    08:44
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CSA (473)

  • Wilkin Oxley, Jean - 25/07/1972

    Swimmer(s)
    Wilkin Oxley, Jean
    Date
    25/07/1972
    Successful swim number
    239
    Successful swimmer number
    160
    Successful swim number England - France
    64
    Duration of swim
    14:50
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CSA (473)

  • Willemse, Herman - 27/08/1959

    Description
    Start 1 53 a.m. Finish. 2. 42. p.m. Cap Gris-Nez - Folkestone Beach. Observer B Blowers.
    Swimmer(s)
    Willemse, Herman
    Date
    27/08/1959
    Successful swim number
    115
    Successful swimmer number
    83
    Successful swim number France - England
    96
    Duration of swim
    12:49
    Pilot
    A. White
    Pilot boat
    Seabird
    Notes
    He was thirteen times National champion of the Netherlands. Twice winner of the Scheldt cup. Dutch champion 100m, 400m, and 1500m. This was the 7th. Billy Butlin Channel race.
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Butlins (192)

  • Wilson, Kathleen - 25/08/2001

    Swimmer(s)
    Wilson, Kathleen
    Date
    25/08/2001
    Duration of swim
    13:10
    Pilot
    L. Oram
    Pilot boat
    Sea Satin
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CS&PF (101)

  • Wood, Trevor - 28/07/2004

    Swimmer(s)
    Wood, Trevor
    Date
    28/07/2004
    Duration of swim
    13:51
    Pilot
    L. Oram
    Pilot boat
    Sea Satin
    Trainer
    B. Beadle
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CS&PF (101)

  • Wray, Kenneth James - 21/08/1957

    Description
    Start Cap Gris Nez 4 10 a.m. Finish Shakespeare Cliff 8 10 p.m. Stroke Front crawl. Start 4 hours before high water. This was the 5th Billy Butlin Race. Observer. A. Fido.
    Swimmer(s)
    Wray, Kenneth James
    Date
    21/08/1957
    Successful swim number
    99
    Successful swimmer number
    69
    Successful swim number France - England
    81
    Duration of swim
    16:00
    Pilot
    A. Kelsey
    Pilot boat
    Potunas
    Notes
    5th Butlins Race. 2nd of 2 finishers
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Butlins (192)

  • Yeats, Mary - 05/08/1979

    Swimmer(s)
    Yeats, Mary
    Date
    05/08/1979
    Successful swim number
    377
    Successful swimmer number
    233
    Successful swim number England - France
    184
    Duration of swim
    11:19
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CSA (473)

  • Young, Bridget - 10/09/1985

    Swimmer(s)
    Young, Bridget
    Date
    10/09/1985
    Successful swim number
    529
    Successful swimmer number
    307
    Successful swim number England - France
    303
    Duration of swim
    09:58
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CSA (473)

  • Zarzeczanska, Teresa - 30/08/1975

    Swimmer(s)
    Zarzeczanska, Teresa
    Date
    30/08/1975
    Successful swim number
    291
    Successful swimmer number
    192
    Successful swim number England - France
    107
    Duration of swim
    11:10
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CSA (473)

  • Zeitzen, Vera - 07/09/1981

    Swimmer(s)
    Zeitzen, Vera
    Date
    07/09/1981
    Successful swim number
    441
    Successful swimmer number
    256
    Successful swim number England - France
    241
    Duration of swim
    10:27
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    CSA (473)

  • Zirganos, Major Zasson (Jason) - 16/08/1951

    Swimmer(s)
    Zirganos, Major Zasson (Jason)
    Date
    16/08/1951
    Successful swim number
    60
    Successful swimmer number
    31
    Successful swim number France - England
    53
    Duration of swim
    14:10
    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)

  • Zirganos, Major Zasson (Jason) - 18/09/1949

    Swimmer(s)
    Zirganos, Major Zasson (Jason)
    Date
    18/09/1949
    Successful swim number
    34
    Successful swimmer number
    31
    Successful swim number France - England
    28
    Duration of swim
    18:45
    Notes
    Cap Gris Nez to Langdon Stairs
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)

  • Zirganos, Major Zasson (Jason) - 21/08/1954

    Description
    Start 4 hours before high water. START 12 31 am. FINISH 4 54 pm.
    Swimmer(s)
    Zirganos, Major Zasson (Jason)
    Date
    21/08/1954
    Successful swim number
    84
    Successful swimmer number
    31
    Successful swim number France - England
    69
    Duration of swim
    16:23
    Notes
    Cap Gris-Nez. Landed Eastern Arm
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Butlins (192)

  • Zirganos, Major Zasson (Jason) - 22/08/1950

    Swimmer(s)
    Zirganos, Major Zasson (Jason)
    Date
    22/08/1950
    Successful swim number
    42
    Successful swimmer number
    31
    Successful swim number France - England
    36
    Duration of swim
    16:17
    Notes
    Cap Gris Nez to Dover Harbour
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Daily Mail (47)
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