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One 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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