A group of female Channel swimmers, 1951 Daily Mail Race

A Group of Female Channel Swimmers at Folkestone Pool, 1951

Image shows a group of female Channel swimmers from a number of countries. The ladies took part in The Daily Mail Cross Channel Race, held in 1951.

Clockwise from top: Brenda Fisher, Sally Bauer, Jenny Kammersgaard, Enriqueta Duarte, Eileen Fenton, Winnie Roach.

Swedish swimmer Sally Bauer took part in the 1951 Daily Mail Cross Channel Race. Like many of the participants she prepared for the race at Folkestone Swimming Club. She was the sixteenth swimmer to finish. Her time was 14 hrs 40 mins. She had also swam the channel on Aug 27 1939, time 15 hrs 22 mins. Due to fear of the Second World War, Sally had to rush back home and her swim was unratified and not added to the Channel Swimming Association list untill 1975

Duarte was placed 8th with a time of 13hrs 26mins, her age 22 years. Enriquata’s pilot was W.J. Spain, and the escort vessel “Wave Queen”. She holds Argentina records over 200, 400, 500, 800, meters freestyle. She was placed first in a 18km river race, (4th against the men ), also placed 1st in a race of 5, 10, and 12km, in Mar del Plata. She also represented Argentina in 1948 London Olympic Games.

Jenny Kammersgaard of Copenhagen, swims include Kattaget, Sea land to Jutland 1937. Baltic to Jutland 1937. Denmark to Germany 1938. She was the first woman to swim the channel Breast stroke. She made two successful swims both Daily Mail, she was the last lady in both races, in 1950 she did 16hrs 27mins. She was the second women swimmer to finish and the last successful swmmer to finish.15 swimmers failed. In 1951 she swam in 15hrs 38mins. She swam two individuals in 1952, without success and one in 1954.

Winnie Roach, Canada, was second in Daily Mail Cross Channel “Festival of Britain” race in 1951 in a time of 13 hours and 25 minutes. She became the first Canadian to swim the English Channel. A mother of three, in her private life she was Mrs. Leuszler. 1944 National A.A.U Long Distance Amateur Champion. 1947 2nd in Worlds Professional Womens 5 miles. 1948 3rd in Worlds Pro Womens swim. 1949, 2nd in the same race.

Brenda Fisher was a very successful long distance swimmer, her achievements include; in 1948 she won the Morecambe Bay Championship, in 1951 she was the first lady home in a new record time of 12hrs 42mins, she recieved a trophy from Eva Peron for being the first lady home. In 1954 she was the first lady home, her time was 14hrs 36mins. In 1956 she swam Lake Ontario in a new record time of 18hrs 51mins. Also in 1956 she was the first lady home in the Nile Swim. In 1957 she swam for 15hrs 25mins in the Billy Butlin Swim.

Eileen Fenton was the first lady home in 1950 Daily Mail Swim in a time of 15hrs 31mins. In the 1951 Daily Mail swim, she retired after swimming for 12hrs 45mins. She had previously swam Morecambe Bay in 3hrs 44.5 minutes. Eileen is a founder member of the British Long Distance Swimming Association

A Black and White Photograph. The Sam Rockett Collection.