Channel swimmers Andersen, Cruz, Boutagy & Rockett, Daily Mail Race

Folkestone International Open Air Pool, Folkestone, Kent. 1950 Daily Mail race.  From the left: 1/ Elna Anderson, Denmark. 2/ Alfonzo Cruz, Guatemala. 3/ Wanda Boutagy, Israel (Wanda swam for 5hrs 38mins, her father took her out because he was afraid of the Tope.)  4/ Sam Rockett, G.B.

Elna made twelve unsuccessful English Channel swims, from 1946 to 1959 (her best attempt was in 1950 in the Daily Mail swim when she reached within two miles of the English shore, She swam for 14hrs.37 minutes).

She did nine individual attempts, and two with Billy Butlin.

France to England: Sept.17th 1946, 3hours 2mins. July 27th 1947, 2hrs. 20mins.  Sept. 04th 1947, 21hrs.15mins. Sept. 10th 1948, 2hrs. 5mins. Aug. 22nd 1950, 14hrs. 37mins. First Daily Mail Race. Aug. 6th 1953,  8hrs, 2mins. Billy Butlin Race. Aug. 8th 1955, 7hrs. 30mins. Billy Butlin Race. Sept. 3rd 1957, 2hrs.30mins.

England to France: Aug. 2nd 1951, 12hrs. 35mins. Aug. 14th 1952, 15hrs. 8mins. July. 15th 1959, 13hrs. Aug. 10th 1959, 15hrs. 6mins.

Sam Rockett swam in the 1950 Daily Mail race and was the fourth man  to finish. Sam’s Time was 14hrs 17mins. He was Supervisor for the 1951 Daily Mail Race, an International race held in the “Festival of Britain year”. He was also supervisor for the Billy Butlin races from 1953 to 1959, and the Sir Billy Butlin long distance walk from John O Groats to Lands End.

He played County Water Polo for a number of Counties. He was author of the book “Its Cold in the Channel”.

Alfonso  Cruz was in the 1950 Daily Mail swim and swam for 5hrs 47mins. He was the Guatemalan Champion, and had recently swam 27 miles in 12 hours.

From the Sam Rockett collection.

Black and White photograph.