Channel swimmers, Maciel and Tiraboschi

Channel swimmers Maciel & Tiraboschi. Channel swimmer, Tiraboschi, in the sea off Shakespeare beach, Dover. Image shows Maciel greeting the triumphant Tiraboschi after a successful Channel swim. Maceil had failed in his attempt the same day.

Tiraboschi was the first of the swimmers from France to England; his time was 16hrs 33mins which was almost 5 hrs faster than any England to France swim.

There was soon after a further 15 successful swims from France to England; the business men of Dover wanted to promote the England to France swims in order to create business in Dover. To this end they purchased the Dover Gold Cup in 1927 for the first person to swim from Dover, or its immediate neighborhood to France. The timing shall be carried out by the witness or witnesses appointed by the committee and each competitor shall be responsible for seeing that it is checked. They said that they were not interested in the France to England swims, perhaps some other interested organisation could organise these swims.

The Gold Cup was finally won in 1934, The Dover Gold Cup rules were adopted by the Channel Swimming Association

Tiraboschi received £1000 from the Daily Sketch, which he gave to the International Swimming Federation. He was received by Mussolini, the Italian Premier, who informed him that the King had appointed him a Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy. He also received a Gold Medal from the Channel Swimming Club.

Previously he had 2 unsuccessful, swims in 1921 & 1922.