Eileen Fenton on her Morecambe Bay swim

Eileen Fenton.

Eileen Fenton during her swim in 1948 in Morecambe Bay, she was second in a time of 3 hours 44mins.

Eileen Fenton, a 21 year old scripture teacher from Dewsbury, Yorkshire, was the first lady to finish the 1950 race, in a time of 15hrs 31mins, and received a winners cheque of £1000

The townsfolk of Dewsbury in Yorkshire paid Eileens expenses by raising a subscription fund. Alderman M. Scargill, said: ” A few sceptics thought that Eileen was such a slight, quiet sort of a girl that she would not stand a chance. But the town backed her to the hilt and we have won handsomely.”

In the 1951 race she was unsuccessful in a time of 12hrs 50mins.

Eileen is a founder member of the British Long Distance Swimming Association

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