Ned Barnie, Sam Rockett, Antonio Abertondo shaving for Gillette sponsors

Folkestone Pool, Kent. Ned Barnie, and Sam Rockett, of Great Britain, and Antonio Abertondo, Argentina. Using Gillette Razors – who were sponsors for the 1951 race.

Abertondo was the first person to complete a two-way non-stop swim of the English Channel, in 1961. His time for the swim was 43 hours 10 minutes. Abertondo was sponsored by the Argentine Government.

Abertondo made one unsuccessful attempt – on Aug 7th 1950 (time 25 hours), giving up  one mile from England.

His other successes were; the Aug 22 1950 and Aug 16 1951 Daily Mail races. He was placed 8th and 14th; and the Aug 21 1954 Billy Butlin race. He was placed sixth.

In 1950 he swam 168 miles down the river Plate in 61 hrs. He once swam 291 miles down the Mississippi River in 3 days, 9 hours.

Ned Barnie swam the Channel three times and was unsuccessful six times.

Sam Rockett swam in the 1950 Daily Mail race and was the fourth man  to finish. He was Supervisor for the 1951 Daily Mail Race, an International race held in the “Festival of Britain year” and 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”