An exhausted Eilenn Fenton landing at Shakespeare beach, 1950 Daily Mail Channel Swimming Race

Eileen Fenton, 1950 Daily Mail Channel Swimming Race. Shakespere Beach.

The 1950 Daily Mail Channel Swimming Race showing Eileen Fenton finishing (1st woman ashore). Centre of picture, emerging from the sea.

Eileen Fenton was the first Lady home in the 1950 Daily Mail Swim in a time of 15hrs 31mins.

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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