• Skip to content
  • Contact
  • Search
(opens in new window)
Channel Swimming Dover
Celebrating the history and record of channel swims
  • Home
  • About
  • History
  • Swimmers
  • Swims
  • Photos
  • Lists
  • FAQs
  • Add to the site
You are here: HomenextSwimsnextRatifiednextIndependent

Independent

  • Abouheif, Abdel Latif - 02/08/1953

    Swimmer(s)
    Abouheif, Abdel Latif
    Date
    02/08/1953
    Successful swim number
    75
    Successful swimmer number
    39
    Successful swim number England - France
    13
    Duration of swim
    13:45
    Notes
    Started as First Leg of Relay but completed the swim
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Arabi, Saied El - 29/08/1952

    Swimmer(s)
    Arabi, Saied El
    Date
    29/08/1952
    Successful swim number
    72
    Successful swimmer number
    42
    Successful swim number England - France
    10
    Duration of swim
    17:42
    Notes
    St. Margarets Bay at 7 am
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Barnie, Dr. William Edward 'Ned' - 28/07/1951

    Swimmer(s)
    Barnie, Dr. William Edward 'Ned'
    Date
    28/07/1951
    Successful swim number
    47
    Successful swimmer number
    35
    Successful swim number England - France
    7
    Duration of swim
    19:02
    Notes
    Landed Cap Gris Nez
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Beltran, Damian Piza - 02/08/1953

    Description
    First Mexican Success
    Swimmer(s)
    Beltran, Damian Piza
    Date
    02/08/1953
    Successful swim number
    76
    Successful swimmer number
    54
    Successful swim number England - France
    14
    Duration of swim
    15:23
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Blower, Tom - 11/09/1951

    Swimmer(s)
    Blower, Tom
    Date
    11/09/1951
    Successful swim number
    67
    Successful swimmer number
    21
    Successful swim number England - France
    9
    Duration of swim
    18:42
    Notes
    St Margarets Bay at 6 a.m. Tried a 2-way but gave up return after 80 mins
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Blower, Tom - 30/08/1948

    Swimmer(s)
    Blower, Tom
    Date
    30/08/1948
    Successful swim number
    29
    Successful swimmer number
    21
    Successful swim number England - France
    5
    Duration of swim
    15:31
    Notes
    Western Beach 8.14 pm on 29th. Landed 11.45 am on 30th. Abandoned 2-way on return
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Burgess, Thomas William - 06/09/1911

    Description
    THOMAS WILLIAM BURGESS (ENG) (Naturalized Frenchman. Living in Paris). 15 June 1872 – 5 July 1950. 1911 success. START South Foreland 11.15am. Tue, Sept 5.; FINISH. Le Chatelet (C.G.Nez) 9.50am Sept 6; TIME 22h 35m.
    Swimmer(s)
    Burgess, Thomas William
    Date
    06/09/1911
    Successful swim number
    2
    Successful swimmer number
    2
    Successful swim number England - France
    2
    Duration of swim
    22:30
    Notes
    South Foreland at 11.15 am on the 6th. Landed Le Chatelet
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Burlingame, Glen - 21/08/1954

    Description
    Cap Gris-Nez. Fan Bay
    Swimmer(s)
    Burlingame, Glen
    Date
    21/08/1954
    Successful swim number
    87
    Successful swimmer number
    60
    Successful swim number France - England
    72
    Duration of swim
    14:10
    Notes
    Cap Gris Nez to Fan Bay. Very little Press notice due to the Billy Butlin race in progress.
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Clarke, Karteek (Alec) - 28/07/2004

    Swimmer(s)
    Clarke, Karteek (Alec)
    Date
    28/07/2004
    Duration of swim
    16:13
    Pilot
    D. Whyte
    Pilot boat
    Ocean Breeze
    Trainer
    M.G. Austin/B. Harbottle
    Notes
    Shakespeare Beach to Wissant. Disallowed by CSA due to Registration Problems
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Corson, Mrs Millicent C. - 28/08/1926

    Description
    START 11 32am Sat. Aug 27. FINISH 3 00am. Aug 28. TIME 15h 28m. Cap Gris-Nez - Shakespeare Beach. Grease; Lanolin. FOOD Sugar loaf, chocolate, cocoa, biscuits, small cakes. Stroke; Front crawl, 19 strokes per min, Trudgeon, some breast stroke. Temp. 62. Started 3h 28m before High tide. Neap tide.
    Swimmer(s)
    Corson, Mrs Millicent C.
    Date
    28/08/1926
    Successful swim number
    7
    Successful swimmer number
    7
    Successful swim number France - England
    4
    Duration of swim
    15:28
    Pilot
    Harry Pearson
    Pilot boat
    Viking motor boat
    Trainer
    Billy Kellingley
    Notes
    On board; Louis Timson, Mrs Ethel Kellingley, John Mitchell, Edmund V Goff (Northampton), Mr Forest, L Higgins, Miss Margaret Williams, Mr S. S. Waters (London), Mr Paul Waters, Mr Leslie R. Duncan (Dover Standard), Clemington Corson (Husband, rowed for entire swim), plus others. Mrs Corson was the mother of two children when she swam - Sonny and Marjorie. She was one of six children. Millie had two unsuccessful swims; 1923, time 14h 30m., 1927 9h 40m Recognized by C.S.A. 16-8-1928, but give wrong time of 15h 23m
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Duncan, Miss (Margaret) Peggy - 10/09/1930

    Description
    START 8 20pm Sept 9. FINISH 12 37am Sept 10. Cap Gris-Nez - South Foreland. Grease; Lambs fat. Food; Cocoa, coffee, beef tea. Trudgeon. Temp. 63.5. Weight 200lbs. Started. 4h 28 before high tide. Spring tides. Good conditions. Stung on face by Jelly fish.
    Swimmer(s)
    Duncan, Miss (Margaret) Peggy
    Date
    10/09/1930
    Successful swim number
    17
    Successful swimmer number
    17
    Successful swim number France - England
    14
    Duration of swim
    16:17
    Pilot
    Joe Costa
    Pilot boat
    Jenner tug
    Trainer
    Jabez Wolffe
    Notes
    Her father originally from Glasgow. She received 300 cables from South Africa, Including General Hertzog the Prime Minister, Mr N. C. Havenga, Minister of Finance, The High Commissioner for London, and Mr Bitizeus, Mayor of Capetown. She carried a message from the Mayor of Calais to the Mayor of Dover, translated for the Mayor by Joe Costa. Peggy came back to England in 1931 and waited all summer, but was unable to make an attempt due to poor weather.
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Ederle, Miss Gertrude - 06/08/1926

    Description
    Start 7 05am. Finish 9 44pm. Cap Gris-Nez - Kingsdown. Grease; Lanolin, Vaseline, Olive oil. Food; Roast chicken, Hot chocolate and Pineapple slices. Front crawl. Beef tea and Broth. Start 2hrs before high tide. Spring tide.
    Swimmer(s)
    Ederle, Miss Gertrude
    Date
    06/08/1926
    Successful swim number
    6
    Successful swimmer number
    6
    Successful swim number France - England
    3
    Duration of swim
    14:39
    Pilot
    Joe Costa (Louis Corthes) with Thomas Burgess
    Pilot boat
    Alsace, with press tug La Morinie
    Trainer
    Thomas Burgess
    Notes
    New Record Landed Kingsdown. Age 20. Height 5ft. Pace makers were Ishak Helmi and Louis Timson, Channel swimmers. Lillian Cannon also joined her half a mile off Dover. On board; Miss Lillian Cannon, Ishak Helmy, Louis Timson, her sister Mrs Margaret Deuschle, John Hayward (Daily Sketch), Madam Costa, Julie Harpman, Art Sorenson and her father. Recognized C.S.A. 16-8-1928
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Faber, Emma - 18/08/1934

    Description
    Started Cap Gris Nez 12.45 am, finished South Foreland 2.51 pm
    Swimmer(s)
    Faber, Emma
    Date
    18/08/1934
    Successful swim number
    20
    Successful swimmer number
    19
    Successful swim number France - England
    16
    Duration of swim
    14:06
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Gill, Mrs Ivy - 14/10/1927

    Description
    START. 9 11am. Oct 13. FINISH. 12 20am. Oct 14. Cap Gris-Nez - Shakespeare Cliff. Grease; Lanolin. Food; Beef extract, malted milk, Coffee. Stroke; Breaststroke, Trudgeon, a little on back. Temp. below 60’f., 57.2 inshore. Started 4hrs before high tide. Spring Tides. Weight 13 ½ stone. She lost one stone during the swim
    Swimmer(s)
    Gill, Mrs Ivy
    Date
    14/10/1927
    Successful swim number
    13
    Successful swimmer number
    13
    Successful swim number France - England
    10
    Duration of swim
    15:09
    Pilot
    Bertie Brockman with John 'Jack' Burwill
    Pilot boat
    Brockman & Sons boat
    Trainer
    Clarence Flower
    Notes
    Affidavit signed by; John Fellows (channel aspirant Rotherham), Clarence Fowler (Sheffield), Henry Bertie Brockman (Pilot), John Thomas Burwell (Assistant Pilot), Albert George O'Cree (Engineer), Ernest Stone (Boatman). Clarence Fowler whose name is appended to the document is Mrs Gill’s Trainer. The document reads, We, the undersigned, saw all the swim from Cap Gris Nez to Shakespeare Cliff, starting from Cap Gris Nez at 9 11 am October 13th and landing at Shakespeare Cliff at 12 20 am October 14th 1927, and are satisfied the swim was accomplished without any aid whatever.
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Gleitze, Miss Mercedes - 07/10/1927

    Description
    START 2 55am. FINISH. 6 10pm. Cap Gris-Nez - near South Foreland. Grease; Lanolin. Food; Grapes, Honey, Hot Tea and Cocoa. Stroke; Old English Back, some Breast stroke. Temp 60’f. Started 4h 23m before high tide. Neap tides. Very Foggy.
    Swimmer(s)
    Gleitze, Miss Mercedes
    Date
    07/10/1927
    Successful swim number
    12
    Successful swimmer number
    12
    Successful swim number France - England
    9
    Duration of swim
    15:15
    Pilot
    Henry Sharp Jnr. with John Thomas Burwill
    Pilot boat
    Fishing Boat FE.11
    Trainer
    G. H. Allan
    Notes
    On Board; Mrs A. Sharp She was unconscious for two hours after the swim. She had no independent witnesses on board. Because of the doubts raised over Doctor Dorothy Logan’s Swim, she made a vindication swim on Oct 21st, although this first swim was later recognised by the CSA.
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Guler, Murat - 15/08/1954

    Swimmer(s)
    Guler, Murat
    Date
    15/08/1954
    Successful swim number
    78
    Successful swimmer number
    56
    Successful swim number France - England
    64
    Duration of swim
    16:50
    Pilot
    Captain Malfois
    Pilot boat
    Rolande Sonia
    Trainer
    Rolande Lovergne
    Notes
    Cap Gris Nez to St. Margarets Bay, START Aug 14. 7 40 a.m. FINISH Aug 15. 12 30 a.m. Look-out posts reported at six o clock in the evening Guler’s accompanying boat was 5 miles off St Margaret’s Bay. One hour later his position had not changed to any great extent, but he was gradually being carried west by a strong tide. By ten o clock the boats position was given as about 5 miles from shore some mile and a half west of the harbour, with the swimmer making little progress. The mist was thickening making it difficult to follow the lights of the vessel, but at 11 o clock it was still thought to be west of the Harbour and some four or five miles from shore. These reports are not born out by Guler himself who stated that at 10 00 clock he was 200 yds outside the breakwater, he landed at St Margaret’s Bay at 12 30 a.m. he said the last lap of the swim took him 2 hours. The swim was recognized by the International Long Distance Swimming Association. There was no Observer from the Channel Swimming Association. Glen Burlingham swam in with him.
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)
    Unratified (2)

  • Hawke, Miss Ivy - 19/08/1928

    Description
    START 9 59pm. FINISH 5 15pm. Cap Gris-Nez - Hope Point. Grease; Lanolin. Food; Tea, chocolate, three pears, one lemon. Stroke; Trudgeon. Started 1h 23m after high tide. It was the longest France-England swim. Spring tide.
    Swimmer(s)
    Hawke, Miss Ivy
    Date
    19/08/1928
    Successful swim number
    14
    Successful swimmer number
    14
    Successful swim number France - England
    11
    Duration of swim
    19:16
    Pilot
    Joe Costa (Louis Corthes) with Thomas Burgess
    Pilot boat
    Alsace
    Trainer
    Thomas Burgess
    Notes
    This was Miss Hawk’s third attempt. 27 Independent witnesses, including Dr T H Dawson, Dr Munrow, Dr Schiff, Mrs Console and family, Jabez Wolffe, Hilda Sharp.
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Helmi, Ishak - 01/09/1928

    Description
    Started 31st Cap Gris Nez 23:40 pm, landed Folkestone on 1st 1.46pm
    Swimmer(s)
    Helmi, Ishak
    Date
    01/09/1928
    Successful swim number
    16
    Successful swimmer number
    16
    Successful swim number France - England
    13
    Duration of swim
    23:40
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Kok, Mary - 18/08/1960

    Swimmer(s)
    Kok, Mary
    Date
    18/08/1960
    Successful swim number
    138
    Successful swimmer number
    98
    Successful swim number France - England
    116
    Duration of swim
    12:25
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Lowry, Ethel 'Sunny' - 29/08/1933

    Description
    START. 6 36pm Aug 28. FINISH 10 17am Aug 29. Cap Gris-Nez - St Margaret’s Bay. Grease; Chilli paste & Lanolin. Food; Coffee, cocoa, beef tea from a medicine bottle(no solids). Weight 14 st 7 lbs. Height 5ft 4ins. Stroke; Front Crawl. Started 1h 45m after high tide. Neap tide. C.S.A Observer Mr Roger Bazin.
    Swimmer(s)
    Lowry, Ethel 'Sunny'
    Date
    29/08/1933
    Successful swim number
    18
    Successful swimmer number
    18
    Successful swim number France - England
    15
    Duration of swim
    15:41
    Pilot
    Louis Corthes with the Betts brothers as boatmen
    Pilot boat
    Isabelle
    Trainer
    Jabez Wolffe
    Notes
    Ratified by C.S.A. 30 March 1958. 24 witnesses, including her Mother. This was her third attempt. 2005 awarded M.B.E. for services to swimming. 2003 inducted into the swimming hall of fame. There were 18 attempts in 1933. Only Sunny was successful. Two sisters - Annie, who was Northern Counties back stroke champion, and Betty, represented Manchester school girls.
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Mabileau, Adrien - 11/09/1963

    Description
    Started Cap Gris Nez 5am with Montilly, swm side-by-side, landing east of Dover 9.15am
    Swimmer(s)
    Mabileau, Adrien
    Date
    11/09/1963
    Successful swim number
    155
    Successful swimmer number
    108
    Successful swim number France - England
    128
    Duration of swim
    15:35
    Pilot boat
    Saint-Jean trawler
    Notes
    French organised. Swam with Montilly
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Michel, Georges - 10/09/1926

    Description
    Started Cap Gris Nez, finished St Margarets Bay 7.25am
    Swimmer(s)
    Michel, Georges
    Date
    10/09/1926
    Successful swim number
    9
    Successful swimmer number
    9
    Successful swim number France - England
    6
    Duration of swim
    11:06
    Notes
    LONDON, Sept. 10 1926 -- The world's English Channel swimming record, held within five weeks by an American for twenty-four days and by a German for eleven, flitted to France today when Georges Michel, doughty Paris baker, kneaded his way across "La Manche" (the Sleeve), as the French call the Channel, in 11 hours 5 minutes. Michel landed in St Margarets Bay, midway between Dover and Deal. When he took the water last evening sea conditions were favorable, and there was good swimming virtually all the way to England until the last two miles, when the wind began to stiffen. At the start there was a fast tide under, him, and when flood tide began it carried him along way across. Started on Ebb Tide Michel, in addition to breaking the record, also upset all precedents in starting. He left the rocks at Gris-Nez an hour before low tide, Instead of four hours before high tide. He believed that in starting thus he could accomplish the feat before him in 10 hours. The experts, however, doubted this... Perhaps his best previous swim was Aug 1 when he won the cross Paris Marathon on the River Seine. He made the 26 miles, aided by a strong current, in llh 20m. The first Frenchman to swim the Channel is of Herculean build and is outclassed in size among Channel aspirants only by the giant Egyptian, Ishak Helmy, who has failed in all his efforts to get from France to the chalk cliffs about Dover. Michel had been trying every year since 1922 to make the trip. His last attempt before today was on Sept 4, when he was balked by bad weather after being in the water a little more than an hour... Michel is no youngster, but is nearing middle age. He is remarkable for his size, being taller than most Frenchmen, and only a few can boast of being broader either around the shoulders or waist. He carries more than one chin above his broad, fleshy shoulders. Nine times before last night, Michel strode into the channel in attempt to conquer her. Two of his unsuccessful starts were made this year. He never set up training quarters at Gris-Nez and devoted weeks to accustoming himself to the Channel waters, as do most of those who make the attempt. It was always his practice, whenever the notion struck him with particular force, to turn his bakery shop in a Parisian suburb over to his wife, take a train to the coast and, after two or three days of practice, start for the English shore.
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Mickman, Philip - 02/09/1952

    Swimmer(s)
    Mickman, Philip
    Date
    02/09/1952
    Successful swim number
    74
    Successful swimmer number
    28
    Successful swim number England - France
    12
    Duration of swim
    18:44
    Notes
    St Margarets Bay to Cap Blanc Nez
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    England-France (657)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)

  • Montilly, Georges - 11/09/1963

    Description
    Started Cap Gris Nez 5am with Mobilleau, swm side-by-side, landing east of Dover 9.15am
    Swimmer(s)
    Montilly, Georges
    Date
    11/09/1963
    Successful swim number
    156
    Successful swimmer number
    109
    Successful swim number France - England
    129
    Duration of swim
    15:35
    Pilot boat
    Saint-Jean trawler
    Notes
    French organised. Swam with Mabileau
    Success/failure
    Successful (681)
    Direction(s)
    France-England (736)
    Number of crossings
    One Way Swim (644)
    Ratified
    Independent (34)
PAGE:12Next >
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy and cookies
  • Accessibility
  • Admin login
Website by CommunitySites
  • Dover District Council
  • Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery