Search swimsCurrently displaying: 5 results You've searched for:Surname: "M" xRatified: "Independent" x Field to search All fieldsSuccessful swim numberSuccessful swimmer numberSwim ranking (England-France)Swim ranking (France-England) Search term Filter by Direction England-France (1)France-England (4)Filter by Nationality Belgium (1)France (3)UK (1)Filter by Year 1926 (1)1949 (1)1952 (1)1963 (2)Filter by Decade 1920s (1)1940s (1)1950s (1)1960s (2) Sort by: OldestNewestSwimmerSuccessful swim numberSuccessful swimmer number Michel, Georges - 10/09/1926Description Started Cap Gris Nez, finished St Margarets Bay 7.25amSwimmer(s) Michel, GeorgesDate 10/09/1926Successful swim number 9Successful swimmer number 9Successful swim number France - England 6Duration of swim 11:06Notes 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)Moulin, Fernand du - 03/09/1949Description Cap Gris Nez to Abbots Cliff. Started 9 p.m.Swimmer(s) Moulin, Fernand duDate 03/09/1949Successful swim number 31Successful swimmer number 29Successful swim number France - England 26Duration of swim 21:59Success/failure Successful (681)Direction(s) France-England (736)Number of crossings One Way Swim (644)Ratified Independent (34)Mickman, Philip - 02/09/1952Swimmer(s) Mickman, PhilipDate 02/09/1952Successful swim number 74Successful swimmer number 28Successful swim number England - France 12Duration of swim 18:44Notes St Margarets Bay to Cap Blanc NezSuccess/failure Successful (681)Direction(s) England-France (657)Number of crossings One Way Swim (644)Ratified Independent (34)Mabileau, Adrien - 11/09/1963Description Started Cap Gris Nez 5am with Montilly, swm side-by-side, landing east of Dover 9.15amSwimmer(s) Mabileau, AdrienDate 11/09/1963Successful swim number 155Successful swimmer number 108Successful swim number France - England 128Duration of swim 15:35Pilot boat Saint-Jean trawlerNotes French organised. Swam with MontillySuccess/failure Successful (681)Direction(s) France-England (736)Number of crossings One Way Swim (644)Ratified Independent (34)Montilly, Georges - 11/09/1963Description Started Cap Gris Nez 5am with Mobilleau, swm side-by-side, landing east of Dover 9.15amSwimmer(s) Montilly, GeorgesDate 11/09/1963Successful swim number 156Successful swimmer number 109Successful swim number France - England 129Duration of swim 15:35Pilot boat Saint-Jean trawlerNotes French organised. Swam with MabileauSuccess/failure Successful (681)Direction(s) France-England (736)Number of crossings One Way Swim (644)Ratified Independent (34)