Further to our brief report yesterday on the Wild West Solent Swim that took place on Sunday, here’s a more detailed report from Clare at West Wight Sports Centre. Ed
The second Wild West Solent Swim took place on Sunday morning and what a morning it was – 63 swimmers, accompanied by 41 kayaks, eight small boats, three large safety boats and two lifeboats – successfully made the crossing.
It was truly inspirational with a huge range of people from all sorts of backgrounds, all levels of personal fitness and all ages taking part raising money for West Wight Sports Centre and 19 other charities.
Uncertain weather conditions
Nerves were heightened by the uncertainty over weather conditions and therefore whether the event would go ahead, but organisers convened at 5am and the decision was made to go ahead in slight winds.
Swimmers were transported across in the flotilla of boats to Hurst where they met the kayaks and started their swim at around 8am.
Spectacular display across the water
The coloured swim hats, multi-coloured hulls of kayaks and boats made a spectacular display in the sunshine that suddenly peeped from behind the cloud.
First swimmers across were Jack Grundy and Fiona Seymour, but others were close behind, with everyone home and safe after just an hour and ten minutes.
Finished despite the cramp
Marion Heming bravely completed the swim suffering with cramp and, unable to stand at the end, was lifted from the sea by two of the team of helpers ashore.
The two oldest finishers – Madleine Goodman and Alison Harding, 68 and 69 years respectively, came ashore together hand-in-hand. All took part as a personal challenge – some had never swum the distance before starting their training for the swim, some were using as part of their own fitness and weight loss programme, all were determined to raise money for charity.
Well supported
Hundreds of spectators and supporters were at Colwell to greet the swimmers – and the sound could be heard from across the Solent – and provided extra motivation to them.
The swim was set up to raise money for West Wight Sports Centre Trust – the charity that runs West Wight Sports Centre- as well as providing a fitness challenge for the Centre’s users to aspire to.
Over £20,000 expected to be raised
It has far exceeded this in its second year, with an expected £20,000 + being raised for the sports centre as well as the 19 other charities.
West Wight Sports Centre relies on the support of the community to ensure it can continue to provide sports and fitness facilities – its voluntary Trustees are currently negotiating with Isle of Wight Council to ensure the annual grant is maintained.
West Wight Sports Centre
The Centre serves the whole West Wight with activities as diverse as Women’s Institutes, Kick Boxing, swimming, seated exercise classes for the elderly and vast range of other activities and services.
Clare Griffin, Centre Manager said, “We are so proud to have been able to put the Solent Swim on – it has enabled people to achieve something very special and we have been touched by the comments made by swimmers and volunteers since Sunday. It has been truly inspirational.
“We estimate that around 170 people were involved in some way to make the event happen – we are indebted to them all, but in particular to Fiona Thorpe who took on the organisation of the event on the water.”
In case you missed our earlier report, Joey Briscoe and Christian Beasley were both on the scene with their handy video cameras to capture the event.
