British Team Fall Just Shy of English Channel Relay World Record; Raise Vital Funds For Water Safety Education
A six-strong British team featuring three-time Olympic champion Tom Dean has raised more than £8,000 for the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS) while falling just three minutes shy of the English Channel relay world record.
The team swam under the banner ‘Spirit of Great Britain’ with the record of six hours 52 minutes in their sights, a standard that has stood to a USA squad for 36 years.
The objective was to raise funds for the RLSS UK’s water safety education programmes for children.
The challenge started at Shakespeare Beach, near Dover, with double open water Olympian Hector Pardoe charging through jellyfish-riddled 18°C waters. Pardoe handed over to George Taplin, Lake Windermere world record holder, who maintained a pace of 1:07 per 100m.
Next up was Toby Robinson, British open water Olympian, who took the team to the halfway mark where he handed over to Dan Jervis, two-time Olympian and double Commonwealth medallist, who guided the team through the fourth leg despite losing his cap.
Dean, an RLSS UK Ambassador, was next off the boat and handed over to Josh Gammon with France in sight with the relay’s average time now down to 1:05.
Pardoe was ready to tackle another round for the team. The incoming tide proved strong, and he fought through more jellyfish towards Cap Gris Nez, France, reaching shore in 6hrs 55 mins, It was a new British record by 22 minutes and just three minutes shy of the relay world record.
Dean posted to social media, saying: “British record secured, world record coming soon… Tantalising to be three minutes off the record but thank you so much for the support and some fantastic funds raised for @rlssuk”