Christmas swim breaks record

A RECORD number of hardy swimmers took advantage of favourable conditions for a Christmas morning swim at the Bathing Pools. Three hundred people turned out for the annual event, which used to be known as the Polar Swim and is believed to have started when the Guernsey Swimming Club was inaugurated in 1886.

Event organiser Jo Norman of the GSC was delighted with the turnout and more than 250 people collected certificates from her and her band of helpers.

'It's always brilliant and a wonderful atmosphere and it's the challenge of doing it on Christmas Day. Unfortunately the water level is a bit low but as long as they keep coming, I'm prepared to keep giving certificates out. We appreciate all the people who come down to support us,' she said.

'That is probably the most we have ever had and it was swarming with people. The sun was shining and there were some new faces.'

These included a little girl from Australia and several holidaying South Africans.

Christmas cake was on hand as a reward for those who braved the temperature of about 10C in the Ladies' Pool.

First in the water, shortly after 9am, was nine-year-old Rebeka Le Ray and eight-year-old UK resident Georgia Beckett, a fellow first-timer, followed soon afterwards.

Four staff and up to 25 guests from the St Pierre Park Hotel helped swell the turnout.

'Our guests love it and the staff love it and more and more people are coming each year. Some guests have been doing it every year since the hotel opened. They are all from the UK and 30-40% come back year after year,' said the hotel's assistant manager, Tobias Kallies, 29.

Head porter Tom Brouard, 67, who donned a fetching WKD hat, said: 'It was very cold and the tide has been low too long and the cement is colder, but there is a good crowd from the hotel.

'I have been doing it for about 20 years. You have got to have an idiot in the hotel and I happen to be the idiot,' he joked.

David Pateman, 40, who lives just outside Bognor Regis, was back for his 16th consecutive year, this time joined by wife Carol and parents Marjorie and Roy.

'I just enjoy it and coming to see my friends ' it's good fun,' he said.

His wife added: 'I have gone in every time since the millennium. It's a shock to the system.'

The regulars were out in force and included Bernie Savage, 78, who is one of the 'rat' swimmers who take a dip every day of the year. Many of them have been doing so for 20 years.

'It was lovely and I had a good swim out. It's a nice atmosphere,' he said.

His wife, Norma, added: 'It was cold but nice and it's enjoyable.'

Ronald Gallienne said: 'It keeps me young. I enjoy coming down here with the all-year-round swimmers. They are a great happy crowd and people who need a lift in their lives should join us.'

Deputy Janine Le Sauvage, another regular swimmer, said she liked to see people enjoying themselves and laughing and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

'The pool is cold because it's not covered and it's a couple of degrees warmer in the

sea.

'There is a hardcore here of at least 20 people who swim daily at 10am and others come at different times of the day. We have had visitors from Cobo today and all in all, it's jolly nice,' she said.