Students dive in for early start to the Skipton Swimarathon

PUPILS have been diving head first into this year’s Skipton Swimarathon with the first event kicking off this week at Elizabeth College.

Braden Morris, left, and Oscar Evans, both 12, were two of the Year 8 swimmers as Swimarathon 2019 began at Elizabeth College with one of the ‘At Large’ sessions. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 25937803)

Students from each year will be swimming for 55 minutes every lunchtime throughout the week, competing to tot up the largest number of laps for their respective house.

The Swimarathon, sponsored by Skipton, has been expanding its venues from just Beau Sejour since 2009.

These events are called Skipton Swimarathon At Large and are currently held at Les Beaucamps High, Elizabeth College and Baubigny Schools’ pool with Le Murier and St Sampson’s High.

Skipton Swimarathon At Large at Elizabeth College. (25937798)

As a result, many more children from these schools have been able to participate and have certainly added to the total sponsorship raised.

For Elizabeth College, already having hosted three charitable events in the first month of the new term, it is the event that sees most participation, with over 150 pupils in this year’s event.

Head of swimming Brian Aplin said: ‘I am here just for the lifeguarding, without the safety aspect all the adults could leave and the event would still run – it is almost wholly pupil-led.

‘Our charities prefect, Rahil Anees, manages the organisational side with the help of other prefects and then through an assembly will encourage the boys to participate.

‘Lots of them swim at Beau Sejour with swim club, Scouts, a parent’s team, and so they may end up doing two or three Swimarathons – this is just the start.’

Elizabeth College has a 25-metre pool like Beau Sejour, although it is outdoors.

The college pupils will be competing against all the other secondary schools to see which can complete the most laps in the sessions allotted.

Swimarathon chairman Nick Guillemette said: ‘The pupils will be swimming for 55 minutes each lunch hour this week – today is Year 8.

‘They have to see how many lengths they can collectively do in the time given – one lap is two lengths. Each of the boys has a sponsorship form and will be collecting donations. There will be a trophy on offer for the school with most laps at the end of the week.’

. The official start of the Swimarathon is at Beau Sejour tonight at 7pm.