College students keep up tradition with castle swim

There were 43 swimmers from all years participating in the event, with some competing to win trophies and others enjoying a relaxing dip in view of the sunlit Castle Cornet.

Elizabeth College teacher Brian Aplin said there were references to the college swimming in the 1890s at Salerie Corner and in the harbour.

‘The middle school trophy is in fact the harbour race trophy and the senior trophy dates from 1899, so this event is very much part of the college DNA,’ he said.

‘The event is mentioned a number of times over the years before it started to decline around the 1980s, so restarting the event was an obvious pathway towards building opportunities for challenge and resilience, and it is wonderful to see how sea swimming has exploded in terms of participation.’

Swimmers were accompanied by six staff and three parents and were supervised by staff kayakers and Alan Jenner, gthe outdoor and adventurous activities officer from the Guernsey Sports Commission, whose role will allow more children from all schools to enjoy such activities.

The college encourages students to participate in sports that are low cost and local and that use the local environment wherever possible in its ecological approach to games.

The castle swim was open to all students regardless of ability.

‘The college has provided adventurous and challenging physical activities outside the classroom throughout the centuries and these have come back into fashion as the benefits of sea swimming and cold water swimming have reached new parts of society during the pandemic,’ said Mr Aplin.

Next year the swim will return to the original Castle Swim course, from the rebuilt slipway to the refurbished Ladies’ Pool and La Vallette Cafe.