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Having been associated with swimming the English Channel since 16 year old local Jersey resident Denize Le Pennec’s epic 1966 swim Jersey is rightly proud of its own global aquatic record; with a specific relationship securely anchored to the bed of La Manche.
Our links with the accomplishments and future aspirations of The Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation is also something of which we are very proud and wish to be involved with.
Hence this particular award presented annually by the JLDSC to the CS&PF. It honours a successful swim which has been completed despite physical and mental pressures which may have thwarted any chance of success with a less determined and probably far less obstinate mortal.
LIST OF RECIPIENTS BELOW.
2010: PAUL MASSEY
For the past two years we’ve had a military theme to our award with solo and relay recipients coming from our diminishing, over stretched and underpaid armed forces. - This year we return to a fine upstanding civilian winner.
Our 2010 winner Paul Massey is a self-taught swimmer. With no recorded background within our tidal calling he trained during early mornings at weekends with Charlie Laws Deal triathletes - taking his training and preparation extremely seriously – never complaining - and according to the beach crew, he always left the water with a smile on his face. (A worrying facet of any long distance swimmer is the ability to smile without complaint after a dip in Dover Harbour.) This shows a total disrespect for your coach and is taken as dumb insolence, punishable by prolonged immersion in future training sessions!
Yet Paul progressed from the beach to the open sea where he was chalked up on Freda Streeter’s runners and riders board as on a good day he might make it in about twelve hours - if the winds in the right direction!
His day was not to be so perfect, indeed only one other swimmer, the learned Dr Karen Throsby completed the Channel that day. Karen tells us it was a bit lumpy out there, with tricky wind and tidal conditions especially towards the end, which made the swim a lot longer and tougher than expected.
Showing great strength of character our award winner battled through these unpleasant conditions and with the benefit of encouragement from skipper Mike Oram kept going longer than anyone had considered possible he came ashore, dans la belle France, recording an impressive time for the lumpy crossing of 18 hours 19 minutes.
2009: INTER SERVICE HEROS
For the second year running we honour the aquatic exploits of British Forces personnel. Last year we made the award to Ben Greensmith who was injured on active service and used his 16 hour Channel swim as part of his recuperation. Ben has now returned to front-line service, testament to his courage and determination.
This years recipients are for the first time a six person relay team comprising of men and women who have been severely disabled whilst serving the nation in either Iraq or Afghanistan and in training for deployment along with a medic and their team manager, who himself doesn’t enjoy the best of health! All three Services have personnel within the team who have lost limbs or have endured severe injuries previous to joining ‘Battle-back’ their aptly named team. The team began training in the extremely chilly Lake Bala in north Wales, before transferring their training ground to Dover Harbour previous to their superb 13 hour 57 minute cross-Channel swim.
Led by Lt Col Rob Healey the Army Swim Team Manager –event and training organiser; along with Sgt Mike James an RAF Headley Court Rehabilitation Instructor who was responsible for the teams training and was their mentor, liaising with their medical support teams. The team members who swam with Rob and Mike and who had been injured on active duty and in training for deployment were Lieutenant Sarah Buchan of the Royal Navy; Cpl Scott Blaney of the Coldstream Guards; Cpl Damien Manning of the Royal Engineers and Senior Aircraftsman Mike Goody of the Royal Air Force Regiment.
2008: Ben Greensmith
The recipient of the JLDSC Special Recognition Award - 'Against all odds award' for 2007 was Ben Greensmith who swam the Channel England to France on 14th July in 16hrs 50 min. Ben was injured on active duty and used this swim as part of recuperation. Ben is now back on front line service; testament to his courage and dogged determination.
2007: PETER BEATTY
Ever mindful of the dedicated commitment, both physical and mental shown by those who stand on ‘Shaky Beach’ and look south before releasing their grip on terra firma; there are those deserving of special mention, whose tortured souls return to the scene of previous disappointment on successive occasions only to be held back once more by King Neptune and his satanic powers.
The Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club Special Recognition Award for a swim in 2007 basks in the euphoria of a swimmer so committed that he made no less than four attempts over fifteen years before he gained the right to add his name to the walls of the ‘equestrian centre’.
This year’s award goes to someone deserving of exceptionally loud applause.
The Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club recognises the 18hr 11min successful swim of:-
Peter Beatty
2006: ALAN MACLEAY:
This year our nominated recipient overcame the cynical yet somehow caring and encouraging support which you receive as part of your contract when signing up with Channel Pilot Neil Streeter ‘The Generals’ youngest. Apparently the swimmers own support crew when asked by our hero, for the umpty-umph time, how long had he been swimming advised him to hail a passing Frenchman and take an hour off the answer! ‘O’ level counting mid Channel should be mandatory for all as a guide to mental stability – or otherwise!
Despite straying from the straight and narrow on more than one occasion; coming close to bouncing off the South Goodwin buoy; feeding the fish with the contents of his stomach several times a day after meals, that’s when he actually condescended to take sustenance, rather than a basin full of petulant pudding; plus entertaining a captive audience with frequent impressions of Victor Meldrew he ploughed on, ever hopeful. With just 45 minutes left of his swim he obviously sensed the taste of victory and at last behaves himself and swims for all he was worth, according to Jill Anslow his long suffering observer.
After departing Samphire Ho 22 hours 14 minutes previously, a good days swimming by anyone’s standard, he came ashore on foreign soil at Petit Blanc Nez, at last a certified Channel Swimmer; which has earned Alan Macleay this years JLDSC Special Recognition Award.
2005: LUCY BIARD:
Lucy, a member of the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club has been involved with club activities for several years. Her record includes a superb 41 mile Round Jersey swim in August of 2003 returning 10 hours 23 minutes, besides a couple of Round Island relay squads. In 2004 she made her intentions clear and began working on a Channel crossing for the following year. This training began over the winter months in various pools at home and on the mainland, Lucy had recently begun her sports management degree studies at Plymouth University. In May of 2005 her health began to deteriorate both suddenly and seriously and she was flown back to the Island for hospitalisation. It was confirmed that she was suffering from pleurisy and pneumonia and was kept in hospital for some considerable time. Despite this she never lost sight of her goal and as soon as her health allowed she returned to training, besides picking up her studies and busy social life. In August of that same year 2005 Lucy became the sixth member of the JLDSC that year to successfully swim the Channel. It completed a remarkable year for the club and especially for Lucy. All six conquerors, plus a thwarted member of a relay squad whose team had disintegrated around him, banded together to make one last crossing as a relay.
We are proud that the initial award has been made to one of our own for true grit and determination; it shows the way to others whose endeavours take them across La Manche and to those who are recommended for this trophy.
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