Louvre Makes a Splash With Swim Sponsorship

Sunday 4th June marked the start of this summer’s Guernsey Swimming Club bay swim series sponsored for a second year by Louvre Group.

Rousse to Amarreurs

The first swim meet started from the slipway at Rousse and saw 44 competitors swim across to Amarreurs beach, covering a distance of around 800 metres.

The calm conditions on the day made for a great crossing, and this was reflected in the fast finishing times, with 23-year-old Kevin Penney walking up the beach first with a time of 10 minutes and 45 seconds. Thirteen-year-old Samuel Lowe came in second in 10.47, third was Becky Simmons, 54, in 10 minutes 56 seconds and fellow channel swimmer, 50-year-old Paul Mason, was fourth in 11.07.

 Pembroke Bay

Two weeks later 46 swimmers descended on Pembroke beach for a 750-metre swim in almost perfect conditions, and although Penney and Lowe started strong in the swim, it was Mason who finished first in 10.40 after overtaking midway through the course. This left Penney to claim second place and Lowe third, with times of 10.44 and 10.45 respectively.

Portelet to Fort Grey 

July saw more great weather and perfect water conditions for the third bay swim held at Portelet, which attracted over 40 swimmers. After checking in with directors Jo Norman and Karen Girard, competitors gathered on the beach ready to race across the bay, covering around 750 metres and finishing at the slipway at Fort Grey.

Repeating the first race by taking back first, second and third positions were Penney in 10 minutes 35 seconds followed by Lowe in 10.50 and Simmons in 10.55. This race saw three of the club’s 11-year-olds successfully complete the crossing, gaining some great open-water swimming experience. Joshua Dunning finished in 15.01, Teshie Marley in 16.36 and Robbie Stewart in 18.49.

Club History

Guernsey Swimming Club Director Jo Norman said: ‘It is great to see so many of our younger swimmers taking part. Nowadays the only swim training they do is in the pool. It’s a great experience for all of them and a massive part of the club’s history from the La Vallette days’.

The Guernsey Swimming Club would like to thank all the volunteers who give up their own time to help out at these events. Thanks also go to Louvre Group, which is once again sponsoring the ever-popular club series.