RNLI Around the Mount Open Water Swim a resounding success!

Monday 18 September 2017

In near perfect weather conditions the third RNLI Around the Mount Open Water Swim took place on Saturday morning, September 16, raising money for the RNLI

Swimmers at start of Open Water Swim — Ready for the Off! Stephen Hayes from Manchester gives a 'thumbs up'

In near perfect weather conditions, with friends and family cheering from the shore, 76 brave open water swimmers - 36 female & 40 male, with an age range of 14-70 years, entered the water at Marazion beach and swam off around St Michael’s Mount. They were watched over by the all-weather lifeboat 'Ivan Ellen', the Inshore lifeboat 'Mollie & Ivor Dent', a number of local RNLI Penwith Lifeguards and members of Hayle Surf Life Saving Club.

Competitors travelled to Marazion from all over the country to take part - Manchester, Surrey, London, Sussex and Herefordshire. Each one had a different reason for embarking on this one-and-a-half mile route around the iconic St. Michael's Mount. The youngest competitor was 14 year old, Summer Jeffery, from Perranporth who completed the course in 1:06:31, her Dad, Simon Jeffery, was also taking part.

The oldest competitor was Rose Dudeney, aged 70 years, an experienced open water swimmer who made the 650 mile round-trip from Sussex to take part. Rose is no stranger to these events - in August this year she took part in the 17th FINA World Masters Championships Budapest completeing a 3k swim on Lake Balatin in 1hr 3secs, taking the Bronze Medal for her group.

First over the finish line was John Morton from St Ives with an amazing swim time of 34.08, closely followed by 17 year old Sam Hall from Ledbury, Herefordshire, who came in at 34.20.

For the second year running, the first female to cross the finish line was local RNLI Lifeguard, Francesca Hayward, with a PB of 37.55, followed by Alice Lord with a time of 43.12.

RNLI Penlee Branch Chairman, Janet Madron said, 'Our thanks go to all the brave swimmers who took part in today's swim, we're humbled that so many people travelled so far to support the RNLI and our lifeboat. It was a great event, well organised and enjoyed by many - we hope to see you all again next year!'

Around the Mount Swim results and timings are available at;
http://racetimingsolutions.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16269&RId=777

Photographs of the event are available on the Penlee Lifeboat Facebook page - https://m.facebook.com/penlee.lifeboat/

More photos will follow later.

Swimmers with St Michael's Mount in background — Ready, steady, go!

First swimmer over Finish line — First swimmer across the finish line - John Morton

Oldest and Youngest competitors — Oldest and youngest competitors - Rose Dudeney and Summer Jeffery

First and second place swimmers — First and second place over the finish line - John Morton (left) and Sam Hall

First female over finish line — First female over the finish line - local RNLI Lifeguard Francesca Hayward

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

RNLI Around the Mount Open Water Swim a resounding success!

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