Teenage relay team complete Channel swim

A team of teenage swimmers have celebrated completing a relay of the English Channel in impressive time.

Gabriel, Archie, Jack, Susie and Asta made up the team of five who took on the endurance feat to raise money for Wiveliscombe pool.

Aged between 13 and 17 years old, the keen swimmers defied an injury and jellyfish to complete the race in 12 hours and 41 minutes.

The young team, from Wellington, Taunton and Kingsmead schools, beat the average Channel relay time of 12 hours and 46 minutes, despite one member having freshly recovered from an injury.

The swim was originally set to take place on August 22, but it failed six hours in when Jack cut his leg after climbing onto the team’s boat. He was in need of stitches and the attempt had to be called off.

Just two weeks later Jack rejoined his teammates to participate in the successful swim to France.

The youngsters took on the challenge as part of a fundraising drive for Wivey pool, which is looking to raise £100,000 to transition from gas heating to renewable, and cheaper, energy sources.

The energy crisis spelled trouble for the pool, which was facing soaring running costs. By July the pool had installed an air source heat pump and a solar array.

The relay team’s tally has yet to be totted up but pool-goers are said to have pledged generously.

Chair of the pool Liz Hurry expressed her pride in the team’s accomplishments. She said: “I am so proud, these kids are great, they have done this fantastic thing and we are all proud of them.”