'Later life' swimmers hoping to make island relay history

Friday 02 July 2021

A group of six islanders aged 49 to 59 are hoping to make history in just three weeks as the first relay team to swim twice around the island to raise money for charity.

The team known as ‘Horizontal and Smiling’ includes Sam Pipon, Nicki Brown, Justine Marrett, Karen Le Cornu, Karen Roworth and Kathryn Fleming, as well as shore-based crew Christiane Cook and reserve swimmer Phil Horsley.

They're all embarking on the challenge to raise funds Healing Waves, an inclusive charity that helps islanders of all abilities access the water.

All six swimmers, who are aged 49 to 59, are members of the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club and have been swimming together for the past four years.

“We all took up swimming in later life after swimming when we were younger,” Nicki said.

Pictured: The relay swim is currently scheduled to happen between 24 July and 28 July.

Last year, they had planned a relay swim in the Channel, but it couldn’t go ahead due to the pandemic. However, the training they had already started didn’t go to waste as they had another challenge in mind. 

“Sam wanted to do something different that had not been done before,” Nicki explained. “Around Jersey twice has been done by Andy Truscott, but it’s never been done as a relay team. It’s possible to do it, because Andy has done it! 

“We have been swimming all year. We swim in the sea all year round, we are all really good friends. Swimming is our passion, we really enjoy it!"

The swimmers have been “ramping” up their efforts in the lead up to the swim, which is currently scheduled to happen between 24 July and 28 July. They are now swimming about eight hours a week and recently completed their qualifying swim, which involved 90 minutes in the water, followed by one hour out and another hour of swimming. 

Pictured: "We are all really good friends," Nicki said.

“The water was just 15 degrees,” Nicki said. ”We are hoping for 16 degrees on the day. It’s going to take us 20 to hours depending on how fast we are. We are not really fast! It will all be done correctly, we will only be wearing a swimming hat, a swimsuit, a light and goggles.”

Nicki is one of two on the team who has never done a “big swim” before. “I am quite excited about it,” she said. “I think it will be fun and we all get along very well, it’s a good team. We will all look after each other which is good.”

Discussing how the team has been preparing ahead of the big day, she added: “You just have to keep swimming.” 

“You have to get as many hours in the water as possible and just swim, and swim. We are only in for one hour and then have five hours out, but when you are swimming you have to be able to swim for that hour. 

“You need to get the technique right and get the hours in to allow you not to get cold or tired and have the stamina to keep going. The sea is rarely calm, so you also need to get used to the chop."

“We are very nervous but very excited,” Nicki said. “We are trying to stay injury-free as we are all getting older, so that it doesn’t stop us from swimming. We are looking forward to it, it’s nice to have a challenge every now and then."

Pictured: All six swimmers, who are aged 49 to 59, are members of the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club.

In addition to tackling a new challenge, the team is hoping to raise £1,000 for Healing Waves, a local charity dedicated to giving islanders of all abilities access to the ocean. 

“They are dealing with people who do not have the same opportunity as we do to access the water. They give them the opportunity to have an experience of water and the sea,” Nicki said. 

“It’s not the same as us but it’s still experiencing the water. The work they do is amazing! We would really like to raise money and raise awareness of them as well, if we can help them with their inclusive surf centre, it would be really good!”

CLICK HERE to donate to the fundraiser.