RAF Open Water Swimming Team

INTER-SERVICES CROSS CHANNEL RELAY RACE

This Inter Service event began as an idea of pure internal Army rivalry when the AAC and associated Army aviation personnel, as part of their 25th anniversary, had challenged the Army to a swimming race across the channel. Recognising that the RAF and RN were always interested in open water swimming challenges, the invitation was broadened to make a wider 4-team race format.

Teams comprised 6 personnel, with a minimum of 2 females, with each swimmer taking it in turn to swim an hour before handing over to the next swimmer in the water. Any touching of the boat before handover would incur disqualification.

The RN won the race convincingly having gambled for a route north of the currents and finished their swim in a time of 11 hours 6 minutes, followed by the Army with 11 hours 42 minutes, then the RAF with 12 hours 5 minutes, and finally the Army Aviation team in a time of 14 hours 42 minutes.

Rightfully team captain Sgt Simon Buchan who has been a driving force behind open water swimming for many years, but who retires from the Service in 2008 swam the finishing leg for the RAF. So it was up to him to swim the final few hundred metres and clamber out onto the rocks unaided, the final criteria of completing an official cross-channel swim.

Sponsorship monies for completing the crossing were raised by the teams for both the Diabetes UK and the Royal British Legion.

INTER-SERVICES OPEN WATER SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS, LAKE BALA

This year was the first with a 5, 3 and 1 km race, around a circular course.  Compared to last year’s washout, this year’s weather and temperature was excellent leading to a record 63 entrants for the 5 km race, predominantly made up of Army personnel, vying for places in the up-coming inter-corps cross channel race. Overall the event proved to be extremely successful and it is hoped that the new format will continue to develop and build into an even more successful event.

With a reduced RAF representation, the RAF managed to win the 5km race (Flt Lt Teresa Walsh) with the RAF also taking 2nd (SAC Shona Cowan) and 3rd (Sqn Ldr Jayne Attwood). The 3Km race saw the RAF take 3rd (Flt Lt Teresa Walsh) and 10th (Flt Lt Penny Grayson) places, whilst in the 1km the RAF took 1st (Cpl Aaron Giles) and 3rd place (CT Thomas).

These results were not enough to regain the Fujiarm Trophy, with the RAF finishing 3rd for the first time ever.