Online Exhibition - Swimming the Channel

Between the Wars

Breaking records and Increasing popularity

After T. W. Burgess had successfully followed Webb and shown it was indeed possible, many more attempts were made. The period between the First and Second World Wars saw a numerous of attempts in either direction, with Enrico Tiraboschi being the first confirmed swimmer to swim France to England.

 

In 1926 Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to swim the channel, followed by Clemington Corson. Channel swimming proved to be a sport where women could compete as well, if not better than men. Women are suited to endure the prolonged cold conditions due to extra thickness of fat under the skin.

 

Henry Sullivan 1913-1923

Henry Sullivan, August 1923

Left Shakespeare Cliff and landed at Calais sands. 26 hrs. 50 mins. Accompanied by the Folkestone lugger 'Day Spring' and 2 Dover galley's. He won the Channel Swimming Cup presented by A. Alexander (later first President of the CSA) and ,1000 prize from the Daily Sketch.

 

England to France: 26/8/1913 (failed), 25/8/1920 (failed), 9/9/1920 (failed), 9/9/1921 (failed), 21/9/1921 (failed) 5+6/8/1923 (success)

France to England: 25/8/1921 (failed)

 

Enrico Tiraboschi 1921 - 1923

The first man to swim from France to England which, because of favourable tides, was to become the 'easy' route. The Italian from Argentina won the Daily Sketch race prize of £1000 but gave it to the International Swimming Federation. Landed at Shakespeare beach, accompanied by the Calais tug 'Champion' piloted by E. Douay. 16 hrs 33 mins. He was swimming with Richards, Toth and Marciel who failed.

France to England: 12/8/1921(failed), 29/8/1922 (failed), 12/8/1923 (success)

 

Georges Michel 1922 - 1926

A Frenchman he succeeded on his 7th attempt, landing at St. Margarets Bay in 11 hrs 5 mins, a record time until 1950.

 

England to France: 8/8/1923 (failed)

France to England: 3/8/1922 (failed), 14/8/1922 (failed), 21/8/1922 (failed) 2/9/1923 (failed), 8/8/1926 (failed), 9+10/9/1926 (success)

 

Omer Perrault 1922 - 1926

A Canadian, made five unsuccessful attempts.

 

France to England: 16/8/1922 (failed), 5/8/1923 (failed), 2/9/1923 (failed), 8/8/1926 (failed), 10/8/1926 (failed).

 

Romeo Marciel 1923

Of Argentina, made one attempt France to England in the Daily Sketch ,1000 race12/8/1923 but gave up after 4 2 hours. He was with Richards, Patterson and Toth who also failed and Tiraboschi who succeeded.

 

Charles Toth 1923

The American from Boston successfully swam from France, landing between St. Margarets and Kingsdown, on his 3rd attempt in less than a month. He was trained by Burgess and accompanied by the Boulogne tug 'Alsace'. 16 hrs 54 mins.

 

England to France: 12/8/1923 (failed), 2/9/1923 (failed)

France to England: 9/9/1923 (success)

 

Sam Richards 1923

From Boston, USA. Failed in his single attempt of 12/8/1923, Daily Sketch race, France to England. He was with Marciel, Patterson and Toth who also failed and Tiraboschi who succeeded.

 

Mille Gade Clemington Corson 1923 - 1927

Mrs M.C. Corson was an American mother of two children and the second woman to swim the Channel (after Gertrude Ederle in 1926). She landed at Shakespeare beach in 15 hrs 23 mins. She was trained by Kellingley and accompanied by the 'Viking' of Folkestone piloted by Pearson.

 

England to France: 6/9/1927 (failed)

France to England: 6/8/1923 (failed), 27+28/8/1926 (success)

 

Ishak Helmi 1925 - 1928

An Egyptian who succeeded on his 6th attempt and set a craze for Channel swimming amongst Egyptians. He landed at Folkestone in 23 hrs 40 mins. He was trained by Burgess and accompanied by the French tug 'Alsace'.

 

England to France: 27/8/1926 (failed)

France to England: 14/9/1925 (failed), 8/8/1926 (failed), 27/8/1926 (failed), 7/8/1927 (failed), 31/8/1928 (success)

 

H. E. Temme 1927 - 1934

The first swimmer to have swum both ways, swimming from France in 1927 and from England in 1934.In 1927 he swam Cap Gris Nez to Abbots Cliff with the tug 'Alsace' and was trained by Burgess. In 1934 he swam South Foreland to Cap Blanc Nez with the DHB tug 'Lady Brassey', captained by Pearce with pilot H.W. Pearson. His trainer was Storey. This beat Webbs fastest crossing. He was 29, 6' 2 1/192', and 16 stone. He trained Sam Rockett for his 1950 swim, the year that he married Willy Van Rijsel who had failed to swim the Channel twice in 1949.

 

France to England: 5/8/1927 success

England to France: 8/9/1928 failed, 15/8/1929 failed, 11/8/1932 failed, 29/8/1933 failed, 18/8/1934 success

 

Ethel 'Sunny' Lowry 1932 -1933

The 21 year-old daughter of a fish wholesaler from Levenshulme in Manchester. She applied with 300 other girls for a training position with Jabez Wolffe in Brighton and was chosen as Wolffe's third female Channel Swimmer.

 

She was successful on her third attempt, leaving Cap Gris Nez and landing at St Margaret's on 29/8/1933 with a time of 15 hours 45 mins. She was accompanied by the Boulogne tug 'Isabelle' under Captain Courtez.

 

England to France: 19/8/1932 failed

France to England: 27/7/1933 failed; 28+29/8/1933 success

 

 

This list is based on research for Dover Museum's collection - it is not a complete list of all swimmers.