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CROWDS SEE SWIMMERS BRAVE THE THAMES Corney Reach River Swim (Across the Tidal Thames at Chiswick) Saturday 7th September 2002
With each swimmer wearing a different coloured hat the spectators were able to keep track of progress quite easily. The race was won by Carey Clark, 41, a member of Triathletes London Triathlon Club, with an impressive display of powerful swimming leaving all the male competitors in her wake.
The leading W4 resident was Samuel Hyman, 16, a member of the Chiswick Pier Canoe Club. Trophies were presented by the Pissarro's-on-the-River Restaurant and each competitor received a bar of chocolate donated by Lindt & Sprungli (UK) Ltd. Safety
cover was provided by the Chiswick
Sea Cadets (TS Stork), Tideway Scullers
and Chiswick Pier Canoe Club. The crew of a
river police launch and the RNLI boat stationed
at Chiswick Pier kept a watchful eye on the
proceedings but all the swimmers reached the
finishing line without any drama. Several hundred pounds was raised via entry fees and individual sponsorships. This will be divided between the two charities; Chiswick Pier Trust and Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The event created a great deal of interest and it is hoped that it will be possible to hold it again next year, possibly over a longer course and with more competitors.
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On
a beautifully sunny early autumn afternoon
at Chiswick Pier the crowds who had gathered
to watch the Great River Race for Traditional
Rowing Boats were treated to the rare sight
of a swimming race across the tidal Thames
at the peak of high water. Fourteen wetsuit-clad
swimmers took part in the inaugural Corney
Reach River Swim with a light breeze creating
no more than a few ripples.