Channel Conqueror!

Frances Anderson

Congratulations to Frances Anderson, who after 2 years of hard training completed the Channel Swim on Saturday 26^th July 2008. As a member of Alnwick Triathlon Club, Frances has had a great team to support her through her gruelling training, but it is her individual motivation and commitment that has made this swim possible.

Landing north of Calais after an epic 19hours 46minutes of swimming, the swim had not been all plain sailing. Just 2.5 hours into the swim her shoulder packed in and added a lot of time and pain to the swim. Frances recalls “the journey was definitely the hardest thing I have ever done and I was helped by an amazing pilot and crew and my support crew without whom I wouldn't have made it.” The crew helped immensely with motivating Frances as on numerous occasions she doubted whether it could be achieved. They provided the occasional white lie telling her she had an hour to go and it was just around the bend. This was just enough to keep her going. “I kept thinking this mile I have to swim is a bloody long way!”

Frances had an unintentional mascot on the journey. “I was followed for a long time by a seagull who kept turning up at my darkest moments, sitting bobbing on the water a foot from my head!”

There were a lot of scary moments for Frances during the swim. Due to the intensity, Frances admits “I lost the plot several times. But I did it - I swam the English Channel!”

This is an absolutely amazing achievement. Well done Frances!

For further information on Alnwick Tri Club, visit www.alnwicktriathlon.co.uk