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Published:
July 27, 2008
Crowds
line seafront to watch Burnham's annual Stert Island Swim
Almost
eighty swimmers raced into the sea at the start of Burnham-On-Sea's
annual Stert Island Swim on Sunday afternoon (July 27th).
 Dazzling
sunshine greeted the 79 swimmers, which was in stark contrast
to 2007 when high winds and heavy surf led to the event's cancellation.
When
Sedgemoor
District Council said it could no longer afford to run the event
in January, it appeared that the swim's days were numbered - but
West Country Tri-Athletes came forward to take over the organisation
in February
and it was hailed a resounding success on Sunday evening.
The
unique 2,400m race, which
this year started at 1.30pm at the same time as the high tide,
sees
participants swim from Burnham beach to Stert Island and back.
A
large crowd of several thousand spectators lined The Esplanade
and jetty to watch as Cllr Neville Jones, a long-time supporter
of the event, officially started the race, as pictured below.
 Organiser
Sara Hudghton of West Country Triathletes, who took part and was
the first lady to cross the finishing line, told Burnham-On-Sea.com:
"It couldn't have gone better. We're delighted it went so
went and that all the swimmers and spectators enjoyed a successul
event. We thank everyone who helped us make the event run so smoothly."
The
swim was won by Malcolm Greenslade of Lyme Regis [click
here for results], who has taken part in the event four times
before. He told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It's my best ever result.
I usually finish in the top four but am delighted to have won
today. The hardest part was wading in and out on the island itself,
but the conditions were ideal."
This
year's event was supported by Burnham and Highbridge Town Council,
BARB, the RNLI, Natural England, Taunton Canoe Club and Wessex
Ambulance Service.
After
swimming across the estuary, the participants waded onto Stert
Island
Disabled
participant David Cooke finished the swim in an incredible 43
minutes, 42 seconds
Taunton
Canoe Club provided safety cover for Sunday's event
Burnham
RNLI lifeboats laid out a line of huge buoys to mark the swimming
route
Crowds
watched the swimmers on the beach from the jetty and Esplanade
The
event's winner, Malcolm Greenslade, celebrated his victory
BARB's
Spirit Of Lelaina hovercraft flew organisers and their supplies
out to the island
Burnham-On-Sea
Mayor Peter Clayton and Mayoress Jo Burridge handed out
T-shirts to the finishers
The
marshalls directing the swimmers to the finishing line
First
woman home (and event organiser) Sara Hudghton of West Country
Triathletes was held aloft by winner Malcolm Greenslade and second-placed
Simon Lawrence
RELATED
LINKS:
Athletics
group comes to the rescue of Stert Island Swim
High
winds cancel 2007 Stert Island Swim
Online
video of the 2006 Stert Island Swim
2006
Stert Island Swim Results
2005 Stert Island
Swim Results
2004
Stert Island Swim Results
2003
Stert Island Swim Results
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