WE DID IT!!!!

HAMPTON COURT TO KINGSTON 2.25 Miles (3.7km) SWIM, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7TH 2012

After the postponement of the Big Swim in July, we were a little nervous of plunging into the increasingly chilly autumnal Thames waters...

but we should have known we had nothing to fear! The team had put in great training and as we ventured towards Hampton Court in the early dawn darkness, on a calm but misty Sunday morning, the Thames looked picture perfect and we knew it was going to be a great day.

Leaving in three separate waves, the St Saviour's Swimmers took to the (admittedly pretty murky and rather bracing 12 degrees) water and what an exhilarating ride it was! With torpedo-fast currents boosting us along, what should have taken some of us more than an hour, for others maybe even two, the whole team reached the finish line in less than 50 minutes (well, OK, 52 minutes to be precise). 

Whoops of joy and cries of 'when do we sign up for next year?' rang through the air, bottles of bubbles were popped, the sun shone and much hugging and pats on the back ensued. Some photos uploaded here of the big day.

Meanwhile, Dom Capon, our seventh team member, was stranded in Crete due to work commitments and couldn't make the swim... so he did his own version (albeit in gorgeous temperatures and turquoise blue waters, but apparently with the very real possible presence of sharks?!?!?) from Chalepa to Chania and back again. Totally amazing, and whilst we missed him dreadfully, what a great story that swim will spin for years to come.

A very very very big THANK YOU to everyone who has sponsored the team, or even just sent their best wishes our way, and to our amazing support crew (Agers, Capons, Hubbards, Martins, Morgans, Ritchies, Boyle & Woodfords, Webbs, Simmons and Mrs Ellis and Mrs Dower for coming on the day to support us), to Father Gary for goodie bags (and Sunday morning prayers). We truly couldn't have made it (especially after the swim was postponed in July) without your encouragement and enthusiasm. 

So, watch out St Saviour's, here comes your new playground! How fantastic is that?