Kingfishers swim to Jersey and back

Former swimmers and coaches of Kingsbridge Kingfishers teamed up over the month of August to swim a total of 222 miles and raise nearly £2,000 for vital new equipment for the club.

It all began at 7am on the first of the month, when Sharon Bellamy and Conor Morgan jumped into the pool at Quayside Leisure Centre. It ended on the 31st, with a celebration as the distance was completed just before 9pm with the help of swimmers young and old.

Kingsbridge Kingfishers swimmers old and new

The distance of 222 miles was equivalent to swimming from Kingsbridge to St Helier and back again. The miles were completed in the pool or in open water, with Sharon swimming over 70 miles herself in a titanic effort that has helped to raise money for new club lane ropes.

Incredibly, the £2,000 raised so far may not even be enough to cover half of the cost. Lane ropes with anti-wave technology do not come cheap, though they are essential for swimmers who are training to compete. A new trolley to store the lane ropes is also required, meaning that the club will be continuing to fundraise over the next couple of months.

The club will host a raffle at their 25th anniversary celebration, will help pack bags at Tesco and club stalwart Sam Stewart will complete a skydive to help fundraise. The club would like to thank Peter Betteridge and Martin Pears Engineering for their kind business donations, as well as the many individuals who helped increase the total.

Not only did the challenge raise money for the next generation of swimmers, it has also brought many older swimmers back to the pool after many years away. Darcie Rhoden joined in from France, while miles were also swam by Karen Dorey, Holly Gunner, David Freeborn, Hayley Arthur, Richard Forman, Rob Dorey, Will Rawlinson, Poppy Fountain, Gavin Whately, Julia Wingate, Sam Jones, Rob Dorey and Daniel Quiggin. 

Interested sponsors for our lane ropes, or for the new season ahead, are encouraged to get in touch with our chairman by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The club’s first competitions are the Exeter Sprint Meet and City of Plymouth Championships, as several Kingfishers try to secure qualifying times for bigger events in the months to come.

Submitted by Conor Morgan.