Swimmers set for sixth Great Wye challenge

June 6, 2019

Swimmers will be taking the plunge in the River Wye in Monmouth to raise money for the Ted Senior Foundation on Sunday 16th June.

The Great Wye Swim is an annual fundraising event organised by Monmouth School Sports Club.

Swimmers will register from 10.30am before setting off at noon to tackle a short 1km downstream course or a more challenging long 2km course, which includes 500m upstream.

Last summer, Michael Lewis and Lydia Stratford were in excellent form, winning the male and female wetsuit categories of the 2km swim, which included a tough 500m upstream section.

Emily Harper triumphed in the female 2km non wetsuit event as a total of 65 hardy souls braved the River Wye.

Twelve months ago, Leon Meek achieved first place in the male 1km wetsuit swim, with Katie Allen taking the honours in the female section.

Killian Walley won the male 1km male non wetsuit discipline, with Josie Parkinson taking the plaudits in the female category.

Two other main award winners in 2018 were Bill Parry and Sharon Neville, who collected greatest endeavour medals for male and female swimmers.

Last year’s fifth annual swim raised £1,026.34 for the Royal Forest of Dean’s Inferno Explorer Scouts.

Organiser Mr Iain MacDonald, who manages the sports club, said: “The Ted Senior Foundation is a particularly worthy cause and, after lots of hard work, it has now been recognised as a registered UK charity.

“This wonderful foundation was set up to help support young people going through difficult times and to help stop similar tragedies happening again. The foundation is a tremendous credit to everyone involved and is a very positive and powerful legacy to Ted.”

The closing date for entries is 10pm on Thursday 13th June.

All swimmers must be 16 years old or above and the cost is £12 to enter the short course race or £17 for the long course event.

For an entry form, please visit Monmouth School Sports Club’s website: www.mssportsclub.com or call 01600 714381 or collect one from the club’s reception desk in Hadnock Road.