Henley swimmers go to great lengths in support of favourite charities

A TEAM of five girls notched up nearly 100 lengths during a charity swimarathon in Henley.

Octonauts 20, comprised Arabella Brind, Betsy Buckle, Martha Cary, Rose Porter and Lily O’Hagan, all aged 11, who swam 93 lengths in 40 minutes, the highest on the day.

The friends, who all attend Shiplake Primary School, were among 40 swimmers across seven teams who took part at Henley leisure centre on Saturday.

They were all sponsored to raise money for their own chosen charities as well as Henley Lions Club, which organised the annual event.

Ellen Broughton, Rose’s mother, said: “Rose is really into the sport and swims for Henley Swimming Club, which is great.

“We love watching her and she was so determined to swim the most laps at the swimarathon. I think it’s great that the girls are all friends and they’re all doing it together.

“What is particularly nice about events like this is that all the children really support one another and cheer each other on.

“It’s Rose’s last year at Shiplake, being in Year 6, and it’s going to be really sad for her to leave because it’s been part of our lives for so long. It’s a great school and all the staff are so brilliant.”

Two sessions were held, to ensure that there was enough space for all to take part, with the first wave at 1pm and the second at 1.50pm.

Three swimmers from Peppard Primary School and five from the South Oxfordshire Mencap Society swam in the first timeslot, with 32 pupils from Shiplake primary making five teams to swim in the second.

Victoria Greaves, from Stoke Row, is a governor at Peppard School. Her daughter, Isabella, eight, was a member of the Peppard Power team, with friends, Bethy Rancomb, eight, and Bea Zieler, eight. The three girls swam a total of 64 lengths.

Ms Greaves said: “They’re a small team but they work so hard. It’s really special to see them swimming. They took part last year and absolutely loved it.

“They were in Year 3 last year, so they weren’t really strong at swimming but, a year later, they’re so much stronger. They’re all very excited to participate and it’s nice to see the girls come together as friends and support one another.”

Isabella started swimming when she was about one and now trains every Wednesday. She said: “Thinking about it makes me quite nervous but once I get in the water, I’m absolutely fine. I do feel quite confident and I feel better knowing that I’m swimming with my friends.”

Joseph Palmer, 11, of Shiplake primary, swam with his sister, Bethan, eight, and best friend, Nikau Stender, 10. He said: “I’m feeling really happy about swimming today. We’re a really strong team, we’re great friends and I’m just very excited.”

Sophie Taylor, from Henley, was supporting her son, Miles, 11, from Shiplake primary. She said: “Miles absolutely loves swimming, it’s one of his favourite pastimes and he trains about two or three times a week.

“He really wanted to do something for the school because it’s his last year there but also for the Henley Lions Club, as he understood that it’s a community event to support where he lives.

“It’s wonderful that he loves to swim so much because we are lucky to live in a town that has a river but, as a parent, it is really important that your child knows how to swim. It’s such a great life skill for him to have but it’s a lovely sport and he has really taken to it like a fish to water. She added: “It’s really lovely to see the community coming together, raising money for important causes but also the children getting to be with their friends and having fun.”

Miles said: “When we first arrived, I had butterflies in my stomach but I’ve raced before, so I know that when I get into the water, I will feel better. I’ve never done the swimarathon before but I do come to the leisure centre to train, which helps.

“Having people sponsor me has made me really happy, because it feels good having people behind me and supporting my efforts.”

The Henley Lions, which has organised the swimarathon for about 25 years, said they would know the total amount raised next month.

Graeme Thompson, 81, the vice-president of the branch, was previously the president of the Lions in Lincolnshire but joined Henley about 18 months ago.

He said: “Today is about allowing everyone to have fun in teams while swimming against others. There’s a little bit of competition, which we think is good and healthy and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Mr Thompson said that the money the teams raise for Henley Lions will go into the group’s general fund, which they use to give away to “good causes”.

He told of how the group is currently supporting local families struggling to pay their energy bills.

He added that the group is planning to organise an international project for a borehole for water for schools in Ghana, which some money will be put towards.

Mayor of Henley Tom Buckley, said: “I would like to thank the Henley Lions and the sports centre for helping to put on this fantastic swimarathon because it is a great community activity.

“It is so important to continue to have events like this because if we don’t, then the community loses out overall. I want to see this swimarathon bigger next year.”