The 48th Annual Fairway Swim took place on Sunday 15 May 2011. The swim was earlier in the season than normal due to the timing of tides. The swim always attracts a high quality field of swimmers including seven English Channel swimmers and a number of other ultra distance swims in the 26 who took to the water, which was chilly at between 11-12 degrees, and proved a challenge for all the swimmers during the race.
The race was won overall by Harriet Tuck of Dinnaton Swimming Club in 1hr 28min 07sec in her first Fairway Swim. Exmouth swimmer Olly White was the second swimmer to finish and defended his overall men’s title (the Exmouth Journal Cup) from 2010 in 1hr 29min 49sec. Eve Fellows from Warrington Dolphins was the third swimmer to finish in what was also her first Fairway Swim.
Next home in an exciting close finish were Jamie Page of Exmouth, Tara Dudley (defending her Exmouth Ladies’ title) and seven time winner Simon Lee from Solent Swimming Club. Page beat Dudley by 3 seconds in a time of 1hr 32min 17sec with Dudley just beating Lee to the finish flag in times of 1hr 32min 20sec and 32sec respectively. Exmouth swimmer Mark Westaway completed the home team’s efforts, finishing 20 overall; he was also the only breaststroke swimmer competing this year meaning he won the Breaststroke championship for the third year running.
The swim can only take place each year due to the efforts of swim organiser Barry Westaway, and a number of assistants from Exmouth Swimming and Life Saving Society. The swim could also not take place without the cooperation of the RNLI, coastguard, boatmen, kayakers and St John’s ambulance personnel who assist in the running of the swim each year.
Look out for the Exmouth team who are now continuing to train for other swims around the country, including swimming Windermere 2-ways this year with a couple of Exmouth swimmers due to swim the channel in 2012.
Click for full results