Our congratulations go to Richard Beardsall who came so close to his goal of swimming solo around the Isle of Wight. Richard's heroic efforts took him anti-clockwise around the Island, starting in Ryde and reaching Sandown Bay before conditions ended his long and arduous journey.
Following his challenge, Richard said;
"Well.....close but no cigar!!...18hrs swimming and 50 miles covered.....with 10 miles left it seemed a small effort however...having missed the tide and weather conditions deteriorating..I swam into Sandown bay against a strong spring tide..progress became slower and slower as my left shoulder and neck ( an old rugby injury) began to go into spasm and eventually gave up the ghost...rather like a vintage car I like to think..swimming with one arm is clearly not ideal however a decision had to be made and the prospect of covering the final distance was calculated at about 8-9hrs...something I know my body frankly wasnt up to....so I saluted those who have succeeded before me and allowed myself to be pulled from the water...landing in the bottom of the rib as the rib crew commented.."like a whale carcass!"..charming!...this adventure is over but so many great memories...swimming through the Needles at night, the random canoeist, fishermen for once taking in their lines and everyone on Ventnor Seafront!
My thanks go to all of you who have supported me in my endeavours, all the UKSA staff who do such a great job in giving themselves to the charity, the staff and the pupils at Ventnor Middle School who have been involved in the project, the lads at Comar and Shanklin Sports Shop for their donations..however, special thanks go to my team on all my attempts, who have given of their time at short notice and watched over me in the night and through rough unforgiving seas seas and kept my spirits up, and at times, clearly just lied through their back teeth!
It has been a pleasure to have met so many wonderful people and I have been amazed how this project has inspired others ,on many levels, to go on and have a go at something which perhaps they wouldnt have ordinarily done, Im really chuffed for the donations we have received as the young people from Medina House School can continue to extend their programme of events with UKSA."
Richard has raised a fantastic amount of money for UKSA, supporting on-the-water activities for the students of Medina House and Ventnor Middle Schools.
Thank you Richard, from all at UKSA!
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