Covid rules disrupt Swimarathon's longstanding tradition

Sunday 01 November 2020

Jersey's annual Swimarathon fundraiser is to be held later in the year due to covid restrictions – the first time since the fundraising event began in 1972 that it won’t be held in March.

The organising committee hope that by July 2021, virus restrictions will have eased and they won’t have to limit the number of swimmers taking part.

The committee's Chair, Lion Steve Taylor, said: “Our aim is to put on an event where 3,500 swimmers can take part, can feel safe and above all have fun.”

The Jersey Lions had to cancel this year's Swimarathon just 14 hours before the five day event was due to start.

Pictured: The 2021 Swimarathon will take place from Saturday 3 to Wednesday 7July.

Despite no lengths being swum, the event, which is Jersey’s longest running fundraiser, raised more than £55,000 which Jersey Lions is using to help charities whose finances have been impacted by the pandemic.

“When we cancelled the 2020 Swimarathon, we quickly confirmed the dates for March 2021 and everyone hoped that coronavirus would be a thing of the past by then,” Steve Taylor said.

Given the current circumstances however, he said they didn’t want to start “months of planning” only to find themselves having to “disappoint” swimmers.

“Having looked at all the options the Jersey Lions reached the difficult decision to delay the event until July 2021, the first time since it began in 1972 that it won’t have been held in March.

“Our hope is that by then the restrictions will have been eased and that the weather will be more suitable for swimmers to come swim ready if they are required to do so.”

The 2021 Swimarathon will take place from Saturday 3 to Wednesday 7July.

The five charities chosen for the 2020 event, Brighter Futures, Brightly, Jersey Youth Trust, Teenage Cancer Trust and YouMatter, will also become the 2021 beneficiaries. 

Pictured: 4,000 swimmers took part in the 2019 Swimarathon, covering a total of 27,000 laps.

The Lions have written to schools to inform them of the change of date so that they can plan their end of term activities around taking part in the Swimarathon.

“We have been delighted by the positive response we have had from schools who are such an important part of the event,” said Steve Taylor.

Haydn Taylor, managing director of Ravenscroft in Jersey, who sponsors the event, said: “The organising team works so hard and gives up hundreds of hours of their time to make the Swimarathon happen.

“We know how devastated they were earlier this year and we shared that disappointment so it’s the right thing to do to move to a date when we are more confident that we can involve thousands of swimmers.”

Organisers will begin contacting team captains in February.