The Team

Photos top L to R:  Eleanor Aris,  Lewis Clarke/Angus Rowley,Drummond McMillan, Danny Pirret/James Elmer, Alexander Chantler

After a gruelling selection process, we are proud to announce who’s been chosen to be part of the team which will attempt to break the world record for the youngest team to ever swim the English Channel in August 2010.  All the swimmers  compete for their home clubs but are doing this specialist open water training under the auspices of Bristol North A.S.C.  and BEST head coach Penny Porter.  In no particular order, the BEST team are:

1] ANGUS ROWLEY, from Leigh Woods, Bristol.  Home swimming club Bristol Henleaze A.S.C and attends Bristol      Grammar  School.

 
“Hi, my name is Angus Rowley. I am 11 years old and my Birthday is in July. I have an older brother called Carew, a dog called Solo, a snake called Whiplash and a cat called Vishnu. I swim four one hour and a half sessions a week at Bristol Henleaze Swimming Club. I also go to Clifton Rugby Club on Sundays. I am also captain of the B team rugby at school.  I go to Bristol Grammar School and I have lots of friends and love the sport there. When l am older I want to be a Architect but I want to swim and play rugby even more than that! I have loved the sea since I was a baby and my dream is to be a competitive long distance swimmer. I love snorkelling and surfing and want to learn to dive. I want do this event because it is the biggest thing I have ever done. When my Granny was young she swam for Scotland and swam in Loch Ness so I want to match her achievements. Good luck to everyone in BEST!!!”
 
 2] DANNY PIRRET, from Fishponds, Bristol.  Home club Soundwell A.S.C.
 
“The reason I want to swim the channel is that I wanted to set myself a goal for once and  achieve something beyond imagination that would be put down in history so we could all look back on what we had achieved and feel proud. From the first time I picked up the invitation at Horfield Leisure Centre it has been a focus of mine and although swimming can be an individual sport the channel swim is more of a team achievement and with the team we have, it is achievable.  And the reasons for why we are doing it.  The children’s hospice and lifeguards are two worth while causes for which I’m sure it will benefit greatly.” 

 3] LEWIS CLARKE, from Bishopston, Bristol.  Home club Bristol North A.S.C. and attends QEH Senior School, Bristol.

“I have 1 brother called Solomon and a cat called Bronte. I live in Bristol and swim 4 times a week at Bristol North my swimming club which I have been a member of for about 3 years now. I also play  a lot of rugby at school and I’m in the first 15 for under 12. At school my favourite subjects are maths, history, science and sport. I love sport and I’m going to play it for the rest of my life but as a job I would like to become a businessman. I really hope the channel swim is successful and good luck to everybody.”

4] ELEANOR ARIS, from Hawkesbury, S. Glos.  Home club Southwold A.S.C. and attends Stroud High School.

“Hi, my name is Ellie and I’m in my first year at Stroud High Secondary school having a fantastic time. I live in a Cotswold village which helps when one of my passions is horse riding. Others include my friends, my flute, piano and bunny. My greatest is, as you may have guessed, swimming. I started at 4 years old and progressed into competitive swimming at 9. My favourite events are the long distance ones as I love to push myself. I had not really considerd open water swimming until I heard about BEST and knew this was my chance to shine. I have many people I admire in life, but in swimming it would have to be Jo Jackson and Cassie Patten. My lifetime goal is to go as far as I can in whatever I enjoy doing. A medal for England would be nice!”

5] DRUMMOND McMILLAN, from Portishead, N. Somerset.  Home club Backwell A.S.C.

“Hello, my name is Drum I am 11 years old. I live in Portishead with my younger brother Gus, older sister Cecily and my parents Anna and Don. I just love sport, I swim for Backwell, play rugby for Gordano Sharks and play cricket for Portishead. My other main hobby is music, my favourite bands are The Foo Fighters, Muse and Green Day.  I really want to swim the Channel because it is an opportunity to do something that not many people have done before. I would also really like to be in the Guinness Book of Records because if I am picked to swim I will be the youngest member of the youngest team to swim the Channel. Thank you to all my friends and family who have been so encouraging and enthusiastic.”

6] JAMES ELMER, from Keynsham, Bristol.  Home clubs Team Bath and Keynsham A.S.Cs and attends Wellsway Senior School.

“James Elmer was born in St. Michaels Hospital in Bristol on 27.6.98. He has lived in Keynsham ever since.  James was in the swimming pool splashing around long before he could walk and used to frighten his family by constantly jumping in to the pool despite not being able to swim properly. He’s been in the water ever since! He joined Keynsham Swimming Club when he was about 6 years old and regularly swims for his Club. James is a huge fan of Michael Jackson’s music and also loves to impersonate his dance moves. James applied to be a part of the BEST team as he thought it would be amazing to see his name in the Guinness Book of Records and achieve such an award at a young age.”

 7] ALEXANDER CHANTLER, from Quenington, Glos. Home club Swindon Dolphins A.S.C.

“I first started swimming at three months old, in Cirencester. After progressing through the swimming levels, I joined SWINDON DOLPHINs in August 2005. I  train for 11 hours a week in the pool and enjoy distance swimming.  I compete at county and regional level, hoping to get to the ASA nationals in 2010.  Supported by Gloucester City Swimming Club,  I entered the Gloucestershire Open Water competition in July 2009, winning the 11/12 year old event.  From there I was asked to join the BEST trials.  I jumped at the chance, and  am very excited to have been selected for the BEST team. I enjoy many other sports. I taught myself to surf at 7 years old,  and also enjoy kite boarding, mountain boarding, windsailing, kayaking.  I cycle around the cotswold countryside, and compete in cross country events for both the school and CIRENHARES. I am a member of Swindon Junior Triathlon club, and won my first Tri event in July 2009. I would love to compete in an Iron Man competition, and swim in the 2016 Olympics. I am very much looking forward to training for the English Channel swim, and very much hope to be one of the lucky six who actually swim in the relay on 17th August 2010. It is a real privilege to be part of this team”.

 8] REBECCA SHEPPARD  from Tewkesbury.  Home club Tewkesbury Swimming Club and attends Tewkesbury School, Gloucestershire

“I have been training with the B.E.S.T. team since the beginning even after the 8 were chosen as I continued as a reserve.  I am so excited to have the chance to be part of the team after completing my 2 hour qualification swim.  The training is very hard work but also great fun to be with my B.E.S.T. friends.  I have been swimming competitively since the age of 9 with Tewkesbury Swimming Club at County and Regional level.  I also won the 750 SWR Open Water Swim Race (12 Year Old Girls) at Weymouth on 4th July and the GASA Open Water Swim 11/12 Year Old Girls on 10th July  at Henleaze Lake, which I wouldn’t have even thought about entering before my training with B.E.S.T.  It is all a brilliant experience.”

9] ROSALIND CRANHAM – reserve.  Hengrove, Bristol.  Keynsham ASA.

“I first started swimming when I was 9, I joined Keynsham Swimming Club as part of the prelimary squad and quickly became part of the ‘gold squad’ going on to a regional final in backstroke (2010) . I have been swimming in open water a while before B.E.S.T in the ocean off north Cornwall, surfing and body boarding. Moreover, I have completed the Padstow to Rock open water event. When I heard about opportunity to swim the channel with B.E.S.T I instantly said, ‘Yes.’ I am over the moon to be part of this life changing experience, even as a reserve.”

 

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