Defying a pod of whales

9:16am Friday 11th July 2008

MARLOW'S Nick Berry defied a pod of killer whales to set a new British swimming record.

The 22-year-old was part of a three-man team which swam from Spain to Morocco across the hazardous Straits of Gibraltar in three hours and 38 minutes to set a new British record.

The former Bourne End Swimming Club member along with his team-mates from Oxford University, Harry Fisher and Lennard Lee, completed the 22km dangerous challenge despite having to share the waters with the whales.

Berry said: "We were within 100m of them but luckily I didn't see them. If I had done I would have panicked. I would probably have got straight out of the water and into the boat. It is quite scary to think they came so close."

The whales were spotted by the support boat and one of the other three swimmers and they were only part of the trouble for the swimmers who also had to contend with strong currents, crashing waves and big ships in one of Europe's busiest shipping channels.

Former Olympic swimmer Duncan Goodhew was quick to hail the efforts of Berry and his team-mates who shaved almost an hour off the time set by Little Britain star David Walliams and Olympic champion James Cracknell earlier this year as they broke the record.

Goodhew said: "This is an incredible achievement for them. To be able to swim 22 kilometres across open water in one of the most perilous stretches of sea in the world is a fantastic challenge in itself, let alone setting a new British record.

"The students displayed real drive in their training and were passionate about helping what is a truly worthy charity."

And Berry admitted Monday's achievement hadn't sunk in yet.

He said: "It hasn't hit home. We never really thought it was possible to beat the British record, but we did it despite the cold and the huge waves. We pushed through the pain barrier and succeeded."

But he admitted there were times when he didn't think he'd make it.

He said: "It was pretty weird at the start looking at Morocco in the distance and thinking that's the next stop and it didn't get any easier.

"When we reached the halfway point it was really hard because Spain still looked close and Morocco looked far away in the distance."

The trio's efforts raised £1,700 for the Variety Club charity.

To donate, please visit www.gibstraits.com l Wycombe District Swimmers produced 21 personal bests in the second round of the Milton Keynes Junior League in Oxford on Saturday.

George Longhurst and Shaquille Jack were among the winners on the day, with Longhurst and Sam Krasner adding silvers.

In the nine-year relay, Longhurst and Krasner joined up with James Baxter and Ethan Carter to finish second in the medley, before Teddie Casterton took over Baxter to help Wycombe to freestyle silver.

Jack, Chris Hussey, Kieran Evans and Joshua Lewis won freestyle silver at 12-year level.