If you were to go on the new Taunton School website, you would find an article about 13 year 8 students who swam the English Channel, as a relay, battling pitch black and choppy sea, not to mention the sea creatures, such as jellyfish and seals!

But this is the culmination of many other adventures in the sea, and the adventure does not stop there!

Since returning to school, the Long-Distance Swimming Club, including our mighty new channel heroes (almost all now in year 9), next year’s channel hopefuls (year 8), and supporting staff have been busy taking part in many of the most scenic and fun organised swims the Southwest has to offer. 

These events all take place on Sunday’s. After a busy and active week of regular sport, including games, PE lessons and Saturday fixtures, the Long Distance Club, attend 2 early morning swim sessions, some also attend a Saturday afternoon session, and then get up at 5:30/5:45am on Sunday morning and set off for Cornwall and Devon to complete these extra challenge swims, most of which are designed to raise money for the Chestnut Appeal. (https://chestnutappeal.org.uk/)

This year, these have included: 

Carbis Bay – Madhatter Sports – Competitive race – 3km (skins) for year 9 and up, 2km for year 8. 

The swim consisted of a 1 Km lap in the sea, where the swimmers leave the water and run back in for subsequent laps. 

Charlie Stevens (Yr9 Marshall) came in 2nd place in the adult skins (no wetsuit) category and Faye Bird came 4th in adult female skins category. 

Plymouth Breakwater Swim – Chestnut appeal – A charity fundraising swim in Plymouth, where you are taken out to the breakwater, you jump off the boat and swim back to shore – 3km. 

Drakes Island – Chestnut appeal – Another charity fundraising swim, where you swim from Shore to Drakes Island (Plymouth) and back again – 1.5km

Looe Island Swim – Chestnut appeal – A charity fundraising swim, leaving the beach in Looe on a glass bottomed boat, travelling to Looe Island, where you jump off and swim back to shore in crystal clear water – 1.5km

Last year these also included:

Burgh Island round Island swim – Chestnut appeal – A charity swim, taking entrants from the beach and around Burgh Island and back again – 1.5km

St Michaels Mount Round island swim – Chestnut Appeal – A charity fundraising swim, from the beach in Penzance, around St Michael’s Mount and back again – 2.5km

Well done everyone!!