Manager Chris White, “ They had been practising their strokes all week, so we expected one or two of them to make the mile, but the young ones were amazing, they just kept going. Their fitness levels are remarkable when they exercise regularly” Tiny George Poyter (5) swam sixteen lengths of backstroke and frontcrawl while Harry Seal (5), Abigail Caveney (5) and Tim Loescher (5) all managed 200 metres. Six year old Dominic Gardner sped to the mile in just 55 minutes, the same time taken by brother Ben to complete 80 lengths. Sam Woodcock (6) set off to do his 200 metres and ended up swimming a mile, Becca Loescher (6) clocked up 64 lengths alongside James Mellor(7), brother Craig(10) also making the mile. Sisters Mollie (7) and Bethany (10) Holman swam 4000 metres between them just outdone by a massive 5000m swim from 10 year old Nathan Watson.
The children are part of a team of over 150 adults and children trying to swim the equivalent of the channel (1408 lengths) as part of the Shirley Pool's challenge to help raise £1 million to build a new centre for Cancer sufferers So far the Pool this year has raised £5000 in pledges.

“Swim the Channel”, a sponsored event in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief, taking place at Shirley throughout 2005.
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