Noble effort

4:41pm Wednesday 3rd October 2001

TIM Noble's bid to swim the English Channel ended in disappointment last week when he was beaten by the elements.

The 28-year-old, a swimming instructor in Bromley, was forced to give up his attempt last Wednesday after 10 hours in the icy waters.

It was the end of a day which had began at three o'clock in the morning when he and his coach, Tanya Harding, set off for Dover.

While most of us were snoring soundly in our beds, in Dover it was still dark when Tim, wearing a special safety light, entered the water.

Tim takes up the story: “I started off okay and had gone about eight miles when the wind began to freshen considerably and the waves started to increase in both frequency and size.

“I tried to drink soup and tea from plastic bottles, as well as nibbling on mini Mars bars, but the waves made it very difficult for me to get near enough to the support boat to take them.

“The change in weather and wave-strength had not been forecasted and I spent the next five hours virtually swimming on the spot.

“My coach said my number of strokes and kicks was what we planned, but by now the waves were six-feet high and my coach advised me the forecast was for them to get bigger and pulled me out the water.

“No-one likes to give up, but it was obvious there was no point going on.”

Tim, however, is determined to try again .... and succeed.

He added defiantly: “I know I can do it. The distance is not the problem, it was just the elements that stopped me and I will definitely have another go next year.”

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