FIFTY swimmers from Beccles Town Swimming Club completed a gruelling 24-hour relay at Bungay pool in aid of Sports Relief and also to help raise money towards a new club electronic timing system and scoreboard.

FIFTY swimmers from Beccles Town Swimming Club completed a gruelling 24-hour relay at Bungay pool in aid of Sports Relief and also to help raise money towards a new club electronic timing system and scoreboard.

The endurance relay was kicked off by Richard Clarke and Louise Shepherdson at 8pm last Tuesday with the 50 swimmers split into two teams and each swimmer completing an hour or half stint in the pool.

Swimmers of all ages took part in the event from the under nine-year-olds of Max Beevor, Adam Seaman, Phoebe Chick and Alice Collyer to the more senior swimmers of Steven Kirby, Ellen Nelson, Zanna Yallop and Amber Bircham.

The event also brought out the uni swimmers Rachel Doran, Ellie Clarke, Jonny Harrison, Douglas Olley and also Masters Jon Doran and Tim Millett.

It was in fact the experienced heads of Jon and Tim, along with Amber, who managed to stay up and awake for the full 24 hours. It was the first time the club has put on this kind of event and proved to be a huge success with massive support from the swimmers and parents.

It was the more youthful swimmers Nina Bircham, Jenny Beevor and also seniors Alex Eames-Bayton and Jenny Seaman who clocked up the most meters and broke the 4,000m barrier in their hour swims. In total the swimmers clocked up a massive 155,150 metres or 96 miles which is the same as crossing the channel over four times.

The club would like to thank all the swimmers who took part and made the event possible, along with Waveney District Council for their support in putting on the event and the members of the public who supported the event.

BTSC is starting 'learn to swim' sessions for children aged five to six on Thursdays from 7pm starting from May 6 and have a few spaces left.

If interested call Tim on 07727125427 or email tim.kingfishers@hotmail.com