The Corner2Corner Challenge came about during our Ramsgate to Belgium swim, when asking our escort boat’s pilot Mike Oram, what we could do next.

He suggested several swims, the Dover to Brighton swim appealing to us as most of the team were from Brighton - and why not add a cycle and run too!

A couple of Sunday’s ago the Corner2Corner Challenge began from Hyde Park Corner at 7.45am with Paul, Paul, Guy, JIG and Rick cycling the 133km to Dover Marina, in peloton formation.

The route took them past Buckingham Palace, over Tower Bridge, along the South side of the Thames beyond the M25 into Kent, via Mc Donalds (!), then on to

Rochester, where Guy’s family were waiting to cheer the boys on.  Rainham, Sittingbourne, fab Faversham and Canterbury followed, where a chocolate brownie was needed.

The A2 dropped the cyclists down into Dover town centre, where they went through steam rings and on to the Marina, to be greeted by more supporters and a celebratory bottle of Champagne.

All proclaimed they had had a great ride taking 6hrs 3mins and when was the next event?

The relay swim from Dover Marina to Brighton Marina, had never been done before and estimated at 120kms taking 40-48hrs, which was always dependent on the weather. The cycle and run had fixed dates, but the swimmers hoped

the weather Gods would calm the seas and wind, after a very blustery early Summer, so that their relay would go ahead in between. And they did! 7am saw the 6 Bluebirds - Christine, Trish, Amanda, Heather, Rona and Daphne

boarding their escort boat, West Winds, with tubs of porridge, Pot Noodles, fruit, peanut butter sandwiches, crisps, lots of cake, quiche, pies, chocolate, carb drinks and so much more to provide energy for the 48hr 

swim. Trish jumped into the sea at Shakespeare Beach, Dover, swam to the steps and at 08.15 the ladies were off……..how long would it take? How many swims each – maybe 8? Each swimming for an hour at a time,

with West Winds, by their sides, piloted by Mike Oram and crew Mike Ball and Dan Earthquake. The sea began calm for the first few hours, as The Bluebirds swam past Folkestone, aiming straight across the bay to Dungeness.

However the wind began to build and for over 30hours all swimmers had to deal with 11 – 19mph winds, a turbulent sea, swells and waves swirling in all directions. Dungeness Nuclear Power Station loomed ominously, 

the strong currents around the headland not wanting to release the swimmers around the point and on towards Rye Bay. As the sun set at last we had escaped Dungeness’ clutches and let us swim on across the 35nm bay towards

Eastbourne. However, once again the wind had different ideas and pushed West Winds and swimmers in towards Rye Bay, we then had to swim at right angles to land for 3miles to get back on track and head towards the decommissioned Sovereign Lighthouse. A lot of sea chop was swallowed that first night, making us feel quite sick when we had finished our hour stint and clambered back up the ladder. The wind continued to make swimming challenging, the tides changing direction from Dover towards Brighton every 6 hours or so and back, not giving us much help, we still felt like we were swimming in a washing machine.

Daylight and we could still see Dungeness behind us, but Eastbourne was looking closer, as we bounced past Camber Sands, Rye, Winchelsea and on to Hastings, past Pevensey Bay. At least the sun was shining now, the mood on the boat was always very positive, each supporting and encouraging the swimmer before them and making sure clothes and food needed were ready for clambering back on. West Winds is the biggest boat in the Channel Swim & Piloting Federation fleet, which we were all grateful for, giving us lots of space for sleeping and provisions. Mike Oram, Mike Ball and Dan snatched sleep when they could, but 32 hours in, we were all faring pretty well.

Eastbourne was getting closer, Beachy Head could be seen as we swam into the most amazing sunset, lighting up the white cliffs and the lighthouse……..as the tide calmed. Hooray!

Darkness and into our second night at sea, a crescent moon and shooting stars were all quite spellbinding. The Seven Sisters could be made out in the moonlight, a few fishing boats and the lights of Brighton, far away in the distance.

Once again the sea had something else up her sleeve, as we struggled against the tide from Seaford Head, taking 4 hours to cross Seaford Bay, once in front of the mouth to Newhaven Harbour the Dieppe Ferry approached, causing huge swells as it circled around us into to the harbour channel. But the sun was up!!! Brighton was so close now! All living on adrenalin, the wonderful pilots steered us home as the swimmers buoyed each other on.

Peacehaven became Saltdean, Rottingdean, Ovingdean - we had friends on the cliffs waving, shouting, swimming near the beach, flying flags and urging us on. And it was only 7.15am!! 47 hours on!

At last we rounded Brighton Marina to land past the West arm, as the sun started to warm the pebbles for us to walk on and follow the lead swimmer on to the beach at 09.13, we even had dogs welcoming us home!

Our very challenging swim took 48hrs and 58mins, we all decided calm seas would have been boring and would not have changed the epic adventure.

Now it was the runners turn to complete the Corner2Corner Challenge from Brighton Marina back up to Hyde Park Corner; 105km. At 06.45 with a clearing sea mist and the promise of a sunny, warm day, not ideal for a long run to London, the first pair began climbing  the steep hill from the Marina, dropping down on to the Lewes Road, only to have to climb another 500ft elevation to the first change over at Upper Lodges Car Park, Stanmer, the first very challenging 11km over. Down the steep Ditchling Beacon, with a cycle escort, through Ditchling Village as the sun began to burn down and the third take over near Wivelsfield. Most of the relay legs were around 10km , but some chose to do double legs and 2 the Marathon distance of 26miles. The 4th change-over near Ardingly College went smoothly with one of the runners doing a second leg leading to the Worth Way. Three ladies took on this 20km cross country route, over fallen trees and overgrown paths, being stung and scarred, to Salfords. The Marathon distance runners were waiting raring to go all the way to Hyde Park, meeting another runner on the way at Old Coulsdon, taking the Wandle Trail and then joining up with our youngest runners, 12 and 13 at Rosary Gate, Battersea Park finishing the last 5km, via Buckingham Palace to run through Wellington Arch, where it all started. The wonderful relay runners taking 11hrs 25mins! Cheers and Well Done’s were said by the team’s runners, cyclists and all the swim team, what an amazing event!…………..All the runners said they really enjoyed the Challenge and would love to do it again……

So watch this space for next years Challenge!