Published Date:
22 July 2006
Lizzie Murphy and Mike Waites
SWIMMING fanatic Geoff Taylor has achieved his ultimate ambition of swimming the English Channel before his 50th birthday.
The funeral director from Bingley took to the water yesterday morning and completed the 21-mile challenge in 12 hours and six minutes.
Mr Taylor has raised more than £1,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care through his work H H Birch and Son in Nab Wood, Shipley, and Bradford's B Active campaign.
Mr Taylor, who trains with Bingley Swimming Club, said: "I turn 50 in September, which is a benchmark, and swimming the Channel was the only thing left to do."
After completing his gruelling swim shortly before 8pm yesterday, he said it had been a "fantastic" experience. The sea had been mainly calm and even warm in parts.
"It's not really sunk in yet. The last two miles, when you are almost there but the cliffs don't seem to get closer, were the most difficult," he said. "I always thought I was going to do it, but there's always that doubt in the back of you mind."
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Last Updated:
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Yorkshire
