AN ALDERNEY resident has become the first person to swim there from Guernsey. Paul Clark, 36, set off from Beaucette at 6am yesterday and made it back to Alderney in just over four-and-a-half hours.

The RNLI crew member and former England national swimmer was accompanied by two fishing boats and stopped once an hour for energy drinks without touching the safety vessel.

He landed at Telegraph Bay where he was met by the Alderney lifeboat, Roy Barker I, and taken to Braye Harbour where a crowd of supporters, including his parents and family, were waiting for him.

‘It was fantastic,’ he said, before celebrating with his family.

‘The weather conditions were perfect so I felt quite confident. We had a good team with excellent navigation and support so this ensured we were on course.’

Assisted by yesterday’s spring tides, Mr Clark cut into his schedule to beat by some 85 minutes the target time of six hours.

The direct line of the swim was just over 16 miles but the tidal flow meant he had to swim 22.

The event was carefully planned, with Roland Mignot’s fishing boat, Paulanda, navigating the course. James Walder’s motor cruiser, Aloonie, was the main support vessel and Mark Wordsworth skippered the close support vessel.

This was not the first time Mr Clark had undertaken a long-distance swim to raise money for charity.

Last August he did an eight-hour swim from Alderney to France with fellow RNLI member Graham Joyce which raised £4,000.

Unable to take part, Mr Joyce helped on this occasion by paddling the pace boat.

The swim will raise funds for the RNLI, the Alderney Swimming Association and a public sports centre incorporating Alderney’s first public swimming pool.

Guernsey surgeon Roger Allsopp, 63, also attempted the challenge. He set off from Guernsey an hour later than Mr Clark but narrowly missed completing the task after strong tides near Alderney began sweeping him off course.

Speaking from a boat bringing him back to Guernsey yesterday afternoon, Mr Allsopp said that he managed to complete the equivalent distance, but he had not got the planning quite right.

‘It was a bit of a disaster – I did the distance but I didn’t hit Alderney.’

Full of enthusiasm to try the challenge again, he said he would avoid the ‘country route’ in future.

‘I feel fine. It’s been a really nice day out. There was a lovely support team and it was a perfect day, really. I can take disappointment.

‘I wanted to do a six-hour swim because that would qualify me for the Channel. At least something has been achieved.’

The biggest upset for Mr Allsopp was that he knew he would not complete the challenge after hitting unfavourable tides swimming out of the Little Russel. He also had a problem with jellyfish.

He was full of praise for Mr Clark and said he had done ‘extremely well’.

‘I’m sorry I couldn’t bring the flag for Guernsey but we’re still contributing to the pool in Alderney.’