Channel mastered at 70
Wednesday 31st August 2011, 10:19AM BST.
With France in the distance, Roger Allsopp prepares to set off from Dover at the start of his record-breaking Channel swim at the age of 70 and four months. (Picture by PA News)
ROGER ALLSOPP has become the oldest person to swim across the English Channel.
The 70-year-old completed the challenge in the early hours of this morning after setting off at Dover at 8am yesterday.
It took him 17 hours and 40 minutes.
He said he was thrilled that he had completed the challenge.
‘I’m just coming to terms with it now,’ the retired surgeon said.
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Roger is an amazing bloke ! all his life has been devoted to the care of others ,I want to see him made Sir Roger .If anyone deserves it he does .
Well done Roger
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I would like to echo Ken’s opening post. A massive achievement both in swimming the Channel and the fundraising. I hope the GEP publishes places where even more people can make a donation to a very worthy cause. Well done Roger, truly inspirational.
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Wow wow wow, what true inspiration. Well done Mr Allsopp!
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Well done .you are a star!
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A truly amazing feat by an over 70 year old dedicated person, when you see the actual coarse he was made to swim due to the High Spring tide and speed of tidal run it seems he had to swim more than twice the direct distance from Dover to Calais. (What a mind set he must have.)
Once again “WELL DONE ROGER”
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Sorry but I been away from the islands for a bit. Who is Roger Allsop. Just heard him on Radio 5 and he calls himself an Englishman ???
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what an amazing achievement – well done Mr Allsop!
You are a real inspiration.
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Alvin J Furrer – Dr Roger Allsop – chairman of HOPE for Guernsey, retired cancer surgeon, all round good guy who has done plenty for others throughout his life, first winner of the Guernsey BBC Sports Personality competition in 2006.
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Well done Mr Allsopp, a fabulous feat to pull off. I can also testify that Roger is a top man in other ways as well, he operated on me nearly 20 years ago to repair a very nasty broken ankle, haven’t had a day’s bother with it since. Having been good friends with his son/s at school I can also confirm that he knows how to throw a party!!
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I agree with all these sentiments.
Roger, well done, you are a true inspiration to everyone who knows you (and many others besides). I’m very proud to know you and of your achievement.
I knew Roger during my time working at the Hospital (for over 11 years) and he has always cared for and put others before himself. A caring person to the last and one of the best.
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Fair play to him. A huge achievement for anybody especially at 70 years of age. It would be good to know the actual distance swam. Bearing in mind he ended up swimming easily twice the distance due to currents and tides.
These threads should be accompanied with a tipjar or a link to make a donation to worthy causes such as this.
Good on Derek Coates for kicking off the charitable cause with such a substantial donation too.
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Outstanding!
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Perhaps Mr. Ahmed`s restaurant can donate 60% of his takings to Roger Allsop`s favoured charity.
Congratulations Mr Allsop, a wonderful and awe inspiring swim.
You`ve done your bit, time for putting your feet up, having a cuppa and a fag.
Well done.
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Condor`s quicker ;-)
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Is the time ripe for Guernsey to introduce its own honours system? How about presenting Roger with a D.S.O.?(Distinguished Swimming Order). Or an M.B.E. (Master of Briny Environment). Or even a C.B.E. (Came by Breastroke to Europe). Or a K.G. (Kicked for Guernsey). Or might we fix him up with with the Freedom of St Peter Port? (Or St Saviours?).
Whatever the reward … Well done Roger!
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Well done Roger, an amazing achievement!
slep – it’s not :)
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Pity this wasn’t more widely reported.
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You’re right CO. Condor must be quaking in their boots with the realisation that we all know now there is an alternative! Although I’m not sure they operate that particular route.
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Very well done Roger.. Puts us youngsters (I’m 43 btw)all to shame… I cant imagine the Bridge/Town “kevs” could even muster up a swim across the bathing pools.. let alone the Channel..
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e.mayler
The Daily Mail has a few column inches in the inside pages today
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Guernsey Swimming Club congratulates Roger on his fantastic swim and achievement.
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E. Mayler, How wide do you want it reported?? It reached the news here in Australia, Good on ya Roger
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032048/Ooh-la-la-70-year-old-oldest-person-swim-Channel-mere-17-hours-51-minutes.html – More than a little article on daily mail on line today. Very well done Roger.
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e-mayler: It was also reported in the local swiss paper where I live.
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Well done Roger.
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Reported in The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/31/roger-allsopp-oldest-english-channel-swimmer-_n_943541.html
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Roger is a star and exactly the right ambassador for Guernsey – a true legend.
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