GOWER: Only four locals took part last year — can Swansea’s own backyard event tempt more to take the plunge this June?

Hundreds of athletes will descend on Gower on 20 June for the third Gritty Rascals Swimrun Gower — an endurance event that takes competitors on a continuous journey of running and open-water swimming along one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Britain.

And yet last year, only four people from the local area entered — meaning the vast majority of those experiencing the Gower coast from the water and the clifftops were travelling from elsewhere in the UK or further afield.

Organisers are hoping to change that. “We have competitors travel from across the UK and Europe to compete and this year we’re keen to welcome more local athletes to enter,” said Gary Pavitt, founder of Gritty Rascals Events.

Unlike a triathlon, swimrun involves no transition. Competitors run in their wetsuits and swim in their trainers, alternating between cross-country running and open-water swimming throughout the entire race — without changing kit.

This year’s event offers three course lengths. The Sprint Course (12km) is aimed at first-timers and newcomers to the sport. The Gritty Course (21km) offers a half-marathon equivalent for those wanting a stiff challenge.

The Full Course (41km) — starting at Rhossili Bay and finishing in Mumbles — is the ultimate test, and has this year been designated an ÖTILLÖ Merit Race, allowing competitors to earn global ranking points towards the Swimrun World Championships.

The Full Course takes competitors on a route most locals will recognise stretch by stretch — a technical swim from Tears Point to Mewslade Bay, cliff top running to Port Eynon, a crossing of Port Eynon Bay, then on through Oxwich, around Tor Point, into Pwll Du, across to Brandy Cove, Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Rotherslade before a final climb up Mumbles Hill to the finish line.

Competitor Stacey Bramhall, who is also involved in promoting the event, said the experience of seeing Gower from both the coastal path and the water was unlike anything else.

“There is honestly nothing quite like the perspective of seeing Gower’s beauty from the coast path and the water,” she said. “The sense of achievement when you finish the race makes it all 100% worth doing.”

For those nervous about the swimming sections, the organisers point to an extensive water safety team who are in the water throughout. “We have a huge support team who are in the water for every stroke to support swimmers whether it’s their first swimrun or fifth,” said Pavitt.

Transport to the start lines is provided, with all courses finishing back in Mumbles. The event hub, registration and finish line are all based there, giving spectators a base for the day.

The Gritty Rascals Swimrun Gower takes place on Saturday 20 June 2026. Registration is open now at grittyrascals.com.

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Torpoint Ferry, Cornwall, 1929 - Milton Postcard

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#Torpoint #TorpointFerry

Avenue and Lodge at Anthony, Cornwall, 1907 - Valentine's Postcard

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#Antony #Torpoint #Postcards

Those in peril on the sea: mariners in Victorian Cornwall

A region bordered on three sides by the sea might be expected to be home to a fair number of men described as mariners, seamen, sailors or Royal Navy personnel. In fact, in 1861 there were more of this description than there were fishermen, at least 2,514. ‘At least’ because we would expect a proportion of Cornish seamen to be absent at sea at the time of the census.

Some absent married men could be captured through the description of their wives as both heads of household and wives of mariner/seaman etc and this has been done here. However, the 2,514 (or 2.6 per cent) of seafarers has to be regarded as a minimum. Interestingly, this proportion is not far below that usually cited for Cornish sailors present at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Unlike fishermen, mariners were found on Cornwall’s north as well as south coast, although in far fewer numbers. In the south, they clustered particularly around the estuaries of the Fal and Tamar (in the latter case most being Royal Navy men) as well as the ports of St Ives, Penzance and Hayle in the west. St Ives and Hayle were at one end of the busy trading route to and from the smelting furnaces and coal mines of south Wales, a trade in coal and ore mainly carried in St Ives owned boats.

Mariners clearly also had a fondness for the coast around St Austell Bay and east to Looe. Indeed, the proportion of mariners at Fowey, Cornwall’s premier port in medieval times, was the highest in Cornwall at one in four of its adult male residents.

Another 929 men were recorded in the census as making their living from working on the water – boatmen, watermen, ferrymen, pilots and coastguards. Their distribution on the south coast from Falmouth to Torpoint broadly mirrored that of mariners with the largest numbers, as might be expected, working in and around the two major estuaries. However, the greatest proportion was found on Scilly, where over one in seven men plied their trade on the local waters, while a minimum of at least another one in seven were mariners.

#Fowey #Hayle #Looe #Penzance #Scilly #StIves #Torpoint

RIP Roger Cook.

He was a multi-generational St John Ambulance leader from #Torpoint Cornwall.
He should have had an MBE or something. An absolute legend who directly or indirectly saved many lives.

And the fuckers have just given us a hosepipe ban. While most of the South of the UK still sits under flooded fields.

#Torpoint #Plymouth #SWW

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-65403267.amp

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Gedon me luvver!
I'm a #Torpoint boy myself 😍

#CreamOnTop