Registration opens for landmark 50th Skipton Swimarathon as Salty Swimarathon launches
- Registration opens for the 50th Skipton Swimarathon, taking place 7-11 October 2026 with Les Bourgs Hospice as main beneficiary
- New Salty Swimarathon added at La Vallette bathing pools alongside traditional Beau Sejour event to broaden participation
- Last year's event saw more than 1,700 swimmers raise £68,500 for local causes
- Event has raised over £2,000,000 for local good causes since first Swimarathon in 1977
- Organised by Guernsey Round Table and Lions Club of Guernsey, sponsored by Skipton International since 2010
Registration is now open for the 2026 Skipton Swimarathon, with islanders invited to sign up for the event's landmark 50th year.
Taking place from 7 to 11 October 2026, this year's Skipton Swimarathon will once again bring together individuals, families, school groups, sports clubs and businesses in support of Les Bourgs Hospice, which has been named as the main beneficiary.
Organised by a dedicated team including the Guernsey Round Table and the Lions Club of Guernsey, and proudly sponsored by Skipton International, the Skipton Swimarathon is a much-loved part of Guernsey's annual calendar and one of the island's best-known community fundraising events.
Last year, more than 1,700 swimmers took part and raised £68,500 for local causes. Organisers are now encouraging the community to get involved once again and help make this milestone year another strong one for local fundraising.
New for 2026 is the Salty Swimarathon, giving islanders another way to take part at the La Vallette bathing pools alongside the traditional event at Beau Sejour. The new addition is designed to broaden participation and bring a fresh dimension to this year's programme.
Skipton International has supported the event since 2010, reflecting its long-standing commitment to backing local initiatives that bring people together and make a practical difference across the island.
Pete Turner, Chief Operating Officer at Skipton International, said: "We are proud to continue supporting the Skipton Swimarathon as it returns for its 50th year. It is an event that means a great deal to the Guernsey community and reflects the best of the island, with community spirit, teamwork and a shared commitment to helping local causes. The introduction of the Salty Swimarathon gives people another way to get involved, and we hope to see strong support this year for Les Bourgs Hospice."
John Stuart, Chair of the Skipton Swimarathon Organising Committee, said: "The Skipton Swimarathon has always been about bringing the community together, and it is fantastic to open registrations for such a special year. Reaching our 50th year is a real milestone, and we are looking forward to welcoming back familiar faces as well as first-time participants. With the introduction of the Salty Swimarathon alongside the main event, we are giving even more people the chance to take part and help raise vital funds for Les Bourgs Hospice."
Rob Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Les Bourgs Hospice, said: "We are very grateful to be the main beneficiary of the 2026 Skipton Swimarathon in our 35th anniversary year. Support from the event will help us continue providing compassionate, specialist care and support for patients and families across Guernsey. We are thankful to the Organising Committee, Skipton International, every swimmer, donor and supporter who helps make this possible."
The event has a long history on the island. The Lions Club of Guernsey, Guernsey Round Table and Variety Club of Guernsey formed the first Swimarathon organising committee under the chairmanship of Harry Bisson in 1977. The proceeds from the event were to be shared equally by the clubs, but importantly could only be spent locally in Guernsey.
At the first Swimarathon, 186 teams swam over a period of 34 one-hour sessions. It was started by the Bailiff Sir John Loveridge at 5pm on the Friday and finished at 10pm on the Sunday. Just over 1,000 people took part and the event raised £19,900.
Over succeeding years, Guernsey Swimarathon has become the island's greatest community fundraising event. Currently, around 2,000 swimmers of all ages take part each year and have helped raise over £2,000,000 for local good causes during the past 49 years.
Many Swimarathon traditions have been established, including the challenge of swimming for trophies. Generally, children swim on a distance basis and adults on money raised. Sixteen trophy categories including Finance, Professional, Legal, Hospitality, Churches, Clubs and Schools compete for over thirty trophies. There is also a separate Super Supporter Award Scheme to help promote the corporate sector and big money raising teams in Guernsey for the amount of funds raised by individual teams.
For many years Round Table and Lions Club have been the organisers and beneficiaries, receiving funds which are then distributed to local good causes. Since 2003 it has become the tradition that the two clubs agree to pool Swimarathon resources towards a common goal, selecting a main beneficiary who receives donated funds as a priority before the clubs share the surplus.
Entries are now open at www.swimarathon.org, where participants can find more information on registration, fundraising and how to get involved.
Q&A
Q: When is the 2026 Skipton Swimarathon taking place?
A: The 2026 Skipton Swimarathon will take place from 7 to 11 October 2026.
Q: What is new about this year's Swimarathon?
A: This year introduces the Salty Swimarathon at La Vallette bathing pools, giving islanders another way to participate alongside the traditional event at Beau Sejour.
Q: Who will benefit from the funds raised this year?
A: Les Bourgs Hospice has been named as the main beneficiary for the 2026 Skipton Swimarathon, which coincides with the hospice's 35th anniversary year.
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