The inaugural Fernley
Event is a resounding success
Photographs by Patrick Trollope.
SO what did you do on the 1st
morning of 2016? For some it was a run and an icy swim, in aid of charity,
as on 1 January 2016, for the inaugural The Fernley Event. The idea being,
to help raise funds for the local Lifeboat services and to commemorate the
bravery shown of the 27 local lifeboat men from both Southport and St Anne's
crews, on the night of 9 December 1886.
In 1886, a very strong storm left the
German cargo boat called the
Mexico, stranded on a sandbank. The
stricken vessel then, in the heavy seas, capsized in the Ribble Estuary. As
this happened, the both the Eliza Fernley, from Southport and neighbouring
St Anne's lifeboat, the Laura Janet had been launched, in a effort to rescue
the crew. Sadly, all hands on the Laura Janet were lost as to all, but 2 of
the crew of the Eliza Fernley. This rescue attempt was to become the World's
worst lifeboat
disaster ever.
This year's Fernley event took place on a very cold morning, with lake
levels far higher than normal, due to flooding from the resent storms over
Christmas. Our video footage shows some of the brave runners who took part,
swimming the lake, between the new bridge and the Pier, at the back of
Funland.
The event was organized by a local events company, STORM Consultancy, whose
Managing Director, Major Jonathan Cunningham, MBE, also ran and swam, with
his teenage sons.
Special congratulations go to:-
► Winning female and overall winner was Kirsty
Mackenzie, with a time of 19 minutes and 4 seconds.
► Winning male was Chris Grogan, with a time 19
minutes and 7 seconds.
► Winning international entry was Andy East, with
a time of 22 minutes and 54 seconds.
► The youngest completions were Bertie Cunningham
aged 14 and Edward Cunningham, aged 16.
More information and to sign up for next
year (2017) go to:-
TheFernley.Co.UK.
Did you know that the safety boats were
provided by Southport Lifeboat Crews, from Southport Offshore Rescue Trust.
A voluntary Lifeboat service and sea rescue charity which is not funded by
the RNLI. For more information visit:-
Southport-Lifeboat.Co.UK. The Media Paddle Board, with thanks
to:- SUPNorth.Co and First Aid provided by St John Ambulance - SJA.Org.UK.
Plus Sports Therapy provided by
Holistic-Realignment.com.
Click on
here to
see the rest of the photographic coverage from this event...
