Weather hits councillor's swim attempt
The weather has scuppered a councillor's bid to become the 13th person to swim from Jersey to France.
Paul Hopfensperger, Suffolk county councillor for the tower division, in Bury St Edmunds, was due to make the gruelling 17-mile swim on Monday, but he had to concede defeat when the conditions were not right.
He said on Monday: "We haven't got a hope of going as it is actually gale force five and above.
"It's disappointing, but at the end of the day that is open air swimming – if the weather is not right, you can't go."
Cllr Hopfensperger said he was considering changing his flights to see if he could stay in Jersey to swim around the island on Monday. The 44-mile, 13-hour swim uses the surging spring tide to push swimmers around the island.
The swim is part of Cllr Hopfensperger's training for his two-way English Channel swim on September 6. Only 18 people have completed the feat, which involves swimming the Channel, stepping on to French soil and then swimming back again.
Cllr Hopfensperger swam the Channel one way last July.
The swims are in aid of children's cancer charity Clic Sargent and St Nicholas' Hospice, in Bury. Sponsor him at www.hoffystwowaychannelswim.org.uk
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
