Final score

In hotel having a quiet drink with the teams and support crews. We will have a meal and a wild time a bit later.

CS are overall winners with us a total of 37 mins behind and BarCap a further 43 mins behind us. Deutsche and UBS are next but do not post a formal time as they did not succesfully complete the swim (although 5eutsche did go from coast to coast they were unable to keep a swimmer in for there full alloted time). This is a tough and extraordinary race run by ordinary people. I have been proudly part of the Enduro from the very start 6 years ago. The ordinary people involved - athletes, support crews, training partners, other halves, sponsors, management etc. - have now raised almost one millions pounds. An extraordinary contribution to our numerous charities. Our team has been honoured to raise money for Access Sport - we hope our tiny contribution can in some way touch the lives of at least one disdavantaged child. Al Fajardo, who runs a football club supported by Access Sport, inspired us with his passion and eloquence at the launch event. We need people like Alf who make a difference in small ways every day. A few thanks: to my fantastic team Phil Peacock our charity coordinator from Access Sport, Gary Lee our driver, Dave Rollins our navigator and observer Mike Guard, Christophe Duval-Kieffer, Adrian Carr, Julien Leonard and Simona Casella. We had great fun and you were magnificent. Thanks too to UBS, CS, DB and BarCap. Fine competitors, with their own wonderful stories and charities they support. Enduro participation makes one part of a extended family.

Finally thanks go to all those who made a donation to Access Sport. If you have not given I encourage you to do so. The link is further down in this blog.

Over and out. Paul

Winner of the cycle leg

Was Barclays Capital + but CS won overall. Well done to them both.

Credit Suisse have won

We came second. Too tired to write more. Off to find our hotel. More when (if) i wake up. Thanks for all your support and fundraising. Paul

On to cycle leg 5

Simona and i have now completed our rides. Long undulating roads through small villages with hills strecthing over 2 km at a time. Really nice riding normally, but a touch harder than usual. Simona timed her ride well and handed over to me just a large dark cloud decided to dump its rain on me. Thanks. Luckily did not last too long but was wet and miserble for first half hour. Back in our very smelly van as we follow Julien Leonard through another small cloudburst. He is cycling really well but no sign of other teams. Christophe will be on last and i guess we will find out who won when we get to outskirts of Paris. We are all due to cycle into the Eiffel tower in about two and a half hours time. But cold tired and wet with sore muscles and a few minor injuries some of the team are not that keen. Lets hope they change their minds as it is only 12 km and a nice way to close the race,,,More later (as Julien gets out the saddle into his next hill climb)Paul

Bike update

Adrian riding a very difficult leg. Lots of steep ascents and descents complicated by twists and turns through villages. CS not visible upfront !d presumably have regained descent lead. Simona up next but is struggling with leg cramps after fantastic channel swim effort marred by eight hours of chronic sea-sickness. She will have to dig deep to prevent Ben Jervis extending a large lead. Hang in there Access Sport! Paul

Disaster

Navigational error by us. Changed Mike to Adrian 2 km early in wrong village. Martin Burke for CS goes past Adrian. Oh.... dear.

Mike Guard just overtook Credit Suisse

What a boy! His wife Vanessa is reading these updates and owes him a big hug!

Dont get too excited though as CS have some super cyclists coming up. Adrian Carr is on next. Another very hilly section and will be starting seconds ahead of his old colleague and friend from CS, Martin Burke. Friendship may be put aside for next hour and a half!

First leg of the bike

Mike Guard riding an awesome first leg. Very hilly and 30km done. We can see another van and cyclist up ahead but not sure who it might be. Could it be CS?!

BTW we heard a funny story from the Barcap team. One of their swimmers had a one foot lamprey latch onto his thigh during his swim. At the end of his swim the boat crew had to pull it out + a good deal of blood apparently. Anyone volunteering for next years race?

Paul

Bike starts at 7:30 PM French time

All team have managed to get to Calais. UBS will start bike ride at 7:30 PM with the other teams leaving five minutes after each other. Access Sport will start last as current race leaders. All teams are exhausted and slightly fractious. Bikes have had final tune ups and packed in vans to be removed at the appropriate relay stages. The first cyclists from each team will leave from Calais. We must now focus tired minds and sore limbs on getting to outskirts of Paris as quickly as possible where the race clock will stop. For most teams this will take 9 to 10 hours. Once every team has reached the outskirts all 30 cyclists from the 5 teams will cycle a neutral leg to the Eiffel Tower. Safety is now a significant consideration for everyone. As an example i have not slept since i wole up yesterday morning. Gleaming road bikes and time trial bikes everywhere - let the fun and competition recommence!Paul

Credit Suisse land

Hearing on boat radio that CS has landed. Must be fifty something minutes behind us. Therefore we will hold slim advantage going into bike ride. CS has very strong bike team. All to play for! We are ten minutes boat ride to Calais. Need some hot food!Paul

Bike ride next

Been a tough swim. We hear UBS bailed out and went to Calais. Rumour Deutsche may be out too. Barcap out in the channel somewhere - we cant see them - maybe you can find out where they are on the web site. When all teams are in Calais we will set off on bike race to Paris. This will be a few hours yet. Paul

Access Sport wins the channel swim

And after 10H57 CHristophe despite suffering from cramps and hypothermia managed to climb his old limbs on a rock west of Cap Griz Nez. All the team is voiceless after the high pitch cheering and, lets be honest, swearing. On route to Calais for some gastronomic food while CS is still 1 mile of the coast. Will they make it in time before the tide shift.... Julien

The lighthouse

Dont know if this works - view of lighthouse and shore where we hope Christophe will land in 10 minutes!

Land ahoy!

We are a couple of miles from the closest point in France. HOWEVER the tide is about to turn in next hour or so. For those who have followed the race in the previous 5 years this means a number of scenarios. If we miss this point of land - the lighthouse at Cap Gris Nez - we will add another hour to our swim. Adrian has 20 mins left of his swim and then Christophe must make this point. If we do make it we could get a serious advantage over Credit Suisse. No pressure Christophe. Friends and family please pray for him!Paul

Over half way on the swim.

Morning everyone

While whilst all were asleep we have been making good progress on our way to Calais with all swimmers now having done their first rotations.

Solo veteran Julian led us out from Shakespeare beach at 1:30am handing over to Paul at 2:30 and Simona surging us into the lead at 3:30. Solid legs from Adrian Christophe and Mike have given the Team about a 40minute lead over CS who are currently second with Barcap,DB and UBS behind CS.

Spirits are high and the pain of the run now forgotten. More when we hit Calais.

AC

Swim update

Access sport in lead by just under a mile. About half way. Tides and currents swinging round so has potential to change the scenario. Also Credit Suisse will have their two best swimmers up next so will catch up some of their lost time. 3 or 4 of our team struggling with cramps, cold and or sea sickness. We are hurting as a team as we watch Mike Guard swim the last 20 mins of his first swim - the sixth leg. Only "consolation" is that it is safe to assume the other teams are hurting too.

Paul

Reminder + check progress of boats online

This is the web address www.ais-doverstraits.co.uk

Access Sport are on Sea Satin and Credit Suisse on Gallivant.

Adrian rapidly extending lead over his former colleague at CS, Martin Burke.

Dawn will break soon and make swimming less other-worldy (dont know if that makes sense but my brain is frazzled too)

Christophe Duval-Kieffer swims next. Allez Christophe!

Paul

3 hours into channel swim

Simona Casella has, in the kast, has turned a half KM disadvantage into a small lead over Credit Suisse. For her pains she is now feeding fish as sea sickness hits. Earlier clear skies are clouding over and obscuring the stairs. Most of team asleep but Adrian ploughing away alongside boat. Sea state worsening as wind now blowing force 3 to 4. Luckily wind is north westerly and therefore pushing us to France. Other boats too far away to estimate accurately from their lights the distance between us. Winning the swim must surely only be an option for Credit Suisse or us. Tankers, ferries and other craft are travelling through the shipping lanes we are about to enter. Lights of France and England both clearly visible. With deteriorating weather this could be a tough swim for some. More later from the bow of our boat. Paul

Track our progress in English Channel

www.ais-doverstraits.co.uk and select our boat called Sea Saturn. The main oppersition Credit Suisse are on Gallivant.

Pulling in for the start.

Mike Guard

Dover Harbour

It is midnight here in lively Dover and whilst the attractiveness of this famous sea resort and the formidable hospitality of its citizens are uncontroversial we have however decided to enjoy a swim in the pristine channel water. Off we go.

Christophe