WHEN is a record not always a record? Answer: when it’s a British long distance swimming record.

At least that was the case on Sunday when the Jersey Polar Bears Group relay team thought they had broken the eight-year-old round Island relay swim record only to find that, despite being 12 seconds faster than the RAF swim team’s time in 1999, they were, in fact, 48 seconds too slow.

This is because a British Long Distance Swimming Association rule states that ‘a record will not be recognised unless the new time reduces the previous record by at least one minute’.

Trying to explain the rule honorary general secretary of the association, and former president, Maurice Ferguson, said: ‘With a sea swim there are so many variables that have to be taken into account that that is just the rule – things such as where did the relay team start and where have the other teams started.’ Despite being informed that both teams started and finished in the same spot, Elizabeth Castle breakwater, Ferguson could not shed any more light on the ruling.

However, the rule has not left team captain and co-ordinator Ian Anderson too disappointed and he said: ‘I couldn’t fault the team’s performance on Sunday, everyone put in 100 per cent.

‘It’s just unfortunate about the record, but there’s not much you can do about it.

I think to be quite honest the lads have enough in them to know that with better conditions they can take a lot off that time.

‘They showed a lot of guts out there and just coming in within a minute of the time was a superb performance.’ The conditions were in all respects challenging and Mark Peters, skipper of the accompanying guard boat – with Peter Gibbons – and veteran of some ten round Island swims, said that it was the worst conditions he had experienced and felt that with better weather the record could have been truly smashed.

At one point Anderson, who was in a support kayak, got into trouble and the former cross Atlantic rower had an undignified capsize off St Catherine’s where ASA representative and official observer David Blake described the outfalls as ‘a sight to be seen’.

It was at this point that Phil Labey, on the fourth leg of the relay, had to head towards France in order to break the strong current.

Anthony Smith, who had only last week completed a France to Jersey swim, and newcomer David Le Clercq then enjoyed the best of the conditions and crucially sped along the North Coast.

Ian Jones and chief lifeguard at Havre Des Pas swimming pool, Bruce Bridal, then had a tough time as they were head on into swell and wind but the latter handed over to Richard Flambard.

A round Island solo swimmer, Flambard reached Noirmont Point with the fastest stroke rate of the team before Phil Labey touched the Elizabeth Castle Breakwater to complete the swim in 9.43.23 hr.

So despite the fact that both the record holders and the Polar Bears started in the same place, and all other rules were adhered to, we will have to be content with the knowledge that the current record is held by the second fastest relay team.

But it may not be for too long.

‘The team are now more determined than ever to try again and beat that time.

There is a cracking team spirit so we will look at attempting it again next year and bring the record back to Jersey,’ added Anderson.

The swim, which was also supported by kayaker Keith de la Haye and land crew Derek Horsfall, was dedicated to Peter Brown who died suddenly last week – Brown assisted in his canoe on countless long distance swims and was a stalwart member of the RLSS.