ALTHOUGH they didn't win the race, seven 13-year-olds from Taunton School are taking a personal victory in swimming the English Channel.

Emma Hounslow, Emily Lawton, Skyla Coate, Ollie Halliday, Imogen Childs, Jonny Cole and Annabelle Lewes went toe to toe with the British Military during a mammoth 15-hour swim to France yesterday.

The Royal Marines were just three minutes ahead of the school team during the sprint for the shore just before midnight.

The staff and parent team swam ashore 50 minutes after the children.

The race was held to raise money for the Royal Marine Charity.

On the staff boat was Hayley Mortimer, director of co-curricular and director of sport, Duncan Sinclair, Prep School headmaster, Laura Paige ,Year 4 teacher, Ed Burnett, deputy head of Taunton School, and Chris Coleman, Prep School house master, and parent Jonathan Lawton.

All seven of the school team children swan the last 200m together and were euphoric to cross the shore.

Hamish McCarthy, head of geography in the Prep School who set the challenge, said: “My boys and girls were magnificent and showed courage well beyond their years.

"I have way to much pride coursing through me at the moment.

"Suffice to say that they were more courageous than most military teams I have taken across, none hesitated, none gave less than their best and all showed the selfless commitment that make great teams.

"They are all a great testament to what Taunton Preparatory School nurtures and develops.”

The teams were spurred on after receiving messages of support from Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington, endurance adventurer Sean Conway and the world record holder for swimming the English Channel Trent Grimsey.

The race began at 9am yesterday and the teams swam in relay for an hour at a time from Shakespeare's Beach to Cap Gris Nez.

Taunton School streamed the race live on social media throughout the day.

They were accompanied by three boats and an official observer from the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation (CS&PF).

Anyone wishing to sponsor the event should visit: page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Taunton-Prep-School-Channel-Titan-16.