Hilda Sharp

Athlete IDATH-1000797

ENGEnglandSport:Swimming

Biography

Hilda Winifred Sharp, known as Laddie, lived in Hither Green in south-east London. She trained at Brighton with Jabez Wolffe, who had made repeated attempts on the Channel himself. Sharp succeeded on her first attempt at the age of 18.

In August 1928 Sharp swam from Cap Gris-Nez to Lydden Spout on the English coast. She used the trudgen stroke. William Burgess and Joe Costa accompanied her on the Alsace, and Wolffe was aboard as her trainer. Her recorded crossing time was 14 hours 58 minutes.

The dated swim log records a 00:50 departure and a 15:48 finish on Friday 24 August 1928. The archive’s introduction gives 28 August and a 16:48 finish. The dated entry is the one whose clocks agree with the registered duration. Neither entry gives a time zone.

The recorded nationality is England.

Hilda Sharp's published record includes performances in 1928 in Open-water swimming — English Channel solo. Selected recorded events include English Channel crossing (1928; source checked).

English Channel record

From Cap Gris-Nez to the cliffs below Dover in 14 hours 58 minutes, August 1928.

Also recorded as Hilda Winifred Sharp, Laddie Sharp.

Crossing details, recordings & verification

Sport: Open-water swimming
Trainer: Jabez Wolffe
Age at crossing: 18

Selected Channel swims

Cap Gris-Nez to Lydden Spout, August 1928

Swim · Solo, one way from France to England

Elapsed time · 14 hours 58 minutes

Departure · 00:50 on Friday 24 August, Cap Gris-Nez

Arrival · 15:48 on 24 August, Lydden Spout, near Dover. These are the detailed archive entry’s clocks. Its time standard is unspecified.

Historical discrepancy · The archive’s biographical introduction instead gives 28 August and a 16:48 finish. The dated swim entry agrees with the registered elapsed time. The precise clock readings remain qualified.

Escort · William Burgess and Joe Costa, aboard Alsace. The archive also names Costa as timekeeper.

Recognition · The crossing appears in the CSA register. The detailed historical entry classifies it as independent.

English Channel questions

How long did Hilda Sharp take to swim the English Channel?: She crossed from France to England in 14 hours 58 minutes in August 1928.
Where did Hilda Sharp finish?: She landed at Lydden Spout, on the English coast near Dover.
Who trained Hilda Sharp?: She trained with Jabez Wolffe, who accompanied her successful 1928 crossing.

Achievements & next milestones

Achievements update from recorded results. A tick means the supporting results are verified.

Achieved

First recorded finish
Based on 1 distinct completed events in your linked record.
Verified
Raced in 1 calendar year
At least one recorded finish in each year; this does not imply an uninterrupted streak.
- 1928
Each year counts once. A tick means at least one result from that year is verified.
Verified

Next milestones

5 finishes
4 more finishes needed
1 of 5 recorded
2 different countries
1 more different country needed
1 of 2 recorded
2 different sports
1 more different sport needed
1 of 2 recorded
2 calendar years with a finish
1 more calendar year with a finish needed
1 of 2 recorded

Career highlights

Hilda Sharp's published record includes performances in 1928 in Open-water swimming — English Channel solo.

Selected events from this athlete’s recorded career. Verification is shown for each record.

English Channel crossing
1928 · Open-water swimming — English Channel solo
Performance: 14h 58m
Source checked

Latest results

Showing 1 of 1 recorded performances.

Athlete results history
Race date	Race name	Sport	Distance / discipline	Location	Performance	Place	Category
Fri, 24 Aug 1928	Completed event · Finisher · English Channel crossing	Swimming	Open-water swimming — English Channel solo	Cap Gris-Nez, France to Lydden Spout, England	14h 58mVerifiedTime recorded to minutes · Timing unknown	—	—

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