ABOUT US
The English Channel and Marathon Swimming Performance Academy (ECMSPA) was set up by English Channel swimmer and fastest British man of year 1996, Rob Granger.
With the purpose to pass on the unique knowledge and style of training he acquired over his time training at Dover. This training was used by three English Channel world record holders, along side a number of GB and world class swimmers who achieved great success.
The training methods adopted are very different from others, for both channel and marathon swimming. We believe much of the knowledge that was acquired at Dover from the world class programme we used runs the risk of being lost. Channel and marathon swimming is generally not at the level it was when we swam using this programme in the 1980s/90s. Our plan is to share the knowledge we have acquired and improve the standards of English channel and marathon swimming.
Let us Introduce Ourselves
Coach
(Cornwall based)
Rob Granger
Rob grew up in Dover but now lives in Cornwall. His swimming journey started the day he was born as his father, Jimmy Granger, was a professional marathon swimmer who competed in the 3 prestigious Butlins International Channel Swimming races coming 2nd place in one and was a record-breaking marathon swimmer.
Rob swam for the famous and number 1 channel swimming club in the country (Dover Lifeguards) and progressed to channel and Marathon swimming. In 1996 he swam the English Channel being the fastest British man of the year and recording the second fastest time of the year by a male.
Rob's also a successful Channel swimmer coach training the fastest British man of the year. He has continued his love of swimming by achieving his Swim England head Coach qualification and Swim England Open Water level 2 qualification, plus also coaching his son Tyler who is Cornwall County Champion at both pool and open water.
Coach
(Cornwall based)
Cathy Ralph
Cathy has have been a swimmer all her life, as a child competing with her local club in SW London and then at Charing Cross Medical school for the water-polo team.
When Cathy settled in Cornwall she enjoyed swimming in the sea and watching her 3 children swim and compete with Truro City Swim Club. Seeing the children thrive and progress with their swimming, she decided to take up swimming again and entered a few masters competitions and took up open water swimming.
In 2011 Cathy swam the English Channel as a part of a 6 person relay and in 2012 became Chair of TCSC. As Cathy approached medical retirement she decided she wanted to come poolside and coach the adult swimmers, so Cathy completed her Swim England coaching qualifications, Level 1, in 2018 and Level 2, in 2020, plus the Open Water Coach STA award in October 2020.
Recently appointed (Sept 2021) as the South West Para-development Coach she looks forward to acquiring the skills to admit and support para-swimmers in 2022.
Coach
(Cornwall based)
Cameron Russell
Cameron was a very successful competitive swimmer who trained in the USA and competed at the British national championships, Cameron is a very successful Swim England Senior Swimming coach at North Cornwall Dragons and has trained many national swimmers. Cameron is also a qualified Swim England Open Water coach.