EACH year swimmers in Southampton would jump into the drink at Mansbridge for the great River Itchen challenge.

There was a break in the annual event, between 1939 and 1945, as the Second World War forced the race to be abandoned for the duration.

Once the dark clouds of war had parted, the Students of Southampton University College reinstated the half-mile swim to Woodmill.

It was 1948 - the race was back - and the crowds that gathered were large.

According to the Daily Echo of the time, those among the spectators who remembered the pre-war events and considered themselves something of experts on the River Itchen shook their heads as the swimmers piled into the green murky water with a 2mph current – and wondered as to the sanity of youth.

First in the river were four girl students who quickly discovered it may have been the middle of summer but the water was far from warm.

“Out in the reed-ridden depths the girls were not laughing, the whole thing was great fun but brrrrr – the water was cold,’’ reported the Daily Echo.

Fourteen young men competitors gave the girls a two-minute start. “All finished, but the girls

won the day.’’ First home was 19-year-old Joan Shaw who completed the course in 15 minutes and 30 seconds, second was Joan Colborne who was followed ashore by Penelope Noyes then came the 14 male swimmers.

The Daily Echo said: “Someone was urging Joan to swim right up to the Woodmill landing stage but she decided she had touched bottom ten yards out and waded ashore for a cup of tea, worthy winner of the trophy presented to her by Lady Wood, wife of Sir Robert Wood, principal of Southampton University College.’’