She's done it! Christine Bleakley in tears as she battle high winds and choppy waves to complete waterski challenge

By Charlotte Spratt

Joy: Christine Bleakley punches the air after making it across The English Channel in just one hour 40 minutes this morning on a jetski


A triumphant Christine Bleakley shed tears of relief as she completed her daunting bid to waterski across the world's busiest shipping lane this morning.

Braving a choppy ocean and high winds the One Show presenter travelled 22 miles across The English Channel in just one hour 40 minutes.

Falling eight times into the chilly 4C sea, plucky Christine overcame the elements to complete the challenge which she started at 7.46am this morning.

She said: 'I can't believe I've actually done it! It took me 100 minutes to waterski the Channel and I only fell in 8 times.


Taking the plunge: The presenter, seen here at the start of the challenge, shed tears of relief as she completed a 22 mile waterski across the world's busiest shipping lane for Sport Relief from Dover to Sangatte


'It was really tough though the water was freezing and having to get up after every fall was exhausting.

'Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me along the way, it really kept me going out there.'

Christine, was good spirits when she set off for the French Coast this morning supported by co-host Adrian Chiles.


Getting ready: She is strapped into her pair of jetskis


In the water: The One show host gives as final waves as she begins the mission

Facing the brisk winds and choppy seas, she was determined to complete her challenge whatever the weather.

'I've talked about it, I've trained for it. Now I've got to do it,' she said as set off across 22 miles of very cold water and large waves.

And complete it she did - in just 100 minutes - arriving on the shore at 9.26am.

A spokesman for Sport Relief said: 'Weather conditions were far from ideal for a water ski crossing with the wind chill temperature below freezing and strong winds making Christine’s challenge extremely difficult.


Go: Christine is pulled along by the boat and starts to get into an upright position


And she's off! She left at 7.46am across the world's busiest shipping lane, the English Channel

'But thanks to her physical and mental determination she fought the elements to stay afloat, only falling off her skis eight times, and managing to stay upright for a maximum 15 minutes in one go.

The bid, which has already raised more than £250,000 for Sport Relief, faced numerous setbacks including gale force winds which forced the attempt to be cancelled twice.

She clung on at approximately 20mph for the entire stretch to France – across the world’s busiest shipping lane.


Farewell to the white cliffs: Christine leaves Dover at the start of her challenge - just another 22 miles left to go...

A spokeswoman for Sport Relief admitted this morning that the conditions were 'so choppy' they did not know if she could make it.

Shortly after starting off, she was forced into the water to wait for a huge tanker to pass.

At around 8.10am, she had completed three miles of the channel and those on the support boat described conditions as 'very cold, very choppy'.

Seven miles in, the hardy Northern Irish girl had fallen seven times and by 9am, she was half way.


Leaving the beach: It was another hour and forty minutes before she reached dry land and the French coast


Support: Adrian Chiles, her co-presenter on The One Show, was encouraging her on from the support boat with a loud hailer


Christine will no doubt celebrate later with boyfriend, Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard

Ten minutes later, she fell for the eighth, and last, time. The sensation of falling off at that speed, and in those conditions, is compared to hitting a brick wall.

But tweets from the Sport Relief crew during the trial said: 'Despite everything Christine can still manage a smile.

'A sunnier disposition it would be hard to find.'

Co-host Adrian Chiles is supporting her through the attempt on the boat with a loud hailer.

Although he jokingly shout through his hailer: 'We've got some make-up waiting on the beach because you're looking s***.'

Christine said she was moved to undertake the challenge following a trip to Uganda with Sport Relief in 2008, where she met young people who are living incredibly tough lives.

She said: 'It’s so easy to come home from a trip like that and forget about what you’ve seen and keep going about your everyday life.

'I didn’t want to do that.


What am I doing? Christine appears to realise the size of her challenge before she sets off


'I’ll never forget the people that I met and I want to do something to help them.

Please support me by making a donation as it really will help change lives.'

Yesterday, after the bid was cancelled a second time, the presenter spent a girly day with her bank manager sister, Nicola, who was carrying a Chelsea calendar.

They laughed and smiled as they made their way from Bleakley's house to visit Lampard in West London, emerging later with the Chelsea gift before going for a coffee and a natter.

To donate to Sport Relief for Christine, you can make a donation at www.sportrelief.com/christine.


source: dailymail