The Brighton Pier to Pier race was due to take place tomorrow (July 19).
However, due to the Met Office’s amber weather warning, the race has been cancelled.
In a letter sent to swimmers, event organisers The Brighton Swimming Club said: “This was not the e-mail we were hoping to send today but we have with a heavy heart taken the decision to cancel this year’s Pier to Pier swim.
“We have been monitoring the weather forecast for over 48 hours and the amber warning for thunderstorms has not moved at all so there is still a chance of thunder and lightning at around 11am tomorrow.
Swimmers at the event last year (Image: Brighton Swimming Club) “We have spent all morning trying to move the infrastructure of the event to later in the day but as there is so many movable parts this has proved not possible.
“After 6 full months of planning this is certainly a blow to the club, so we do hope you understand we have to always have your safety at the core of all our decisions.”
The event was originally meant to take place on June 22, however due to forecast high winds it was rescheduled.
The longstanding swimming event was due to return for its 89th year.
The event sees swimmers race between Brighton’s two piers. It also includes a non-competitive category named ‘the experience’ – a non-timed event where entrants take part in smaller groups, often with friends and family.
The addition of a non-competitive category has had a transformative effect on the event, with participant numbers rising from 70 a year to 500, the majority of which enter in the experience class.
Pier to Pier is organised by the Brighton Swimming Club. Founded in 1860, it has claims to being the country’s oldest continuously running swimming club.
The event has become incredibly popular, with tickets for this year selling out in a matter of minutes.
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