Christine completes water-ski bid (From Croydon Guardian)

Christine completes water-ski bid

10:44am Friday 12th March 2010 in

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Christine Bleakley has completed her challenge to water-ski across the English Channel.

The One Show presenter finished her feat in a time of around one hour and 40 minutes - with a few bumps, bruises and splashes as she fell in the sea en route.

Her arrival on the French side was announced on Twitter from the support team, who said: "She has made it."

Christine said after her arrival that the effort of hauling herself out of the water was "exhausting".

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

Even her friend and co-host Adrian Chiles shed a tear when the ordeal was over.

Christine told Radio 5 Live presenter Gabby Logan that it was "tougher" than she had ever imagined.

"Halfway through I thought 'I can't do this' because everything was starting to give. I had my back, searing pain in my lower back; my legs were starting to wobble; and my hands - I just couldn't hold on any longer. But I managed to get the strength from somewhere and I can't quite believe I've done it," she said.

Christine asked members of the public to donate what they could to www.sportrelief.com/christine.

Footage of her challenge can be seen on The One Show on Friday night.