tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68740849899552059522024-03-19T10:45:03.424+00:00CHALKWELL REDCAPS BLOG
A selection of some trials and tributes from the swimmers of the Chalkwell Redcap Open Water Swimming Clubbettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-21648392860520388712015-08-13T16:19:00.000+01:002015-08-13T16:19:02.097+01:00Sea Urchins - Relay Channel Swim<div class="MsoNormal">
Back in December when it had been confirmed that we were going to be swimming the channel as a relay team Jade asked us all to write a blogpost. It
was supposed to say how we felt about taking on the challenge and what our
fears were. These are my thoughts - I must admit that I didn’t fancy the idea
of being cold, feeling sea sick or being stung by jellyfish, not to mention
crossing the shipping lanes and the fear of being eaten by a shark. Cost also
came into it as it is an expensive thing to do but was just about manageable.
The deciding factor was that I definitely wanted to be part of a team that was
attempting such a huge challenge. So a team of six of us – Jade Perry, Tony
Mellett, John Willis, Josh Stratford, Craig Johnston and I decided to take on
the challenge of swimming across the English Channel to France. <o:p></o:p><br />
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There were a good many challenges ahead of us, some of them
easy such as we had to pay for our boat, get medicals done from willing GP’s
and join the CSPF. But a couple of devastating things happened to the team.
First of all Craig couldn’t get his medical form signed off by his Dr and so
was unable to swim. Then later on at the end of April Tony Mellett was sadly
taken away from us by a sudden heart attack. We were all devastated and it left
a huge hole in our team, one which Tony Marshall wanted to fill for his friend
Tony.</div>
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So Tony joined us and we were a team of five. We then needed
a name for our team. Jade asked her sister Amber if she could ask her school
class to come up with names for our team and design a logo for our hats and
hoodies. The winner received a swimming hat from our swim. I then had to
overcome my own fears. I combated the cold by just getting in and seeing how
long I could stay in for and gradually increased the amount of time I was in
for. We had to do a two hour cold water qualifier which I wasn’t looking
forward to but on the day in May we just got in and did it in 13.8 degree
water. And in all honesty it wasn’t that bad.</div>
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Unfortunately I was unable to combat my fear of jellyfish
and literally just avoided them! I stayed out of the water during jellyfish
season as it was like jellyfish soup and just the thought of them lurking and
blobbing about freaked me out. I just
don’t understand what they are about, they’re strange and upsetting and might
sting me. I did get stung last year and it really wasn’t that bad, just felt
like stinging nettles but I still didn’t fancy going near them!</div>
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We then had to start properly training once we had done the
cold water swim. We combined this with training in the pool at our indoor club
RADS and sea swims when the tide was in at Southend. We also had a fab training
weekend down in Dover Harbour practising swimming for an hour and then resting
for an hour. It was completely different at Dover, the water was clearer and
colder and we got a sample of what it was like to swim with ferries making the
water choppy. We also had a particularly awesome session back in Southend too
where all five of us were together and swimming during the golden hour before
the sun set. We swam out to the big yellow buoy quite a way out and back again
through the boats, it was also special as it was the first time we all got to
train together as ‘The Southend Sea Urchins’.</div>
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So we then had to make sure that we had everything we
needed. We had to make sure we had enough swimming cozzies for the possibility
of four or five swims as well as swimming hats and goggles, towels, warm
clothes, woolly hats, gloves and thermals. We had to think about what food we
would want to eat on the day and what energy supplements we might need as well
as having plenty of water and hot drinks too. I packed my bag a few days before
we went but inevitably I unpacked everything again otherwise I know I would
have forgotten something. The most important item was our passports. No
passport meant no swim due to new regulations from France. Fortunately everyone
remembered theirs. So all we had to do after that was wait for our window to
open and hope for some good weather.</div>
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Unbelievably our window opened on Sunday 7th September and
that was the day we swam. We had all gone down to Dover the night before in
the hope that the swim would be confirmed for Sunday. Jade drove down in Bert –
her camper van and stayed in Dover – Tony drove down once we had confirmation
and slept in his car and the remaining four of us – Josh, John, Pete our
fantastic Dr/Support crew and myself stayed in the Best Western Folkestone as
it was the closest and cheapest option. Pete took us all out for dinner at a
restaurant called Don Giovanni where Josh and I had pasta, John had a calzone
and Pete had seabass and veggies. We all flopped in our beds at about 10pm and
tried to sleep whilst waiting to hear from Jade as to whether we were going to
swim the next morning.</div>
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We had our swim confirmed at about 11pm and then were up at
4am to get dressed and packed in the car to drive the twenty minutes or so to
Dover harbour. Once we arrived in the
Dover Harbour car park we had to go and fill a form in for each car and pay
about £7 to park for 24 hours, which wasn’t bad. We then gathered up,our stuff
and went to find our boat – ‘Gallivant'. The crew were amazing all day and
started by helping us load all of our belongings and food onto the boat and we
then waved goodbye to Jade’s Mum and Dad who had driven all the way over from
France in their campervan. We hoped that they would make it round to
Shakespeare Beach in time to see us start off.</div>
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As we sailed around the corner to the beach we were pleased
to see them. Josh was first to start and after he was briefed on what to do –
jump in, swim to shore, start on dry land, wave when ready and go go go on
claxon! Then we were off. We started at 6.13 and so that meant we would change
over on the ’13’ of each hour. Josh did amazingly well and set off at a steady
but fast pace. He did get stung by a brown jellyfish but shrugged it off and
kept going. The water was unbelievably still and incredibly glassy. We watched
the sun rise into a perfect orange circle in the sky as we cheered Josh on.
Jade had laminated some signs so we could see how much time had gone by – 30
minutes to go, 15 minutes to go and 5 minutes to go. As well as a motivational
photo of Tony Mellett who couldn’t be with us physically but was most
definitely on board with us.</div>
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Jade was in second and she powered through the water. I was
next, and although it was a shock when I jumped into the 18-19 degree water I
soon got used to it and swam my hour. Tony was in next swimming close to the
boat and even when his hat popped off his head he swam with it in his shorts
and completed the hour at a good pace. John was amazing in his eye of the tiger
swim trunks and cracked on and completed the five hour cycle with a
consistently speedy stroke. The second five hours whizzed by fairly quickly
considering what we were doing. There were patches of cold water and stretches
of compass jellyfish which had me quite frightened to do my second hour but
Pete held a thumbs up signal the entire way so that I knew that I wouldn’t
encounter a jellyfish. We all got through the second hour unscathed except Tony
who managed to get stung by a jelly but he didn’t tell me in case I got scared
again.</div>
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We had really gotten into our stride by the time our third
swims came round, although we were getting cold and tired but we kept cheering
each other on and singing and dancing to music on our little speakers, which
was a boost that we really needed. Josh had really suffered with the cold after
his second swim with a bad case of the shivers and was really dreading going in
again but he literally dived right in (later telling me that he thought it
might make the swim shorter!). At this point it became apparent that we were
closing in on France even though we still couldn’t see it in all the haze. Jade
in her bright green alien costume this time was in for her third swim and she
literally smashed it. I later found out that something had bitten Jade while
she was swimming. It turned out to be a small crab that had grabbed on while
Jade was swimming and made it out of the sea with her attached to her bottom!</div>
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I was then told by the pilot that we were 1.2 miles away and
that it was possible to land it. Sarah Mellett, Tony Mellett’s wife had asked
if someone would like to take Tony’s yellow smiley hat with us on the boat and
the team had decided that whoever landed it would wear his hat. I’m honoured to
say that I got to be the one who wore it and once I jumped in I tried to do my
absolute best for Tony and the Southend Sea Urchins. I kept swimming next to
the boat and was told with about half a mile to go that the rest of the team
would be allowed to swim to shore with me but that I had to stay in front so
that Laura our observer could ratify the swim with me getting to dry land with
in my hour.</div>
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I kept swimming but it got to a point where the boat had
sailed as far as it could and I had to go into shore on my own. The water
became unclear and I immediately started to panic that a lurking jellyfish
might sting me, especially as I could no longer see the boat or Pete. I kept
going a while longer and the white cliffs of France started to get bigger until
my hands touched something, which I’m very pleased to say turned out to be sand!
I looked up and could see people on the beach not too far away so thought that
I would try and stand up. To my immense relief we had made it to France! I ran
up on the beach and waved at the boat and was then joined about a minute later
by the rest of the Urchins. We all hugged and congratulated each other on the
beach. Tony had brought his waterproof camera with him on the swim into shore
and so we were able to ask the three people that were on the beach (waiting for
a swimmer on another boat to land) to take a photo of the five of us all
together after completing our challenging swim from England to France across
the English Channel.</div>
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We then had to get back in the sea and swim back to the
boat. Pete later told me that he had asked the crew if they would pick us up in
the dingy but the crew replied ‘You don’t climb Everest and get a helicopter
back down’! Words to live by right there I think! We then had a three hour boat
ride back to Dover where we dried off, packed up, looked at photos, tried to
contact our friends and family in England to say that we had smashed the
Channel in a time of 12 hours and 51 minutes and then watched the moon rise and
dozed off. I can’t thank everyone enough for supporting us all year to achieve
this monumental task. We have managed to raise £3772 at the last count for
cancer research and we still have money coming in, I hope we can break £4000. I
especially want to thank Pete for being my hero all day long. He looked after
us, cheered us on, made us hot drinks, made us laugh and I really don’t think I
could have done it without him. When we arrived in Dover we got our belongings
off the boat somehow as there was stuff literally strewn about the boat! We
thanked the crew for being so amazing at looking after us and getting us across
to France. Then we hugged each other goodbye and Pete and I got in the car and
Pete drove us home. We finally got into bed about 1am after a gruelling 21 hour
day, absolutely shattered but unbelievably happy.</div>
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bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-6522776391349182472015-06-30T11:41:00.000+01:002015-06-30T11:41:34.570+01:00Jane Bell - WARNING: Subject has ingested an MRI incompatible device (BLDSA Champion of Champions 2015)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.85pt; margin-bottom: 9.9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 17.85pt;">Champions this year went off pretty much the same as my '14 debut:
Leg cramps dominated the five-miler. Disorientation saw me collapsed on
the beach eight miles in. Entering the sea for the final mile I was
frozen to the core and chaffing would be a 'going home present' despite the
precautions taken.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">To top things off I finished the 9 mile series in the same time as in
2014. TO THE MINUTE. Rather than reprimand me for 'null progress',
Residing BLDSA President Jean Wilkin-Oxley (English Channel Conqueress of
1972), suggested that I hold the gift of 'Consistency'. I'll take that as
a compliment from one of such pedigree. Six hours 11 minutes and 39
seconds versus my record of six hours 11 minutes and 41. It would hardly
make for an interesting blog to brag about a 'back of the pack' two second PB
so I’m going to spend my word-count wisely, exploring the statement <i>‘Entering
the sea for the final mile I was frozen to the core’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sure a warm mug was appreciated between swims. Yes me and my dry
robe were the best of friends. I freely admit to having had the shivers,
blue tinged extremities and lack of dexterity that come with prolonged exposure
to cold water. But ‘<i>frozen to the core</i>’? Nope. And
that's scientifically proven.....</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A couple of hours before the five-miler I'd swallowed a magic
bean. Not one received in exchange for a post-partum cow. Alas not
even one that would keep me warm or indeed help me swim faster. This
magic bean operated on a pre-set radio frequency through which it would relay
information about deep body temperature whenever it's transmitter and sensor
came into proximity. Interesting to its ‘ingestees’ and of great value in the
broader context of open water swimming health & safety and emergency search
& rescue. SWIG. Down went the pill to begin it’s journey along my
gastro-intestinal tract......<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Readings were taken before and immediately after each leg of the swim
series, with a final check after the nine mile ordeal was done and dusted.
The researcher was Jane Hall, a PhD student from the University of
Portsmouth Department of Sport and Exercise Science (Extreme Environmental
Medicine and Science). In line with all properly conducted research subjects
took part voluntarily and with informed consent. The greatest risk
from participation came from our sport itself. Drowning,
hypothermia. Shut up and swim...... Harking back to my own Master of
Osteopathy research, which all those moons ago also involved human subjects, I
applaud Jane for the work which must have gone before reaching this 'data
collection' phase. Funding applications. The general hoo-har of
ethics committee approval [breaks out into a cold sweat before promptly burying
memories of pedantic arguments, rejections, grovelling resubmissions etc]...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The temperature pill itself was inert and perfectly safe to ingest.
Coming into contact with strong magnets would, however, cause serious
problems (guts ripped out etc…..), so we were all given a medical bracelet to
wear until we’d caught sight of it. Erm, you know ‘in the bowl’……
We could also set off the alarms at airport security. I’m not sure if the
same applies to anti-theft scanners in shops. I guess the ethics
committee didn't much care whether we were given that information.
Perhaps a trip 'up town’ later on to see how much of a nuisance I can
make (note to self: no shoplifting for the next couple of days......)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As well as scanning our abdomens for the temperature readings, Jane
and University of Portsmouth Lecturer Heather Massey needed to collect
additional data from us to control for individual variables. Height,
weight and skin fold thickness would establish our body fat percentage (if you
can pinch more than an inch,,,,,,,). Swimming experience would give an
insight into acclimatisation, a relevant factor in our ability to cope with
prolonged cold exposure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Having ‘double dipped’ for a total of eight miles, with five and a half
hours swim time on the clock and just a mile to go, I was feeling pretty nippy
when my turn for measurement came around. I'd and layered up to conserve
body heat for the final push but they needed access to my biceps, triceps, hip
and calf. So off came the clothes and up went the shivering. The job was
done rapidly and efficiently (thanks girls) and it was back on with the layers
just in time to be asked 'Can you take your top off again please? We need
to repeat the measurements’. I actually thought they were having me on. Yeah
ha ha funny. But no!!! The measurements were to be repeated because
using the calipers first time around squeezes water out of the tissues so a
second reading is more accurate. Quick grimace, off with the layers, on
with the pinchey contraption, ouch, ouch, yikes and back on with the clothes
again. Just in time to have to take them off and venture back into the
waters for the final mile......<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Oh what a teasing merry-go-round Champion of Champions is. And how
I longed for that finishing line, dreamed of sipping a hot beena and looked
forward to donning every item of clothing in my kit bag…….. The water
temperature was 14 point something. A couple of degrees cooler than in
2014 and about one degree warmer than the previous two weekends in Dover
Harbour when I’d slogged out four, five and six hour sessions with Freda
Streeter’s Channel Swimming Posse. With ‘normal’ body temperature in the
region of 37 degrees, and taking the physical laws of heat transfer into
account, there was certainly scope for observing a drop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">BUT (drum roll)…….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Throughout the whole series of swims Jane & Heather never ONCE
recorded a reduction in my temperature!!!!! I stayed a consistent 37
point something degrees throughout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Perhaps the cold was prevented from sinking too deeply through a combination
of my ‘bioprene layer’, cold water acclimatisation, warm feeds and shivering
thermogenesis between swims. Maybe peripheral vasoconstriction and
the body heat generated by keeping those legs kicking and arms turning over for
my six plus hour extravaganza in the water off-set thermic losses.
Whatever the answer, my thermoregulatory systems served me well.
Thank you love handles, thank you winter swimming, hot beena, maxim,
stroke rate, silicon cap…….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">If anyone is interested in taking part in this fascinating study then
Jane and Heather will be at the Henley Mile swim on July 12th and are
looking for more volunteers. It’s not just skins swimmers they are
after. Information from suited participants is also needed for
comparison. If you are up for it then please do contact Jane at </span><a href="mailto:jane.hall@port.ac.uk"><span style="color: #1b8be0; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">jane.hall@port.ac.uk</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Well done to the BLDSA and to Swim Secretary Mark Sheridan for a
seamless execution of the Championships. Huge thank you to land and
sea-based support: kayakers, safety rib-crew, timekeepers, lap counters, jelly
baby throwers, kettle boilers, first aiders. The list goes on. We just
could not go ahead without you. And congratulations to everyone
completing or attempting the event. It’s a toughie but worth it.
Everyone comes out a Champion :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I wait with much excitement for the temperature study research to be
published. But for now I’ve got a Gillian McKeith job on my hands: To
wait with even greater anticipation to catch sight of that little
capsule. Plopping through a sieve, poking at my number two’s with a sharp
object or taking a magnet to the lavvy. By hook or by crook and sooner
rather than later that ‘No MRI’ bracelet will be snipped off. I'll keep
you posted.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-45644327697531355562015-05-07T15:16:00.002+01:002015-05-07T15:16:28.118+01:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); margin: 0cm 14.7pt 0.0001pt 0cm; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Redcaps HQ, 2S4L 2015 (the posh division, we were slumming it over the
back.......)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Many endurance athletes know a happy pace where they feel they can 'keep
on going forever'. But we all know that is a figure of speech. Nobody has ever
run around the world without stopping, or swum the Atlantic. So 'forever' must
end somewhere, at a time and place limited perhaps by exhaustion or a breakdown
in mental resolve. I've never been afraid of failure, in fact I've pushed
myself further and further to try and find that tipping point where I just
can't go on anymore. And in a twisted kind of way I've looked forward to the
day that I have to raise that white flag and declare 'enough'. Success
demonstrates that we are capable of more whereas surrender delineates the very
edge of our capabilities. In the pre-dawn hours of 3rd May 2015, after
swimming 19 of the 24 mile 2Swim4Life event at Guildford Lido, I admitted
defeat for the very first time. And in doing so learned many things about my
‘theory of forever', about myself and about the qualities to look for in a
support crew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Myself and John
Willis about to start sporting our Mellett Smileys exactly one year on from
Tony's passing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Back in 2013 myself and Lesley Cook successfully completed the 24 miles
of this event as a 2-man relay. It was bloody hard work, freezing cold
overnight and I’d gone into it in a shit and sleep-deprived state. But we
made it through. On Saturday 2nd May 2015, the 'Runaway Train' departed
once more, this time for a solo attempt. Although it was forecast to be wet,
the overnight air temperature was significantly warmer than before and, while I
had the tail-end of a cold, it hadn’t gone to my chest and I was well
rested. I was back in lane 6, sharing with another five soloists.
We had each other sussed fairly quickly and knew our order and procedures for
overtakes. It was all very friendly and from 09:30 was essentially
free-fall, cracking out one mile every hour until 24 rotations were completed
or we de-railed. Simples. Having ‘been there before’ we nailed down-time
fairly early on too, with a seamless drying, dressing, resting, feeding,
preparing routine executed by our buddies. It wasn’t necessarily
dignified but what happened in the tent stays in the tent OK?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">That'd be Mrs. Tyrant on the left. Taking things dead seriously......<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">My first wobble came very early on. During just the second mile my
legs locked up with cramp, the same as had happened early on in both Champion
of Champions and Windermere. Bloody hell woman what’s all that
about?? I had hydrated well in the run-up and ensured a good mineral
intake. But I’m getting the gist that early cramping is just how it is
for me and something that I’ve got to work through. Lorraine Rate (AKA
Mrs Tyrant), offered me electrolyte. The jury is still out for me over
electrolyte but action was needed and it seemed to do the trick. No more
crampy crampy after that, crisis #1 diverted….. My buggered left wrist
began to smart at around 7 miles and the old nerve pain began to flare up.
Swapping my watch to my right hand went some way to resolve that and I paid
more attention to my hand positioning to avoid aggravating it any more, crisis
#2 held in check.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">After mile 10.
Smiling on the outside, screaming on the inside......<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The hardest miles were, without doubt, miles 9 to 14 when I felt
thoroughly depressed! By then I was averaging 35 minute miles so had 25
minutes of down-time. Just enough to do what needed doing and nothing
else. We all felt like shooting the guy who shouted out ‘Five minutes’
and ran things to the wire, leaving the tent with just two minutes to go.
Although it wasn’t as cold as last time it was still toe-curling to let go of
my dry robe and cringeworthy to get back in the water and kick straight off for
another mile. But again once I got going it was fine. The whole
experience was positively schizoid. When I was swimming I couldn’t wait
for each mile to be over so I could get out. When I was out I wanted to
be back in getting on with it, but without having to do the whole getting in
thing. If that makes any sense? Sort your head out and make your
blooming mind up girl!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 17.85pt;">After 12 miles my swimming and tent bud John Willis threw in the
towel. He had slowed down to such a point that he just wasn’t getting
enough rest. Having swum further than ever before he was satisfied and
called ‘time’ with no regrets. Also he would be on-hand to help out as a
buddy. I spoke with him and made a resolve that 16 miles would mark a
tipping point. 16 was well clear of halfway and, with ‘two sets of four’
to go until the end, I could handle that no problem.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sometime during
mile 14...... The beginning of the end......<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">During mile 14, however, crisis #3 struck. I was quite sleepy
during that mile, my eyes rolling like they do when you doze off in front of
the telly. I’d not long kicked off the far wall and was heading back for
length 12 when my left shoulder slipped from its socket, a recurrent problem in
several of my joints due to having a generalised hypermobility disorder.
There was no pain and it reduced spontaneously as I pulled through, but I knew
immediately that it would hurt sooner or later and could be a
show-stopper. That brought me briefly back from the land of nod and I
clearly remember thinking ‘Oh shit’ before drifting off again into my world of
hallucination and daydream……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sure as eggs is eggs two things happened after that: my mood flipped for
the better on hitting the allocated magic mile 16 and my damned shoulder
started to hurt. A massive lift countered with a huge slap in the
face. But I was totally focused on finishing. It was now down hill
and completely do-able. Excellent buddy work had me with a dry cozzie and
towel for every remaining swim. We were in it to win it and nothing was
going to get in our way. I’d been dosing on Ibuprofen since the morning,
mostly to help with the symptoms of my cold. The drugs now had a new
purpose and for a while, (well maybe half an hour ha ha) seemed to be doing the
trick. Mile 17 came and every single stroke hurt, 2 Paracetamol before
mile 18 and things were a bit better. Two more miles and we would would
replace the 1 with a 2 as we moved towards 20 miles. Cripes we were so
close now and the sun would be coming up soon too. Happy days, slam dunk,
thank you very much, 24 miles in 24 hours. OH YEAH!!!!! Then came the
fateful mile 19………<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sometimes not even these bad boys work.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Like #17 every single stroke I took yanked on my shoulder. Halfway
through that mile the pain changed from a relatively diffuse ache to a
pin-point crush. And that to me meant only one thing. Imminent
significant damage. I flipped onto my back but that was just as
bad. Breaststroke, yikes, no good either. A length or two of single
arm then another go at front crawl. Nope. I managed to get through
the rest of the mile on a mix of single arm and some spazzy technique that I
made up where my left arm dragged through the water without catching it and I
hurled it round for recovery with an exaggerated body roll. 'Yeah I can
do it like this', I thought to myself. But 5 miles like that? Really? How
long is that going to take? 45mins? 50? Do you really want to limp home like
that? You'll wreck yourself for sure..... It was all pretty desperate. At
the end of the mile I stood up, lifted my goggles and gazed back down the
length before turning to my folks on poolside. With tears streaming down
my cheeks I uttered the words ‘I’m finished’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Climbing out the fighter within me kicked back in. ‘No way am I
giving up, I’m getting back in for 20’. Buddies Sarah Mellett and Penny
Allard gave me the space that I needed to thrash out my decision as I stood
there blubbing and clutching my arm. But it was Lesley Cook’s bluntness
that brought things home. ‘Jane, look at you. You’re fucked.
I’m sorry but you are.’ And she was right. I dragged my sorry ass
back to the tent, crying the whole way. There was one last flail at the
whole ‘No, I’m in this until the end’ thing, that even saw me get changed into
a dry cozzie ready for round 20. Then John Willis, who had kept
relatively quiet, spoke up ‘Jane, you don’t have to do this. Save
yourself.’ And with those words it was over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Tony Marshall &
Danny Bunn - very well done guys :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The rest of the Redcaps crew went on to complete the distances they set
out to do. Rory, Justin & Tongie touching in to claim 12 miles each,
Danny & Tony claiming the full 24. Our buddies were second to
none. Mandy Byrnes, Clare Calder, Sarah Mellett, Penny Allard, Helli
Tong, Lorraine Rate, Matthew Skidmore, what a team we were!! Lesley
wasn’t even meant to be there, just turned up to surprise us all and stayed all
night long, waiting on us hand and foot, and even jumping in to swim a few lengths
for Tongie as his team mate had to pull out. Ben Jaques, Helen Wildin
& Gail Alexander dropped by for moral support which was really kind and
appreciated enormously. None of us could have done even half of what we
did without any of them so thank you guys, another whole list of people who are
owed big time xx<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As disappointing as it was, pulling out was absolutely the right
call. That swim wasn’t my main goal for this season. A certain lake
is calling. We have a date in August and there are ‘warm-up’s’ in the
diary along the way. I could so easily have lost it all by chasing the
full house at Guildford. And my buddies for that certain swim, John
Willis & Lesley Cook, demonstrated that they are without doubt the
right crew for me. As much as they will support and encourage me, they
both have it within them to look me in the eye and call it a day if things go
irretrievably wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As for my ‘theory of forever’ I no longer think of it as a fixed
entity. If success demonstrates that we are capable of more, then
surrender must highlight areas where we ‘could do better’. If we learn
the lessons and implement the remedial measures then perhaps forever can never
actually be found.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">For me, I can safely say that I’m not so wreckless as I thought. I
applied reason, listened to my buddies when their words contradicted what I
felt in my heart, and walked away from something that I wanted 100%. It
was a massively tough call. But I was right at the point of sacrificing a
whole season of swimming, if not more. Go for broke or live to fight
another day? I take the latter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Will I go back and try again? Dunno. But once I’m all fixed
again I’m going to keep on looking for forever………..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-12589680099218382122014-08-27T15:34:00.005+01:002014-08-27T15:34:46.737+01:00Conquering Windermere: 15th August 2014 by Jane Bell
<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Conquering Windermere:
15<sup>th</sup> August 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">12 months ago myself
and<span class="apple-converted-space"> Tony Mellett ut</span>tered the
words 'Let's swim Windermere'. We got a team together and began plotting...... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Early on we approached
Ben Jaques with a ‘selfish little proposal’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We wanted to reccy the lake by row boat to find out just how in the heck
these things are accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t
take too much arm twisting for him to agree to being a guinea pig, swimming the
10.5 mile length solo while we supported him and sized up exactly what we were
letting ourselves in for.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Next we needed a team
and the concept of ‘rowers and throwers’ was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The former to man our support craft and the
latter to look after our nutritional needs and monitor our condition in the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meetings were held.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And by meetings I mean banter-filled
barbeques to discuss logistics and resources (hic).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben’s reccy swim was scheduled for 28<sup>th</sup>
June and myself and Tony’s attempts for the weekend of 16<sup>th</sup>
August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lake Wardens were consulted
who, by all accounts, proved to be very approachable and accommodating, highlighting
the necessary hazards of the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rowboats were secured for both weekends and soon enough our support
teams held their hands up and committed to escorting the swims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Myself and Tony had a training plan which
involved notching up to the distance by taking part in the BLDSA 9-mile
Champion of Champions series in Dover Harbour in mid-June, followed by a 2-way
crossing of Lake Bala in mid-July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely
that would do it??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">But in the early hours
of 2<sup>nd</sup> May my mobile phone woke me from sleep and I took the
devastating news that Tony had passed away very suddenly at 10pm the previous
evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incomprehensible as he had
dropped me home less than an hour and a half earlier, after our usual pool
session with the Thursday Night Garons Crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The world and our plans ground to a halt while we mourned his loss with his
and our extended Redcaps families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1031" style="height: 338.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 451.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe859Qp9-QGCgg5YBmo-NkLmB5zQ50MCI7BJr6gsyCHwAgj0mPSw_ivHsxL9RA9ZHVPxSu58_xhztnQLQH22ZhXZ6Mcsx2GP1p2yUS8QOrprCm2wAKSnmBx-GsihGt9GtpLhYzJ11v1L_/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe859Qp9-QGCgg5YBmo-NkLmB5zQ50MCI7BJr6gsyCHwAgj0mPSw_ivHsxL9RA9ZHVPxSu58_xhztnQLQH22ZhXZ6Mcsx2GP1p2yUS8QOrprCm2wAKSnmBx-GsihGt9GtpLhYzJ11v1L_/s1600/2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">But we all agreed that
Tony’s swim plans must go ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
indeed they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lesley Cook stepped in
to swim Champions with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shaun Hales,
Wouter Van Staaden and Ben Jaques provided kayak support and Vicki McFarlane
pitched up land-side to warm us up and gee us along for the gruelling affair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tony’s wife Sarah, her daughter Sally, grand
daughter Emily and Sal’s boyfriend Stu accompanied myself and John Willis to
Wales to support our Bala swims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben’s
Windermere reccy was axed in favour of him taking Tony’s place for the August
assault on England’s longest lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">When we finally
arrived in the Lake District she seemed to be meeting all of her stereotypes,
with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hurricane Bertha doing her worst
for the weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Light showers
interspersed with torrential downpours and high winds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But a window of opportunity seemed to be
emerging for Friday 15<sup>th</sup> August and, with the wind blowing from the
North, we decided on an early departure from Waterhead, at the top end of
Windermere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considering how abysmal the
weather was in the days leading up to the swim, and indeed those that followed,
somebody was definitely looking out for us from above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-GfMuFVlXpfUbzOWK8mrIm_5a0emzlouRsNIy7yI_4jd8SxhddHD_7HeqQkQKGmNEistpiwl0nI9qjpwktiskQC93Y-nbnOfhdD7UGgYY8P7Umb-QctRo-PdthyFB3GSAkH5nL4UPFii/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-GfMuFVlXpfUbzOWK8mrIm_5a0emzlouRsNIy7yI_4jd8SxhddHD_7HeqQkQKGmNEistpiwl0nI9qjpwktiskQC93Y-nbnOfhdD7UGgYY8P7Umb-QctRo-PdthyFB3GSAkH5nL4UPFii/s1600/3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Our proposed route was
to swim towards 10 o’clock aiming for a tiny buoy-marked island named Green
Tuft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There we would hang a left, swimming
headland-to-headland down the Western aspect and behind the islands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before the halfway point at Jemmy Crag
we would have to exercise caution as we crossed the chain-link car ferry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If at all possible the Lake Wardens had
advised us to go behind the ferry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Judgement on margins of safety would be required for any attempt to
dodge it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From Jemmy Crag lake traffic
would be quieter and it would be essentially down-hill to the steamer pier at
Lakeside and a sharp left to the yellow buoys at Fell Foot which mark the end
of the lake and start of the River Leven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">At 09:01 on Friday 15<sup>th</sup>
August we took to the </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">balmy 18.2 degree waters
in memory of Tony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Willis manned the
oars for Ben while Helen Wildin threw food at him and played coxswain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shaun Hales and Vicki McFarlane supported my
swim and Family Mellett (plus Harry the dog) waved us off for what was to be a
full day of swimming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I took a cheeky little
head start while Ben did his usual slow entry but it wasn’t long before he streaked
past me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HEADING IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone was shouting and
it seemed ages before somebody got through to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few minutes later, back on the correct
bearing, he thundered past again and his team edged away into the
distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bye bye Ben & Co., see you
on the other side!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicajTVY7oZ_bpxxVxUuT297PxxAOsV9D6I85pIXXC9jKDMDSzz5jmDDelpLq20mPUxSjJoEHky5lXRlzcxTieBIXURvQdDtGkD3habUH8mW8ZG1bkEFfFcGdCFm54v94ME7KBbz82dXPkm/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicajTVY7oZ_bpxxVxUuT297PxxAOsV9D6I85pIXXC9jKDMDSzz5jmDDelpLq20mPUxSjJoEHky5lXRlzcxTieBIXURvQdDtGkD3habUH8mW8ZG1bkEFfFcGdCFm54v94ME7KBbz82dXPkm/s1600/5.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdc4wKZf0qvX75B6KFhmzc_yHBmOCZfsLp2Kq0u1HeUkdt77WDJAcE8My1DMC0TQhRDhQk2egTH1xP7Ixi3GkyJd9ZgLCusqD5gp5QJWa-UHhICT9q8w2EwmsORRebnVnD0kzpIh-sZ3c/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdc4wKZf0qvX75B6KFhmzc_yHBmOCZfsLp2Kq0u1HeUkdt77WDJAcE8My1DMC0TQhRDhQk2egTH1xP7Ixi3GkyJd9ZgLCusqD5gp5QJWa-UHhICT9q8w2EwmsORRebnVnD0kzpIh-sZ3c/s1600/4.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Our teams were under
instruction to feed us on the hour, every hour and we had a selection of sweet
and savoury foods to snack on, a tiny morsel at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me fruit pots were an absolute
winner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glugging down the sugar water
before scooping little chunks of peach and pineapple into my mouth while
floating on my back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as filthy as
it may sound, the odd handful of chicken & mushroom pot noodle was
delightful, no chewing required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben
opted for Helen’s homemade flapjacks and the co-op’s very own Scotch Eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scotch Eggs with a twist that is, because
they weren’t actually Scotch Eggs at all but mini Chicken Kievs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An easy mistake to make but apparently the
garlic butter in the middle was deliciously molten to make swallowing them much
easier so I guess they were a success.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Behind the islands the
wind picked up and was against us for a while, the Western valleys funnelling
the prevailing Northerly back up-lake towards our start point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fuel-stops were necessarily kept short and
sweet in this section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But just long
enough to take a phone call from Lesley Cook, enquiring as to our
progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice touch Lesley and much
appreciated!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another lovely moment
behind the islands was a surprise visit from Sarah and her family who had hired
a motor boat to come and pay a visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the days leading up to the swim I had repeated a silent mantra: Get In, Switch
Off, Swim, and it took quite an effort from Team Mellett, Vicki and Shaun to
rouse my attention for a quick and surprised ‘Ahoy There!!’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKR8e482np8Fnmzzq_iPCTWdNM_6TETbtStwlx5uydKhSm33opZG0EMMItsFDZmULLIivPCL7dJ0lkQG2sy3JgCBdA04N7PS5Sz9OJRNXXXJjL5p9MDh3zQexC7ulsJ_rLx4w_wYTVEtKB/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKR8e482np8Fnmzzq_iPCTWdNM_6TETbtStwlx5uydKhSm33opZG0EMMItsFDZmULLIivPCL7dJ0lkQG2sy3JgCBdA04N7PS5Sz9OJRNXXXJjL5p9MDh3zQexC7ulsJ_rLx4w_wYTVEtKB/s1600/6.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Stroking in excess of
70 per minute, Ben put in a stupendous effort and reached the chain-link
crossing in just two-and-a-half hours, timing it just right to get behind the
ferry without having to hang around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
I approached the same point, an hour and a quarter later, the ferry was being
loaded and was nearly ready to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Spurred on by Vicki, however, I got my head down and sprinted straight
in front of it, shaking with fear in the water but trusting her judgement
nonetheless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned around to thank
the captain with a thumbs up and was greeted with the honking of the ship’s
horn and an applause by passengers and crew as they set sail for Bowness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, just the kind of encouragement needed
for a swim of these proportions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact
most vessels out on the lake that day took the time to wave at us and cheer us
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Ben had an encounter with a lady
on a rock (Mermaid?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fantasy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delirious hallucination??), who encouraged
him with the words ‘Only four miles to go!’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hmmmm, thanks…..<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">At my six hour feed I
was eager to hear if Ben had landed yet and Vicki put in a call to Sarah to
receive the news that he was into the home straights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half an hour later he touched the yellow buoy
at Fell Foot to become ‘first man home’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Helen was so overwhelmed at the blinding effort he had put in that she
jumped off the boat to join him in the water and pass on her
congratulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Erm…. FULLY
CLOTHED!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcM_8wvykqsudz2b5-jNHwTQmBmzl1bsSSH307oh__fFaodx1rHEboo9SVsQB0wQSbFdh3Ut6jW3xNU153sfeKE3QM7TDaCybwQY6xx2-Hcb4Dir51v1jD-_Lstlpw355Gxisj7qSTKwo/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcM_8wvykqsudz2b5-jNHwTQmBmzl1bsSSH307oh__fFaodx1rHEboo9SVsQB0wQSbFdh3Ut6jW3xNU153sfeKE3QM7TDaCybwQY6xx2-Hcb4Dir51v1jD-_Lstlpw355Gxisj7qSTKwo/s1600/7.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">A little under two
hours later, 8 hours 25 minutes after taking to the waters, it was my
turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Catching sight of that yellow buoy
for the first time I shouted into the water ‘We’ve only gone and bloody well
done it!!’, then made the final push for home with the team shouting and waving
from the shore </span><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So that’s Windermere
for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10.5 miles, England’s longest
lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anybody fancies a shot at it
then it comes highly recommended and we have all the contact details and know-how
to impart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enormous gratitude once again
to our teams, on land and on the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We really could not have done it without you and any time you need
support for a swim or any other stupid challenge then please do cash in your
chips!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_13" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 231pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 451.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Myself and Tony had
more lunatic swims planned over the next few years and, in some way shape or
form they will all be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for now I
pass the Mellett Memorial Baton to Tony’s relay team, the Southend Sea
Urchins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jade Perry, John Willis, Tony
Marshall, Lizzie Long, Josh Stratford: Go smash that Channel!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">For Tony xx</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEaXTkrNFuk"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEaXTkrNFuk</span></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7eeV0hlJPuzGnkMrIecIt1vcWbxyosDZxS32IGN0Hjc5XGuWOXd6RDAlIO4akM_Mq9h1CzKHIMsItD-gk8d09ZxlBwm6orbBtiE1OtLoiQA5PZG31iCxM92rrE5Atyw4i4n0ZRk9Crv2/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7eeV0hlJPuzGnkMrIecIt1vcWbxyosDZxS32IGN0Hjc5XGuWOXd6RDAlIO4akM_Mq9h1CzKHIMsItD-gk8d09ZxlBwm6orbBtiE1OtLoiQA5PZG31iCxM92rrE5Atyw4i4n0ZRk9Crv2/s1600/8.jpg" height="203" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-71123125976773784752014-07-06T22:53:00.000+01:002014-07-06T23:01:26.897+01:00A Memorial to Tony Mellett<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In memory of a Redcap..... Tony Mellett</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Redcaps were overcome with grief and sadness recently when instead of the usual Facebook banter of "who's swimming where" and "jeez, that was cold today", we were horrified to open our facebook page to the following message from Club Chairman, Iain Keenan.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb1MJSTmwgrQ7hKKkds95xlKLtSF0fft4YZUGc-8XZnHqfWaE6fJqZZ5nyS5sqbY6CxZhrI4dpYFqy4ZYW36R8hWothGYpraZbuLgeo4n2h6j4k2vlrw3kyYnAahflGp7_0CMbzBtrc71/s1600/10247412_10152160771777857_6872634068030131583_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb1MJSTmwgrQ7hKKkds95xlKLtSF0fft4YZUGc-8XZnHqfWaE6fJqZZ5nyS5sqbY6CxZhrI4dpYFqy4ZYW36R8hWothGYpraZbuLgeo4n2h6j4k2vlrw3kyYnAahflGp7_0CMbzBtrc71/s1600/10247412_10152160771777857_6872634068030131583_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redcaps raise their arms and slowly enter the water</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A moving tribute swim for Tony.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">........This is the hardest and saddest news that I have ever had
to communicate as Headcap. Our good friend and dedicated REDCAPS member Tony
Mellett has tragically and unexpectedly passed away following a heart attack.
Our thoughts, feelings and love go out to Sarah and his family at this
extremely shocking and difficult time. Tony was a big character in many ways.
Those that knew Tony knew him to be a warm, friendly, kind and loving man with
a great sense of humour. The fact that <span class="textexposedhide4">...</span><span class="textexposedshow2">he was so well known in the club to all members young
and old is testament to his warm character. He loved his swimming and was a key
member of the REDCAPS. His dedication won him the 2013 Redcaps Swimmer of the
year trophy and he was currently in training for his second go at the Channel
relay. I am still in shock with the news and can't quite believe it. We will
all miss him so much but he leaves us with some amazing memories and a passion
for swimming that I hope will endure in all of us. We are a club and a
community and I know you will all support Sarah and her family at this time. In
the coming weeks and months we will think of special ways in which we can pay
our respects but please can I request that at this time we allow Sarah and her
family the space to come to terms to their tragic loss. We will also support
each other as I know what a huge loss this is to all of us........</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The saddest Crowstone Crawl ever</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sarah's Story.....</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Standing on the shoreline looking out to sea <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wishing that my husband was standing here with me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A part of me is missing now; now that he has gone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Each day for me a struggle as I try to carry on<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">W</span>e came together 20 years ago and married 2 years later<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Almost 18 years of happiness our love could not be greater<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Taken now so suddenly for me a massive loss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Making joint decisions neither one of us was boss</span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
<o:p><span style="font-size: small;"><div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
I look out on the ocean I feel your hand in mine</div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I know that you are with me; I know you’re doing fine</span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Onward I must travel now but I can feel you near</span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My grieving heart is shattered but today I feel no fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziR50nmdNh5BnHONh25E8Ehe4wtNGHqvq88mtynhJqsNZsKIpH525u3-6bKmI00fdStDQdFVLXjjrlM8J9SPMOW9cgPWrN8qeIJWibXfftnWdfwEG_Dc0reyXwABliWN3VbB26ryrXi4g/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziR50nmdNh5BnHONh25E8Ehe4wtNGHqvq88mtynhJqsNZsKIpH525u3-6bKmI00fdStDQdFVLXjjrlM8J9SPMOW9cgPWrN8qeIJWibXfftnWdfwEG_Dc0reyXwABliWN3VbB26ryrXi4g/s1600/9.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Once you were a soldier many years ago</span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A protector of this land of ours, and the seeds we sow</span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fighting for this country your flag the union jack </span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">All of this a memory now, no time for looking back</span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span> </div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Standing on the shoreline looking out to sea</span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I smile as I remember as you swam away from me</span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Family and friends will miss you; tears will now be shed</span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">All we have are memories now stored inside our head<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every family member from the smallest to the tall</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">The children and their offspring here we name them all</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Paul and Chris and Toni, (she was a daddy’s girl)</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tom and Sam and Sally each one a special pearl<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</o:p><div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grandchildren made the number up adding to the fun</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">It really made no difference be it granddaughter or grandson</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Emily, Rhiain, Isobelle, Riley, and James as well</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">You adored them all you see, and everyone could tell<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blue & Ace and Poppy we were due to see them soon</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">And there was always the new arrival due, yet another boon</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>But Tony was the biggest kid high fiving with the best</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Playing games and boggie swapping, along with all the rest</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
</div>
</o:p></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Further back in time we go, still more there is to tell</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">P</span>arents Jim and Bridget, I bet you gave them hell</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brother Allan and twin sisters, Debbie and Tricia too</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every single one of them will miss you like I do<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">You were a special person touching all those that you met</span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">A caring, considerate and loveable guy never any regret</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Funny and so witty when amongst your friends</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">But still private when it mattered I adored you to the end</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your passion for the open water it would never wane<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every opportunity would find us here again<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes I would wonder did you love it more than me<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">This love affair, this passion with the wonder of the sea</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Standing on the shore line lost but not alone<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Watching the waves rolling in, white and topped with foam<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remembering your smile that captured my own heart<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tony I may miss you but we will never really be apart.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Champion of Champions</strong></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;">Fellow Redcaps, Jane Bell and Lesley Cook swam in the Champion of Champions event in Memory of Tony Mellett. H2o magazine published the longest day which you can read here followed by a moving tribute to a true champion. Rest in Peace Tony. x.</span></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://h2openmagazine.com/features/longest-day-bldsa-champion-champions-swimming-memory-tony-mellett/#sthash.ka7EvOnU.Ecqjd4Xm.dpbs" target="_blank">Champion of Champions - In Memory of Tony Mellett</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_qhaEct17M" target="_blank">Champion of Champions</a></div>
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bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-81387888787793538252012-08-06T19:00:00.000+01:002012-08-06T19:00:10.784+01:00Redcaps 15K Challenge 2012<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Code Name : CPCPCPC</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Date : 21 July 2012</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Time : 12noon</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Challenge : 3 laps, Crowstone to Pier and back. (15kilometers)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Time available : 6 hours max</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Contenders : Ben Jaques, Lorraine Rate, Derrick Griffiths, Stuart Watson, Kirsty Fehily,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Support Crew : Iain Keenan, Jane Bell, Paul Docker, Michael Tongie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Support swimmers, Helen Wildin, Michael Tong, Iain Keenan, Julie Dempsey, Mike Grout, Ollie Southgate, and several more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Beach Support : Far far too many to mention, (Lesley, Julie, Clare, Tracy etc etc.) and what a great team they were.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-size: medium; line-height: 18px;">MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. 6 HOURS, 6 SWIMMERS, 1 TIDE IS DONE!</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOL7gNUleGTvAQbSXLRbR1hrUoOlASiqxZWCbAP3Bt7ogMIiYeLBuXQQP7rltuo6iURpD8lJNRCHQGO9g-LaX8VfWFClDpEOgVflsqql3dKjIoM5aoUsQgGaGtkSLVt3yrGqBwpMlY81Px/s1600/165991_10151106303802755_774824846_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOL7gNUleGTvAQbSXLRbR1hrUoOlASiqxZWCbAP3Bt7ogMIiYeLBuXQQP7rltuo6iURpD8lJNRCHQGO9g-LaX8VfWFClDpEOgVflsqql3dKjIoM5aoUsQgGaGtkSLVt3yrGqBwpMlY81Px/s400/165991_10151106303802755_774824846_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">The first ever Chalkwell Redcap Charity Challenge </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">AND whats more, we are all alive to tell the tale. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">And what a journey we had too. There were highs a</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">nd lows, and ups and downs along the way especially, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">when code name <b>SKS</b> had to become code name </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><b>CPCPCPC</b>, due to the lack of support from the PLA. :( </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">But not to be deterred, we still did it. 5 swimmers in the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">end attempted the whole challenge and all 5 succeeded, The sixth swimmer, Alex Edge unfortunately, could not attempt the challenge. Happily it was because she had just been chosen to swim for Essex in an open water meet the very next day so she needed to conserve energy. Congratulations to Alex.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Mother Nature only gave us about 5 1/2 hrs of decent swimming before she took our</span> water away, but we forgive her because she gave us fantastic weather and perfect swimming conditions. The challenge started with Ben Jacques briefing all the swimmers on the best way to head out to find some decent depth of water. Follow me as I know where the deep water is he said. Lorraine and Kirsty then went the other way and spent at least 15 minutes in ankle deep water, doing some strange kind of walk along the sharp stones, going the wrong way !!!! Lesson to oneself - listen to the master!</div>
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Dozens and dozens of supporters made it a very memorable event. Here is support swimmer Mike Grout and bucket shaker, Tracy Bliss. Lots of the support swimmers achieved first time bests for distance covered by swimming some of it with us so well done to them too.</div>
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Ben, Stuart and Derrick - Time to go. Barely enough water to hold a stroke together but time was against us so we set off at the first opportunity.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5YdOEQilDWAOgpjaOsQALQ9L3n_lWMkoCueB4MP2u8mMxEkjn5I73Z4WVwzKN4Dd2n-rpB6iR1LIRlmON_C2TLeoiHuu9p9ijP6X2hJ4DymZO5gEGMpb8biendVTSlOjTF-_JjLHCobc/s1600/391210_10151969109070241_5260982_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5YdOEQilDWAOgpjaOsQALQ9L3n_lWMkoCueB4MP2u8mMxEkjn5I73Z4WVwzKN4Dd2n-rpB6iR1LIRlmON_C2TLeoiHuu9p9ijP6X2hJ4DymZO5gEGMpb8biendVTSlOjTF-_JjLHCobc/s320/391210_10151969109070241_5260982_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Die hard Jane Bell who kayaked the whole 6 hours and spent the last two of it with her bottom half submerged in water due to having to keep removing her cover to reach for the drink bottles! </div>
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Various instructions were left for the beach crew so they knew exactly how to look after the swimmers at the end of each leg.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">Whilsts some opted for life support, Mr Jacques went for a good old banana</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FrEmicyfDqnheJaa4eXTgWLeptEihHu7_5N7ucSnYH_GNlJ1xiHHrZJyeCR6x1QCR4ZLjKF6EUMLvx4cq1xMSHvCdjUnzCH5lxUB0V7fm8acBj_krZ-MG9ge7nMrHx-cKqODtRvrb7Wq/s1600/548250_10150911507896971_133078386_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FrEmicyfDqnheJaa4eXTgWLeptEihHu7_5N7ucSnYH_GNlJ1xiHHrZJyeCR6x1QCR4ZLjKF6EUMLvx4cq1xMSHvCdjUnzCH5lxUB0V7fm8acBj_krZ-MG9ge7nMrHx-cKqODtRvrb7Wq/s320/548250_10150911507896971_133078386_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Perhaps Ben should have opted for the life support and Jelly Beans. Here he is at the very end looking a little worse for wear and having finally run out of water. Chris Rate, support swimmer looks on to make sure he can walk!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirsty Fehily and Lorraine Rate - Glad its all over</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helen Wildin - Support Swimmer</td></tr>
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And finally, here is Jane Bells summary of the days events.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-2mqatxQjiY?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-35617763827307416062012-06-13T13:05:00.001+01:002012-06-13T13:05:26.422+01:00Queens Jubilee Charity Swim Challenge - June 5 2012 - By Lorraine Rate<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We doing Skins or suit today?</td></tr>
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5 June 2012, in order to boost funds for our Chalkwell Redcap 2012 Charity Challenge, I organised a Queens Jubilee Charity Swim in the River Crouch at South Woodham Ferrers.<br />
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27 swimmers took to the water, all agreeing to donate £5 towards our chosen charities.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think we are swimming that way !</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLN7cP1ZV4ewAr11ZoIXDwEXKFRmKyzd3dLQ_hF03bg5uirHDx4zkb4csY9O0TsE6cOoxPHJZmDzV8Co3-4ejwY6zdBMIn5mQ_1W_hXQC4HnicSTz7ZiSTuIXa4Y2Kzy2_e6PJK8KJuK1/s1600/P6050047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLN7cP1ZV4ewAr11ZoIXDwEXKFRmKyzd3dLQ_hF03bg5uirHDx4zkb4csY9O0TsE6cOoxPHJZmDzV8Co3-4ejwY6zdBMIn5mQ_1W_hXQC4HnicSTz7ZiSTuIXa4Y2Kzy2_e6PJK8KJuK1/s320/P6050047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brrrrr ! defo suit for this one<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg8Soek-sScJWvtwkrIyXJS2CAOLV3bueo8I8bwD1yhmEplAlruxP0_tywCIVVKe6OjLvnbW34UakD_r7BGrj79UsvEfUzY7jLIvkcK8Mt3HLHpNy78MUQhRtCUEDr5IW67u01eH6TfGU/s1600/601468_10151685183105283_1294083652_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg8Soek-sScJWvtwkrIyXJS2CAOLV3bueo8I8bwD1yhmEplAlruxP0_tywCIVVKe6OjLvnbW34UakD_r7BGrj79UsvEfUzY7jLIvkcK8Mt3HLHpNy78MUQhRtCUEDr5IW67u01eH6TfGU/s320/601468_10151685183105283_1294083652_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Jd9YOKP0dYqnRGXnmgIgKl8XWYTH2LNS1y8l3bMBwsXUt_WsD2v0jI7PW8vfrR4CkbG_Y8g82otcZ3zIduAovbiQTIymajFiORQBn6uiGUD9ihR_rcxDebqOe5uNELxjh3FyCQ721iZt/s1600/181806_10151019486043223_75413967_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Jd9YOKP0dYqnRGXnmgIgKl8XWYTH2LNS1y8l3bMBwsXUt_WsD2v0jI7PW8vfrR4CkbG_Y8g82otcZ3zIduAovbiQTIymajFiORQBn6uiGUD9ihR_rcxDebqOe5uNELxjh3FyCQ721iZt/s320/181806_10151019486043223_75413967_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurry Up Lorraine - We are freezing - Can't we just Swim</td></tr>
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I see Mrs Tyrant is'nt swimming, but she makes damn sure we have to.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlGzQmACIsfWAvpBUADPp6qSYhE_fq7J66SOG32jO4zvihkDg5YBuYfURWZ-QZtfAVGosP1Q_WmdWxNqiK7rCw92SQwEu53XHHi2AWsqP5kDZmQg2WBjv_6k4MJ1hOP8McmpoX_jY5RZu/s1600/P6050048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlGzQmACIsfWAvpBUADPp6qSYhE_fq7J66SOG32jO4zvihkDg5YBuYfURWZ-QZtfAVGosP1Q_WmdWxNqiK7rCw92SQwEu53XHHi2AWsqP5kDZmQg2WBjv_6k4MJ1hOP8McmpoX_jY5RZu/s320/P6050048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Im going half suit, half skin !</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhM6T0lde3SciA492kOFyUuCIrdM2-hcPRzGYY-K3TYPPoG6cKmAhfK5TeeCYFg2-c4cEyFy9ciHHo0HamQL6HbzRKmGRe9m5ITi6VU9ISsdI56zobDEFAyAkKB1m8BTr5fC-LXtND0Bz/s1600/551074_10151019485193223_807346559_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhM6T0lde3SciA492kOFyUuCIrdM2-hcPRzGYY-K3TYPPoG6cKmAhfK5TeeCYFg2-c4cEyFy9ciHHo0HamQL6HbzRKmGRe9m5ITi6VU9ISsdI56zobDEFAyAkKB1m8BTr5fC-LXtND0Bz/s320/551074_10151019485193223_807346559_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weather looking gloomy, but it was actually OK</td></tr>
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Distances of 1/2, 1 or 2 miles were set for the challengers and flags were set along the coastline to mark the various distances.</div>
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Swimmers were invited from The Chalkwell Redcaps Open Water Swimming Club, Blackwater Triathlon Club, Chelmsford <br />
Swimming Club, and a few of my other long term swimming mates from days past.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgJDtJ289funMPfvneEdpN8dYG3ba1UddD6UZhrx35Y2FnL4_QEXypMPWTNQ-QucVGhEbWHKGnf_Y3ooTFahywitea5aY-DOQuZ2be3ueYsMjyJ9kMdXvZcYO8Nnfkxw8Mnz72uEe0YVg/s1600/540032_10151019483163223_1548875432_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgJDtJ289funMPfvneEdpN8dYG3ba1UddD6UZhrx35Y2FnL4_QEXypMPWTNQ-QucVGhEbWHKGnf_Y3ooTFahywitea5aY-DOQuZ2be3ueYsMjyJ9kMdXvZcYO8Nnfkxw8Mnz72uEe0YVg/s320/540032_10151019483163223_1548875432_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Must pay attention to Mrs Tyrant's Rules !</td></tr>
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The Charities are RNLI and Essex Search & Rescue.<br />
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<br />The majority of the swimmers took to the water in a wetsuit with a few die-hards going without.
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2kqD1IkSKkjTEBFewMWcjZlwcgmGPZxFeyMkvkERJvJPTiIaoSqBI38FdvWaK7NkbOgsIslP0y2TNsf90rhhmT2TeqUzmu2RjLhxPdGqu8zOzbLkAByibSo1r0RxLtC31AXm6Yl7S3nN/s1600/578261_10151685187675283_1846453784_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2kqD1IkSKkjTEBFewMWcjZlwcgmGPZxFeyMkvkERJvJPTiIaoSqBI38FdvWaK7NkbOgsIslP0y2TNsf90rhhmT2TeqUzmu2RjLhxPdGqu8zOzbLkAByibSo1r0RxLtC31AXm6Yl7S3nN/s320/578261_10151685187675283_1846453784_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boats all ready, and they're off</td></tr>
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On the day, we collected nearly £400, and added to the on-line donations, the event raised approximately £500 for charity.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSvIOU3rmTchoUnVH31zKhfDrr5ingn4gwvIqotR9ABQWSfPfskIka4dtPiBv5gdI1L81JjYf1QzfhqCLH5fTpcr0PU0otWMHii7dslbyCvCOknDVoXY9j_ZF0M_wfsPkULdHGbUur9wS/s1600/577517_10150942879604323_1339191800_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSvIOU3rmTchoUnVH31zKhfDrr5ingn4gwvIqotR9ABQWSfPfskIka4dtPiBv5gdI1L81JjYf1QzfhqCLH5fTpcr0PU0otWMHii7dslbyCvCOknDVoXY9j_ZF0M_wfsPkULdHGbUur9wS/s320/577517_10150942879604323_1339191800_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye Mrs Tyrant - Nice knowin ya</td></tr>
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I was relieved that the day went without a hitch. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUFYLLexlLcq7nkcQdk5diCIbKQ8zwLK0ZdIrEFDSopKJOK-E6DoS5qY67aDFqUOgqx7QbmXDeKNHQSmPi9kW3SipAOxEztVTkVls3dBGYL5GJfZSdbB057PM1mvpvcyE3_zq289MoPa0/s1600/532889_10151019492638223_219880719_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUFYLLexlLcq7nkcQdk5diCIbKQ8zwLK0ZdIrEFDSopKJOK-E6DoS5qY67aDFqUOgqx7QbmXDeKNHQSmPi9kW3SipAOxEztVTkVls3dBGYL5GJfZSdbB057PM1mvpvcyE3_zq289MoPa0/s320/532889_10151019492638223_219880719_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And they came out smiling.</td></tr>
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Well almost. Un-be-known to everyone, I got there very early with the intention of lining the coast with Red, White and Blue balloons. On opening my boot, they all flew out in the wind and all popped on the bramble bushes! - great start !. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnZSjJilX3IPFi3h453EKbhsyjyhyPcpJg0lw8FaGHkSi_oFhoBxsFNlpq4m8of0SVDD87vkOnMJrdMDThLAnmdFZogwsn2IvoBZx3xwOF11mCurdyUiT35g01s4pUWW_UJVg6rmO9ajV/s1600/550844_4023499787690_457091989_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnZSjJilX3IPFi3h453EKbhsyjyhyPcpJg0lw8FaGHkSi_oFhoBxsFNlpq4m8of0SVDD87vkOnMJrdMDThLAnmdFZogwsn2IvoBZx3xwOF11mCurdyUiT35g01s4pUWW_UJVg6rmO9ajV/s320/550844_4023499787690_457091989_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely picture</td></tr>
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Fighting back the tears, coz clearly my whole day was now ruined because of my lost balloons - on my own, I then had to chase a rolling black sack full of balloons up the road to try to prevent loosing the remaining few. Hilarious! and so glad no one witnessed it! Do I laugh or do I cry?<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWrp2a6M9nFIRssK1NMaAeGA6o7K-sbnTUpgDcrlh1DjMe7IK-w_RZwvFSVv1kqpgqtn5s9I5S2TPIOneAUHiVMMvXUX7UDxmxM6Ms4qZA6JKPw5d1kBLegQ8BTgRoWeiExTRW9lhyupp/s1600/P6050075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWrp2a6M9nFIRssK1NMaAeGA6o7K-sbnTUpgDcrlh1DjMe7IK-w_RZwvFSVv1kqpgqtn5s9I5S2TPIOneAUHiVMMvXUX7UDxmxM6Ms4qZA6JKPw5d1kBLegQ8BTgRoWeiExTRW9lhyupp/s320/P6050075.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More smiles</td></tr>
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Thank God Derrick arrived early to assist in putting up the flags as Chris had had a last minute calling to the golf club!!!!! say no more !!!!! so I had no 'set-up' assistance.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP22_WyUp54XXWNnvMrX_dY3EwG8sfJfXKvV_NfiJw5w-slx8pIljiUfrF8i4uJMi_D4d7MQ-SHAADo78O971emip4v4rK3uTUwwcMVZ06eXP3qVg_TohL4BPeiFAhVtIoSVh7seBz3q3/s1600/P6050077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP22_WyUp54XXWNnvMrX_dY3EwG8sfJfXKvV_NfiJw5w-slx8pIljiUfrF8i4uJMi_D4d7MQ-SHAADo78O971emip4v4rK3uTUwwcMVZ06eXP3qVg_TohL4BPeiFAhVtIoSVh7seBz3q3/s320/P6050077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And even more, so glad you enjoyed it</td></tr>
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I guess the flags went un-noticed on the day as the wind prevented me from hanging them across the poles that I had bought down, so we had to make do with twisting them round a fence post. They were there honest!<br />
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Special thankyou has to go to all the volunteers that offered their time and valueable experience to making the event run smoothly. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu559G-eD-Cpl9aF1QP_eLavI8e-uTWtm4byIavE5Nuc3JfbKx8zdI015K7BzxF4P-a5FC9QjqOLodve97xIbuJTA-7brKV8ZjZ-zKmWtgr_Xemsa_ELNVmtlmbmOjzrGB8P1JREIceSqI/s1600/P6050081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu559G-eD-Cpl9aF1QP_eLavI8e-uTWtm4byIavE5Nuc3JfbKx8zdI015K7BzxF4P-a5FC9QjqOLodve97xIbuJTA-7brKV8ZjZ-zKmWtgr_Xemsa_ELNVmtlmbmOjzrGB8P1JREIceSqI/s320/P6050081.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, head still there !</td></tr>
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Kayak and boat support from Chalkwell Redcaps Open Water Swimming Club, Blackwater Triathlon Club, SWF Yacht Club, and close friend and past Channel Swimmer 'Water Slave' Karen Eyles, along with husband Roger, provided additional kayak and first aid support.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTSaYmhwYymPFx0rOhcyO1TRbQh8NSSGmnhAYVCk9J9ANCU169oiJMY6WpPzCCVP94Jo7GvtfQliz24uTJcT4zCX_IbCjgiuydrMLxeUBn44vwX4yDUjc1XIxP35UC3NQw35AdJYwWoYA/s1600/282644_10151825961935241_792528168_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTSaYmhwYymPFx0rOhcyO1TRbQh8NSSGmnhAYVCk9J9ANCU169oiJMY6WpPzCCVP94Jo7GvtfQliz24uTJcT4zCX_IbCjgiuydrMLxeUBn44vwX4yDUjc1XIxP35UC3NQw35AdJYwWoYA/s1600/282644_10151825961935241_792528168_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the trouble I went to getting a celebrity, and no-one even <br />
noticed Noel Edmunds swimming</td></tr>
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Volunteers collecting money, selling raffle tickets, checking swimmers in and out of the water, feeding them home made cakes, all gave their time free of charge.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzORjaF0rWIVfhyphenhyphenyIfTjYoYfFJtWBgJUM4rwbBSdxVXqbd_tBugcKTWGIQKcPNmBRIY1XwOtI01AEkG7NycKIWV5xiHRF3X2pgZKzKjWwxf6AVC7b6J57N0CDsrnm1lQZG_DQ-wiRDGBe/s1600/P6050083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzORjaF0rWIVfhyphenhyphenyIfTjYoYfFJtWBgJUM4rwbBSdxVXqbd_tBugcKTWGIQKcPNmBRIY1XwOtI01AEkG7NycKIWV5xiHRF3X2pgZKzKjWwxf6AVC7b6J57N0CDsrnm1lQZG_DQ-wiRDGBe/s320/P6050083.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Must get the crabs off me toes before I come out</td></tr>
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The generosity of all those involved meant that every single penny raised was able to go direct to the charities. So thankyou everyone.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsVcb6a_crMpP9T5u949466MGPOXeYgAEEAqwXpEQk3yQ3cBYexRznWxAVdDAI-Nnp8hvvvTFXWxctcl4SfopRQN0Q6YFYLT48ZCef-lc5A_Q7UENL-RX2jbJeMVIiF6KlYS4hpBss11L/s1600/P6050085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsVcb6a_crMpP9T5u949466MGPOXeYgAEEAqwXpEQk3yQ3cBYexRznWxAVdDAI-Nnp8hvvvTFXWxctcl4SfopRQN0Q6YFYLT48ZCef-lc5A_Q7UENL-RX2jbJeMVIiF6KlYS4hpBss11L/s320/P6050085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A special thank you goes to Lee at The Whalebone Pub who catered superbly with 50 hungry mouths all decending in the pub at the same time for a social.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZp7bOwUR7qFbO1LdZ8t3io3f7cyy6NJeelPR3Dae7zoiZfF_060K-1dauyHe4qfZvA7GB4SKxbAaxFAD3_E0vKJwC6CmTzxHpOvDdLsYeVV3WDtDbHZuzut_eGCQs7kobmXiGX4CSn_G/s1600/P6050082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZp7bOwUR7qFbO1LdZ8t3io3f7cyy6NJeelPR3Dae7zoiZfF_060K-1dauyHe4qfZvA7GB4SKxbAaxFAD3_E0vKJwC6CmTzxHpOvDdLsYeVV3WDtDbHZuzut_eGCQs7kobmXiGX4CSn_G/s320/P6050082.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Lee donated additional money and a fabulous raffle prize of a 'meal for two' at The Scrimshaws restaurant (which I am delighted to say, was won by a Redcap, Julie Dempsey). He fed all the hungry swimmers free of charge.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpvqEL04naj4sP0TdRcxWkf5VoCdGsKmrYYYOteJe6FfU2eQn4iF_MOmmgtbYwIe1oPWS5T8p3H5aYeyjS7Or6HQUavnoeaX_N04EaqPbwaOzQPGG1WHn8oEOPq6LOZqnFRpSzS1ZaFFt/s1600/251976_10151019495458223_1954878457_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpvqEL04naj4sP0TdRcxWkf5VoCdGsKmrYYYOteJe6FfU2eQn4iF_MOmmgtbYwIe1oPWS5T8p3H5aYeyjS7Or6HQUavnoeaX_N04EaqPbwaOzQPGG1WHn8oEOPq6LOZqnFRpSzS1ZaFFt/s320/251976_10151019495458223_1954878457_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all those lovely prizes.</td></tr>
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I am absolutely delighted that all swimmers enjoyed the day and the swim. Without the full support of everyone involved, I could not have done this so a very special personal thankyou from me.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENNvfAHUisPPI4SYCdfQjHjmvGPSQmiqEkcX1sh0EKFNZi-qgVKQbXg82tc62K5fItl4W13-EVBRKkOtps57qM5Lz_ww5mMUGL6qSmD-uz2hqXRSOcItbXhuX1h_BjkVx9mW7IzItOOjd/s1600/P6050095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENNvfAHUisPPI4SYCdfQjHjmvGPSQmiqEkcX1sh0EKFNZi-qgVKQbXg82tc62K5fItl4W13-EVBRKkOtps57qM5Lz_ww5mMUGL6qSmD-uz2hqXRSOcItbXhuX1h_BjkVx9mW7IzItOOjd/s320/P6050095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special thanks to our No. 1 kayaker, Andy.</td></tr>
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I was wondering how to thank Lee for his generosity and Derrick Griffiths came up with the idea of a group of us doing a training swim in the Crouch, you can all pop back to mine afterwards to use the hair-dryer and put your lippy on (men as well if nec.!) and then I could book a table in Scrimshaws restaurant and we could all go for a nice meal. All interested, email me your names and I will organise a nice little dip for us soon.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmulbIN_5kssoTfKZGb3EIWELtrAXIa-iqfWvVO_0gWql7wN_M-nNwNYK1Hb3VnWbtet0mMRvnirxj3lpDw54kPOKZ3nivlNGGu3oocraBnGoHoKNM5n6LlyCe3UgdbiYsOXJ7SaRBgEO/s1600/487020_10151019493213223_620327225_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmulbIN_5kssoTfKZGb3EIWELtrAXIa-iqfWvVO_0gWql7wN_M-nNwNYK1Hb3VnWbtet0mMRvnirxj3lpDw54kPOKZ3nivlNGGu3oocraBnGoHoKNM5n6LlyCe3UgdbiYsOXJ7SaRBgEO/s320/487020_10151019493213223_620327225_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phew, all counted in and out safely.</td></tr>
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And so to the raffle. Only possible because<br />
many people donated prizes. I would suspect<br />
at least another £50 was taken in raffle money.<br />
Thankyou.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqsvL13-cFvSbSaTthGe9Ytpb3cSPnKbyoYQxaXM0x8IYjI9xJGaCUCYioRAKYG_6dIBNXPwCe5DfjLqmspAVjY6pDTNDM_YrrbGX_9Cz8HTOnEg2-qEnm0187BKR3PhjbbjzYTR__LVp/s1600/600375_10151019493993223_646753222_11838216_479831312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqsvL13-cFvSbSaTthGe9Ytpb3cSPnKbyoYQxaXM0x8IYjI9xJGaCUCYioRAKYG_6dIBNXPwCe5DfjLqmspAVjY6pDTNDM_YrrbGX_9Cz8HTOnEg2-qEnm0187BKR3PhjbbjzYTR__LVp/s320/600375_10151019493993223_646753222_11838216_479831312_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Days.</td></tr>
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<strong><em>THE COUNTDOWN TO <u>C.P.C.P.C.P.C</u> IS ON. ONLY 6 WEEKS TO GO !</em></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxunV0zxkwUcd3WjcA9wf4-6j70rAAO94o3cT07ZI3k3hCO-B7PV0fZO9oom8xX_aiEzdJ7v-HC7DYiIGojQDtnwaytPpHcsKpQSHy5jCq1kjUwh1qAeJ3nfEk0H4b5hwdvtGpGrVUXip/s1600/P6050096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxunV0zxkwUcd3WjcA9wf4-6j70rAAO94o3cT07ZI3k3hCO-B7PV0fZO9oom8xX_aiEzdJ7v-HC7DYiIGojQDtnwaytPpHcsKpQSHy5jCq1kjUwh1qAeJ3nfEk0H4b5hwdvtGpGrVUXip/s320/P6050096.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Mrs Tyrant didn't even charge for the cakes or drink - thats a first!</td></tr>
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<img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFjK1k_QOtj9SEJA6LMoFGGFjtCxO1ukHR0rx45NfIajhMzR_AUaRMkA8ELnTeWJlkYUL8mrU8jSeyr8LlmSzycRn3zGM33ktYGnO3bR0oBC3urZzHmbYGMqRahSzGz_wkpfQFicPhfzT/s320/578261_10151685187685283_599462503_n.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 608px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 400px;" width="72" /><br />
<img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgJDtJ289funMPfvneEdpN8dYG3ba1UddD6UZhrx35Y2FnL4_QEXypMPWTNQ-QucVGhEbWHKGnf_Y3ooTFahywitea5aY-DOQuZ2be3ueYsMjyJ9kMdXvZcYO8Nnfkxw8Mnz72uEe0YVg/s320/540032_10151019483163223_1548875432_n.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 543px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1990px;" width="72" />bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-90631955984225985862012-05-16T19:19:00.000+01:002012-05-16T19:39:59.069+01:002012 - A New Challenge - by Lorraine Rate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Following the disappointing cancellation of SKS, not to deter the swimmers from attempting a challenging 6 hour swim this summer, the 6 swimmers have decided on a 'safer' but equally as exhausting challenge of swimming from The Crowstone in Chalkwell to Southend Pier and back again, 3 times over. <br />
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This equates to approximately 15 kilometers and with only one tide to complete the 3 laps, it will be made even more difficult by the fact that they will be swimming against a fast incoming and fast outgoing tide for two of the lengths.<br />
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<li>The first length, as the tide comes in, will be tough but the swimmers will be fresh and strong.</li>
<li>Length two should be relatively quick as the tide will still be incoming as the swimmers return to the Crowstone to complete lap 1.</li>
<li>Lap 2 hopefully should not cause too much of a problem, as long as the weather is kind.</li>
<li>Length 5 will be swum with an out-going tide, so although the swimmers will be extremely tired, provided they are on target, they will have the force of nature on their side.</li>
<li>Length 6 will be THE KILLER. 6 tired, exhausted swimmers will only be able to reach their goal and get back home, by swimming against a strong outgoing tide.</li>
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As soon as we have the exact date that all swimmers are available, I will advertise it. I do hope lots of you will come down to the beach to support the challenge. It would be nice to have some company too. If you want to swim alongside one of the swimmers for a section of the challenge, I am sure they would be grateful for the company.<br />
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The swimmers will need as much support between laps as they can get so any volunteers willing to wade out and pass some jelly-beans, bananas or go-faster drink would be welcomed.<br />
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As the swimmers are doing this challenge to raise money for the RNLI and Essex Search & Rescue, any volunteers willing to walk the beaches with the charity buckets to grab a few donations, would also be gratefully received. Please email Lorraine Rate on <a href="mailto:bettsyhouse@hotmail.com">bettsyhouse@hotmail.com</a> or catch her at one of the Crowstone Crawls if you are able to offer your support on the day.<br />
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Thank you.bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-29650656385245081842012-04-28T11:10:00.000+01:002012-04-28T11:10:04.544+01:00SKS 2012 - Cancelled. By Lorraine Rate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sadly SKS has been postponed for the swimmers 2012 Charity Challenge. Attached is the letter received from The PLA to the swimmers, which after careful consideration by all involved, it was agreed that Olympic year was not the year to attempt this.</div>
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Not to despair, and so as not to let our charities down, all challengers will shortly decide on an alternative so be sure to keep an eye on the blog for the announcement.</div>
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A big thankyou to the huge list of volunteers which were all lined up to support this challenge. Your enthusiasm to help the swimmers to succeed was and will remain, very much appreciated.</div>
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My Queens Jubilee Charity fund raising swim will STILL GO AHEAD, as we will continue to support our charities.</div>
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<br />bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-48690983171092311052012-04-24T19:04:00.000+01:002012-04-24T19:04:09.174+01:002012 PRE - SEASON PARTY - HERE COMES THE SEASON - by Lorraine RateApril 21 2012 saw our AGM and pre-season open water party under way. After the formalities of the AGM, it was time to mingle amongst all the new faces that have signed up for another season of open water swimming and to get to know all the newbies.<br />
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I personally would like to say a huge thankyou for the many raffle tickets and cakes that were purchased on the night, enabling a mahoosive donation to go to the RNLI and Essex Search and Rescue. Total money raised on the night was £337.57.<br />
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This of course, was only possible because of the fabulous prizes that were up for grabs. Gifts donated by Gill and Dawn of Tri'n'Swim well, Havens Hospice, Stubbers and H20 magazine meant that ticket sales soared. Thankyou to everyone else that also kindly donated bottles of plonk, chocolates and bottles of perfume as it is this kind generosity that helps us raise funds for our chosen charities.<br />
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So lets tell you a little about our chosen charities.<br />
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Our first being the RNLI.<br />
Completely non-government funded, the RNLI need £17,000 by August 2012 and £75,000 by the end of 2012 to help with the build of a new boathouse and slipway adjacent to Southend Pier and which will speed up their response time for swimmers in difficulty. So right on our home ground, this charity holds a soft spot in all our hearts.<br />
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Next one up is Essex Search & Rescue.<br />
Another non-government funded charity that relies totally on its donations to ensure that all the volunteers are equipped and trained professionally in the tough job they are frequently faced with. If your child did not return home from school one day, you would want to know that the team out there searching for your loved one is equipped with the best resources for the task ahead. So again, a very worthwhile charity.<br />
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So, a big thank you from me for enabling us to send both some money.<br />
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But, lets not forget what the evening was really about. A chance to meet your fellow Redcaps with their clothes on for a change! My goodness, didn't we look different. Gone were the shivering, blue, goose bumped bodies that we are all used to seeing and hey presto, we don't arf scrub up well dont we?<br />
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Here's Ben, our Club Captain filling everyone in on the challenge that six of our members will be attempting this summer. I hope he sobers up before the day tho. So, over and out for now, and looking forward to the first Crowstone Crawl next Sunday. Bring on the Sunshine. See you all next week.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuL3uU_MbU0UJ_K62VS5rGPkd6RTzA80rqYuFKGGwmSxQ-xMY9ilzZ9OiuIKeUjmw4jhgD9JTD5wI8zKPdmwTvHgKwhBD6D6hOs1lVmNSvfOnQ76hVA2I3VCl-Q7PnrRUieL0JzLdK1f3E/s1600/AGM+2012+Ben+drunk+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuL3uU_MbU0UJ_K62VS5rGPkd6RTzA80rqYuFKGGwmSxQ-xMY9ilzZ9OiuIKeUjmw4jhgD9JTD5wI8zKPdmwTvHgKwhBD6D6hOs1lVmNSvfOnQ76hVA2I3VCl-Q7PnrRUieL0JzLdK1f3E/s320/AGM+2012+Ben+drunk+again.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Left to right, (in the shadows) Helen Wildin, our Social Secretary, Derrick Griffiths, Lorraine Rate, our Ladies Captain, Mike Grout, our challenge T'shirt designer and Ben Jacques, our Club Captain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-1593313690473973262012-04-13T16:46:00.000+01:002012-04-13T16:46:12.304+01:00PLAYING THE WAITING GAMELast week saw the letter of approval finally go off to the PLA for our forthcoming charity challenge. No news yet, but here is a copy of the letter that I am waiting a reply to.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"> <span style="text-align: right;">5 April 2012</span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Mrs L Rate</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">5 Raymonds Close</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">South Woodham Ferrers</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Essex</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">CM3 5NZ.</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">07773 952323</div><div class="MsoNormal">Captain Roy Stanbrook</div><div class="MsoNormal">PLA Harbour Master</div><div class="MsoNormal">Port of London Authority</div><div class="MsoNormal">London River House</div><div class="MsoNormal">Royal Pier Road</div><div class="MsoNormal">Gravesend</div><div class="MsoNormal">Kent</div><div class="MsoNormal">DA12 2BG</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dear Mr Stanbrook</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>SOUTHEND – KENT – SOUTHEND<o:p></o:p></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>CHARITY SWIM CHALLENGE<o:p></o:p></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>PROPOSED DATE – JULY 15 2012<o:p></o:p></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am writing to you on the recommendation of Mr Den Freeman (Southend RNLI) to seek your advice and support with regards to our proposed forthcoming Charity Swim Challenge from Southend-on-Sea, Essex (approximate location 51.5347 N, 0.6938 E) to Allhallows, Kent (approximate location 51.479 N, 0.6437 E) and back again on 15th July 2012, (weather permitting or nearest possible date thereafter). The high tide on the 15th July 2012 is predicted to be at 0935 GMT with a height of 4.8m (at Southend) with a swimmable depth of water available approximately 3 hour before high tide to 3 hours after it. This tide was chosen as it is close to a neap tide therefore with less flow of water compared to a larger tide.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We understand that the PLA did give approval for this challenge in 2003 to Mr Peter Rae, a member of the Essex Yacht club. He was granted permission by Captain Gordon Dickens and had a successful crossing, both ways.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Following on from our 2011 Christmas Charity Challenge, The Echo newspaper spoke to Martin Garside, spokesman from the Port of London Authority, and I quote,<span style="color: #333333;"> said </span><i><span style="color: #333399;">“Clearly, such an activity does raise potential issues, not least because it would involve the need to cross very busy shipping lanes. “As with any such activity, our primary interest is the safety of anyone taking part in an event and the safety of the many other users of the Thames Estuary.” <b>“Given those safety issues, very careful and detailed discussion with the organisers would be needed to work out an appropriate way forward.”</b></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This response was welcomed by us. As the safety of all our swimmers and the other users of the Thames Estuary is our utmost priority, I am hopeful that discussions can be forthcoming. <b>Primarily, I request your formal approval as we will not undertake this challenge without it.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Whilst we already have on hand kayak support, motorised vessels, life jackets, radio control etc. in place, we clearly also need to undertake expert advice on safety requisites. The RNLI have advised we should have one motorised craft per two swimmer ratio in addition to the one on one kayak support.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We fully intend to keep the Southend RNLI, the Southend Foreshore Office and Chalkwell Lifeguards informed at all times with our proposed plans.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The reason for our challenge is to raise money for Southend RNLI to assist in the new boathouse project PF2069. The project is to replace the existing old boathouse and the temporary hovercraft hanger, located on the eastern side of the pier on the seawall, with a new modern facility. The new boathouse will house the D-Class inshore lifeboat, the Search and Rescue Hovercraft and a launching tractor, also giving better facilities for the volunteer crews that give up their time so freely to provide this search and rescue service.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We also have another charity, Essex Search and Rescue whom we aim to also raise a large sum of money as being totally non government funded, rely entirely on donations.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We currently have 14 swimmers who have been training extremely hard throughout the winter for this challenge. From those 14, we intend to choose a maximum of 6 swimmers. Hence our charity title, “6 Swimmers, 6 Hours, only 1 tide”. All our swimmers are experienced open water swimmers and have demonstrated that they are more than capable of swimming the minimum 15km distance required.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the above with you and trust you will get back to me at your earliest convenience.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yours sincerely</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">L Rate</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ladies Captain</div><div class="MsoNormal">Chalkwell Redcaps Open Water Swimming Club</div>bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-44895306414017544472012-03-19T12:26:00.000+00:002012-03-19T12:26:17.012+00:00Whoo Hoo, I'm on Track for Eton - By Helen Wildin<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">W</span>ho would ever have thought of doing a mile in sets of 25m x 64 in under 25s off 40s ? Yup, Mrs Tyrant. I actually enjoyed it and I came in under time for all of them though I was gasping somewhat at the end of each length. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr ‘Splashy’ came in just as I’d finished “You look like you’ve had a hard session” That may be the red knackered looking face then.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I then attempted another speed set the next day. BIG mistake as my times were rubbish. So I had a couple of rest days ready for the big up and down and up and down and up and down at Basildon at 6am for 3 hours. After a 10min delay on my part looking for my goggles and hat ( and at some of the eye candy) off I went. At 7am we were moved to the other pool (honestly does anyone have a brain at that Centre) and I thought I’ve only done 50mins. I had a pit stop at 7.30am when Mrs Tyrant cheerily said ‘oh look half way’. At my next pit stop (timed by waiting for Shaun to lap me twice, thanks Shaun) it was 8.18am…whoohoo and I counted the last 2k until 9am. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I managed 8.25k in 2hr 49min and as the last handful of jelly beans had kicked in, I felt I could have gone on a bit more. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I’m on track for Eton 10k in 3hr 30min. I was also hugely relieved that I didn’t break Mrs Tyrant’s nose (so was she). <em>(Mrs Tyrant typing here - She kicked me in the face, knocked me googles off and I have the black eyes to prove it! - Chris asked me if I had been in a fight - "No darling - just mis-judged overtaking Helen, my fault entirely). </em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also realise<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that constantly pushing myself is counter productive and that I need more time to recover between speed sets and to perhaps look at the core exercise sheet Mrs Tyrant gave us ages ago. Oops!</span>bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-26550043851591681242012-03-04T08:36:00.000+00:002012-03-04T08:36:36.208+00:008.5 Miles - 13.7k - 412 lengths - By Stuart Athol<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAMd3cL8dacxysv1AYHJ94Vxd64cB2Q4Sjmr4Uo7SQpA_A8VP0nVe4cj6DMTOAcR-1dcG3W8fMAIAmPidKo4Nvu9-UtIB82GIp-rJfr36Z3VP0emnsnR5Ee2gqOesl-Lku_GPGfIbMji-/s1600/37842_101079149949416_100001419934880_5451_4142248_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAMd3cL8dacxysv1AYHJ94Vxd64cB2Q4Sjmr4Uo7SQpA_A8VP0nVe4cj6DMTOAcR-1dcG3W8fMAIAmPidKo4Nvu9-UtIB82GIp-rJfr36Z3VP0emnsnR5Ee2gqOesl-Lku_GPGfIbMji-/s320/37842_101079149949416_100001419934880_5451_4142248_n.jpg" width="149" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">8.5 miles or 13.7k or 412 lengths. If you say it quick enough then it does n’t sound too far. However the actual doing it does take its toll. For me the worst period of any long pool swim is on the 2<sup>nd</sup> mile between the 3<sup>rd</sup> and 30<sup>th</sup> lengths of a 33.3m long pool. I could easily quit at any point in between even though I swim a mile each weekday before work.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Nothing to do with strength or technique; it is purely mental and the daunting fact that I’ve still got over 10 times that distance yet to go. When I did 7 mile back in November, for the first time in my life I took a 2.5min drink break after 4 miles even though I did n’t particularly want to. My body thought that it was finished swimming for the day and wanted to get out. This resulted in the last 3 miles being an absolute torture. I learnt from that experience and to do the 8.5 miler I realised that I must still take on fluid and protein (I mean you would n’t go without a drink when lying on the sofa watching TV for 5 hours). So I stopped for a 30 second break at the 3 and 6 mile points to quickly neck down as much 4:1 Carbo/Protein drink as possible. Nothing to eat as I found from my trainee navy diver days that does n’t work for me. I just get tummy cramps and/or throw up which would probably result in me being asked to vacate the pool and not return.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I finished the swim in 5 hours 6 mins. This was 17 mins over what I estimated but when comparing my poolmate pro stats with the 7 miler I was pleased to see that my swim speed and stroke rate were identical which signifies to me a steady speed which I can maintain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Obviously the pool is not the sea but roll on the warmer weather so as to put my poolwork into lake and sea work.</span></div>bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-85417950374460822042012-02-18T17:13:00.002+00:002012-02-18T17:32:51.395+00:00100 x 100's - Ouch, by Lorraine RateTraining is going really well for me at the moment and I felt the urge to attempt H20's 100x100's for the second time. All swimmers training for SKS are really working hard and the commitment is really coming through now. The 100, 100's is session is a killer, as it makes you do the distance with a structure behind it, rather than just swimming along singing and taking in the scenery!<br />
<br />
I break mine up into batches of 1k. The first time I attempted them a month or so back at Garons, Southend, I paused for 30 seconds after each 1k to take on nutrition. I focused on taking enough rest after each 100 too so that my actual time for the 100 was consistent. I am trying not to allow myself to become a progressingly slower plodder. Stay focused, keep looking at the clock, and keep swimming at the same pace. <br />
<br />
However, for me, taking too much rest between each 100 leaves me bored and just wanting to get on with the next one. Although I made the 10k relatively comfortably, I realised that I should be training hard during the 10k in order to get my stamina/endurance levels up.<br />
<br />
So this time, it was intended to do it all at speed. My programme was as follows:-<br />
<br />
10 x 100 off 95<br />
5 x 100 off 90<br />
5 x 100 off 1.40<br />
10 x 100 off 95<br />
5 x 100 off 90<br />
5 x 100 off 1.40<br />
2k done. Take 1 minutes rest for nutrition and repeat the above 5 x.<br />
<br />
For me, going off 90 is a killer as it only ever allows me about 7 secs rest maximum. But, after doing 5 or so, this 7 seconds rest drops to about 2secs rest. This is why I was realistic and only put 5 of them in. Do 5, then go into recovery mode for a while, then back into comfortable mode for a while until those 90's come round again.<br />
<br />
It worked brilliantly until nature called at the 7k point? Damn, I purposly did not drink too much before I left home and also visited the loo before I entered the water, but unfortunately, when you are taking on the fluids during the long swims, the inevitable happens. When you've gotta go, you've gotta go. All was going well till this point, but I stupidly did a quick leap onto the pool side and both calves cramped up in a terrible way. I fell back into the water as I was looking rather ridiculous half in, half out with pain etched on my face. I wasted about 3/4 minutes rolling about in agony then eventually hobbled to the loo. Damn, damn, damn. I knew it was going to be tough getting back on track. <br />
<br />
The next 1k saw me swimming with flat feet, toes pointing to the bottom of the pool trying to send the cramp away, so needless to say, the 90's didn't happen. It was now all down to mind games. Don't let that little man in the back of your head that keeps saying "You've messed up, so go home" get the better of you. I wanted to listen to him, but being a woman - I didnt !!!! I had to settle for 1.40's for the rest of the 10k as not only had I lost my mo-jo, but I had also lost my pace-maker, Mr Ben Jacques - whom I am convinced that without him, I would not even have got to 7k. It's so much easier drafting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu4Rc13RoVjHzWqMwp_ddhQQ_vyd3oxNqmN-SamIfbJ4CzcLuQhDypq0SdWoFbnhtaJPdkvUTnObZW9urWQqDQtjTdXLk2hChW2RiKKNnEqwBjbUhEBE868ZLOEbUwRRNsOOASDZtdr1V/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu4Rc13RoVjHzWqMwp_ddhQQ_vyd3oxNqmN-SamIfbJ4CzcLuQhDypq0SdWoFbnhtaJPdkvUTnObZW9urWQqDQtjTdXLk2hChW2RiKKNnEqwBjbUhEBE868ZLOEbUwRRNsOOASDZtdr1V/s200/IMG_0288.JPG" width="184" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See you in 3 hours time !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ben, also bailed out at 7k due to neck and shoulder problems. It happens. Doesn't matter how focused and determined you are, what happens on the day - happens on the day.<br />
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Overall, my pace was a lot faster than the first time I attempted it and there were factors that prevented me from completing my target schedule. I will attempt it again in a months time.bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-37383076932119130492012-02-18T17:11:00.002+00:002012-02-18T17:33:47.738+00:00My New Best Friend - Mrs Tyrant - By Helen Wildin<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">So here we are in February with 5 months of training to the Big SKS Day but only 3 and a bit months to the Eton 10k. Gulp. When I first started these training programs I thought I would die and was really chuffed when I did a 4.5k “Lorraine killer session” in 2.5 hrs. Little did I know that 2 months later I’d be up to 5.5k and then a 7k and still being pushed and pushed by Mrs Tyrant.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Inspired by a 100 x 100s article in an H2Open Magazine newsletter, a few of us ventured to Garons on January 20 and hurrah we did it !!!! An amazing achievement but I was a bit disappointed with my time as I didn’t really know how to pace it. So Mrs Tyrant, Lorraine has very kindly taken myself and Chatty Jane under her expert wing and drawn up personal training programs specifically to work on speed. It’s been good to see the progress I’m making and being able to tick things off as I go along. I have a much better idea and understanding of training and of the importance of how to pace things. Plus I’ve had a few Fly and 2-beat lessons from the amazing Tri’N’Swim girls. So, in swim talk, I am now up to 17 x 100s at race pace 1.45 off 2.10 plus 3 x 100s with 5s rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Lorraine always makes the sessions interesting and is soothingly encouraging when we are training even though we are forever getting in her way as she laps us for the 100<sup>th</sup> time. However with the latest kick drill I might not be so enthusiastic….. Nah, bring it on and pass me the jelly beans!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">"only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go" by T.S Elliot<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Helen aka ‘Sparkles’</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-82975070070520682982012-02-16T13:33:00.003+00:002012-02-20T22:19:40.764+00:00Why swim in the sea - By Ben Jaques<b id="internal-source-marker_0.569188509369269"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One reason I am doing the Southend to Kent to Southend swim is that I love swimming in the sea. Hopefully the challenge will encourage others to give sea swimming a try, maybe not quite so far but at least get in and have a splash about and take advantage of the great resource that defines Southend’s south and east boundary.</span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.569188509369269"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">People often seem a little wary of sea swimming preferring to restrict themselves to the local pool. There is nothing wrong with pool swimming (I do it most mornings) but if that is the only place you swim you are missing out on some fantastic experiences.</span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.569188509369269"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sea can provide an entire range of different conditions and opportunities. On a calm day it maybe mill pond flat tempting you to float lazily and simply take in the sights, sounds and smells. Another day it may show you its angry side, foaming white water from the crashing waves, great fun to be thrown about by and makes you appreciate its power (you vs the sea - I wonder who will win). And there is everything in between. One thing I particularly enjoy is being in the water whilst it is raining (maybe not hailing as happened one day last summer, that hurt). It feels somewhat illicit, playing in the rain enjoying the pitter patter of the drops on your swim cap and the little splashes on the surface rather than trying to rush through it to find the dry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sea does not have lane ropes so you are free to swim where you feel like going and do as you please (keeping an eye out for other water users naturally). One day you may indulge in that lazy float whilst chatting with friends where as on another have a hard, long swim against the tide with the wave and wind fighting you too challenging yourself to go a little faster/further. The choice is yours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may have noticed that it is currently winter but that does not have to stop you going in the sea. The water will be cold (measured at below 2°C at a recent visit) but that brings its own joy (honest). Plunging yourself in the icy water is immensely invigorating as your body adjusts to cope. You will not be in long and you may never do it again but do give it a try at least once.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.569188509369269"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some people think the sea off of Southend-on-Sea is dirty (north side of the Thames Estuary for those who do not know where Southend is). In the past this would have been true but in recent years the Thames has become far, far cleaner. From what was considered a “dead” river not so long ago, the Thames now supports fish populations that had been missing for over a century and oysters sit on the mud flats (happy to cut the bare feet of the unwary as they walk and play on the mud). And there be seals, but more on them in another post. The water will never be crystal clear as being an estuary there will always be sediment. On a personal level I have never been ill after I have swum in the sea here (and I swim in it a fair amount) which is, sadly, not something I can say about the sea in other parts of the UK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The estuary is tidal (with the water buggering off about every 12 hours leaving the mud flats) which means that there are currents to be aware of. If you swim close to high tide (you can find the tide times on the BBC or in the local paper) the current is not too strong and generally takes you along the shore rather than out to sea. If you stay close to shore although you will quickly be out your depth you will easily be able to get back to shore. Always do swim within your ability.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Give sea swimming a try, you may find you rather enjoy it.</span></span>A Sealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972022593272323056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-7853897261948050302012-01-09T17:12:00.001+00:002012-02-18T17:35:26.965+00:00Good News - Are PLA warming to the idea of our challenge - By Lorraine RateFollowing the success of our Xmas Eve charity dip, the Echo are keen to learn more about The Chalkwell Redcaps Open Water Swimming Club. Today was a huge lift for us as we have met with some opposition from the PLA as regards the safety of our swim. <br />
<br />
We of course, are taking this on board and currently seeking the assistance of local yacht clubs and the RNLI before we attempt further negotions with The PLA.<br />
<br />
However, today, the following article printed in the Echo has come as a huge welcome. As you will see from the PLA spokesman, they do now seem to realise that this team of swimmers are definately going ahead with this and hopefully, will welcome our forthcoming negotions.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/southend/9460778.Safety_fears_could_stop_swim_to_Kent/">Echo article - Safety fears could stop swim to Kent</a>bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-55221813501026392052011-12-24T17:12:00.005+00:002012-02-20T15:30:59.064+00:00Xmas Eve Charity Dip - By Lorraine RateNow why on earth am I doing this? I haven't been able to stop asking myself that question all bloody week. Will I have a heart attack? Maybe. Will it hurt? Probably. Will it really be that cold? YES. So why? Because I stupidly said I would and its for charity, and lots of other people are doing it, and I have nothing better to do on Xmas Eve !!!! Well, apart from finish the shopping, set the table for 14, cook the turkey, cook the gammon, make the desserts. ho ho ho ! <br />
<br />
So here's the deal. Turn up at Southend Beach at 11.00, run up and down the beach in your swim suit (STRICTLY NO WETSUITS ALLOWED), carrying a charity bucket for 15 minutes, then when you've collected a few bob, run in the freezing cold sea, then run back out again. Smile for the camera. Get dressed, and your done. OK, let's do it.<br />
<br />
So first things first. 7.00a.m. the phone rings and its Essex Radio for an interview, asking all the very same questions I've been asking myself all week. But, with one exception. "And, Lorraine, where exactly will you be meeting today, so that we can broad cast it to all our listeners to encourage people to pop along and cheer you on". "Oh, thank you Mr Radio man, we will be meeting at the Arches, just adjacent to the pier". "Well, thank you for your time this morning Lorraine and we wish you good luck". Bye.<br />
<br />
Back to facebook, and 2,000 messages later - Er, Lorraine, we are not meeting at the Arches, adjacent to the Pier !!!!!! Oh dear. Funny thing was tho, that while I was running up and down the beach, some old boy stopped me and actually said "Some daft bird on the radio this morning directed everyone to the pier". No way, I said !!!!! Idiot !!!!! <br />
<br />
Didnt have the heart to tell all my fellow Redcaps that I had also pre-recorded a radio interview with Southend Radio the day before directing them the wrong way too. L.O.L. You gotta laugh!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6qLuKRMirnMgl68vrDCzdkWrHsnXcKkQqOkK7-JAzYNNH9n3k2HWLu8Uj6uhQRvN1gMx7P2Zxa6poQJzIFKwgtjOIwfNws28fEMAw8mb2ir_YHvJmuD7e3LAK_nZiofFv1aQ0oYxM6eM/s1600/Charity+Xmas+Eve+Swim+2011.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6qLuKRMirnMgl68vrDCzdkWrHsnXcKkQqOkK7-JAzYNNH9n3k2HWLu8Uj6uhQRvN1gMx7P2Zxa6poQJzIFKwgtjOIwfNws28fEMAw8mb2ir_YHvJmuD7e3LAK_nZiofFv1aQ0oYxM6eM/s320/Charity+Xmas+Eve+Swim+2011.2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost ready, 10, 9, 8, 7.........</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJvrZHUSu8H5iFxIH2ldyWDpVXeD1o0HLzty1E404Xl-SxO_0D3JU0TUHrogn7TZhsaVQb8Q9KkhsmegrLixYAlQva-Ns-uyzrl6XvzFeGSiq0-D0kEJpZnW5y8aMmyQSJocW1BqEZ_kh/s1600/Charity+Xmas+Eve+Swim+20113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJvrZHUSu8H5iFxIH2ldyWDpVXeD1o0HLzty1E404Xl-SxO_0D3JU0TUHrogn7TZhsaVQb8Q9KkhsmegrLixYAlQva-Ns-uyzrl6XvzFeGSiq0-D0kEJpZnW5y8aMmyQSJocW1BqEZ_kh/s320/Charity+Xmas+Eve+Swim+20113.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final pause for the camera and its almost time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhiFHY6GA1N7dL5GNh0MEudeB5us5o6KLrdYjh_iwzZ9GXtmYOGUFCIv2hrH2kQ9CjfE-moxgshL988TSsEvi6qZCEazAToJ5fJmgLMbTATVmL5p2GYCQPrEBgsg8AAMD0kNN7CVtxRed/s1600/Charity+Xmas+Eve+Swim+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhiFHY6GA1N7dL5GNh0MEudeB5us5o6KLrdYjh_iwzZ9GXtmYOGUFCIv2hrH2kQ9CjfE-moxgshL988TSsEvi6qZCEazAToJ5fJmgLMbTATVmL5p2GYCQPrEBgsg8AAMD0kNN7CVtxRed/s320/Charity+Xmas+Eve+Swim+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done it, and whats more, no heart attack, and Im still breathing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We raised just under £200 for that brief moment of madness and got a full double spread in the Southend Echo.<br />
<div><br />
<a href="http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/southend/9441259.Chalkwell_water_club_takes_its_annual_winter_Thames_dip/">Echo article - Chalkwell water club takes its annual winter Thames dip</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/sY3P-sSinP4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div></div>bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-81632381269866561252011-11-15T12:05:00.001+00:002012-02-20T22:20:04.120+00:00Starting distance pool training or how to count to 5 - By Ben Jaques<b id="internal-source-marker_0.06574460258707404"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is from when I started distance pool training back in November.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Long distance open water swims are easy to do (well getting the distance right is), pick a starting point and measure the required distance and, bang, you've got your end point. Brain only has to remember where to get in and where to get out and can spend the rest of its time wandering off doing its own thing (imagining all the creatures that live in the waters below is a good one to keep your pace up).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But sometimes you cannot get to the sea (or the sea is a little too chilly) for a long swim and you have to make do with a swimming pool.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My local pool isn't kilometres long so the start and end point plan falls down. But I do know how long it is leading me to plan B; take the total swim distance and divide by the length of the pool then swim that many lengths. What could be easier?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A small hurdle is that at my local pool the first hour of the morning swim is in the diving pit (20m) whilst club swimmers are in the main 25m pool. No problem there, 5 x 20 = 100 and 4 x 25 = 100 so all I have to do is count the 100m’s and I will know how far I have gone. Now I know I am not very good at counting whilst swimming so being able to keep track of the number of 100m’s would never work without my helpful little lap counter thing (fits on your finger).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So off I set, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, press, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, press and repeat. All going well until 1, 2, 3, oo this diving pool is quite warm, 2, 3, 4, 5, press, hang on a minute this 100 is supposed to end down the other end, never mind, 5, press, bugger was not meant to press again. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, hooray remembered not to press, 1, pool swimming is OK, your mind can turn off, just enjoying the repetition, erm so what length is this I’ll go with 2 as I seem to be going in that direction and would not want to swim less than I counted. So I continued doing this for the diving pool hour counting what may or may not be the 100m’s I swam.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once in the 25m main pool I adapted my counting a bit, seeing that I cannot count to 5 I had little hope that 4 would prove any easier. So I imagine Digi Duck sitting on the far pool edge, I swim down turn and Digi jumps onto my back. I swim back down to the starting end turn and back up where Digi jump off onto the edge again before I turn and swim the length to complete a 100m. Therefore I only press the lap counter if Digi is not riding on my back. Strangely enough this actually worked and the 25m pool counting was pretty accurate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why is counting so hard?</span></b>A Sealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972022593272323056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-19614151032617483172011-11-04T17:11:00.001+00:002012-02-18T17:37:21.741+00:00Southend Radio LIVE Interview - October 30 - By Lorraine Rate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Well what can I say, The Chalkwell Redcaps first step towards Fame. Hopefully, this is just the start of our mission to spread the word that The Chalkwell Redcaps Open Water Swimming Club are going to try to raise an awful lot of money for The RNLI and Essex Search & Rescue. So in anticipation of loads of dosh flooding in, Ben Jaques and Lorraine Rate, along with 100's of Redcaps (according to Tracy) headed off to the Headquarters of Southend Radio for our first ever live interview.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXEMMijb5KpvpiJEE1lW3yf0gcFWhLP1_TaA8Emn0am0plbrHKuQ4H7ntlHbe9tXx62-TjRFDRo1qkjuXkCi4i9F925Smg1d0QNJj1a2VP8Q6LE1kTTzDQYHVxMsuh2lo7Rz6GtZlut_X/s1600/381906_1889944268287_1831893365_1247635_201662617_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXEMMijb5KpvpiJEE1lW3yf0gcFWhLP1_TaA8Emn0am0plbrHKuQ4H7ntlHbe9tXx62-TjRFDRo1qkjuXkCi4i9F925Smg1d0QNJj1a2VP8Q6LE1kTTzDQYHVxMsuh2lo7Rz6GtZlut_X/s320/381906_1889944268287_1831893365_1247635_201662617_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and myself, prior to going live on air.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I was absolutely petrified. I had been nervous for 3 weeks imagining that a simple question like "Tell us about the challenge Lorraine", would leave me tongue tied! Ben, on the other hand, cool as a cucumber as always (that was only because my brain was too tired from the swim session the day before to know what was going on - Ben).<br />
<br />
The SKS challenge may not be until July 2012, but we want to put the wheels in motion now. It's never too early to start to spread the word. I am really confident that the targets I have set, £5,000 for the RNLI and £3,000 for Essex Search & Rescue will be met. Huge, huge thanks to Michael and Helen Tong for being the first to donate on the websites, albeit the message "You Nutters" probably sums up this challenge rather well. We are looking forward to receiving the donations and watching those figures rise over the coming months. I fully suspect we will all get motivated to raising lots of money in the new year as we are all so busy at the moment preparing for Christmas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCnBfXJYUDmeP-b0kj4YZRQkXwt71wEdL_skWUm2zfBTiVGrqBaIOajLrn0c7N76cd6Ef9JJhM8MDusWogTBjxfLeq1kR72P_RalxvDMVLY6StBx2rtocOsdZPYXZGgVT8xEIEb2lHnzo/s1600/382583_1889944548294_1831893365_1247636_655843962_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCnBfXJYUDmeP-b0kj4YZRQkXwt71wEdL_skWUm2zfBTiVGrqBaIOajLrn0c7N76cd6Ef9JJhM8MDusWogTBjxfLeq1kR72P_RalxvDMVLY6StBx2rtocOsdZPYXZGgVT8xEIEb2lHnzo/s320/382583_1889944548294_1831893365_1247636_655843962_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right from back, Derrick, Derek, Ben, Lorraine, Alex<br />
Wouter, Clare, Jane, Helen and Andy. All either swimmers or kayakers for SKS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So, back to the interview and my nerves! I thought it might be a good idea to email Tracy Jones (our interviewer) beforehand, to give her an idea of what questions to ask and who to direct them at. So for me please Tracy, "Ask me about, how it all began, the training plan and the fundraising". And for Ben please, ask him all the intelligent stuff like Tides, weather forecasts, safety, map plotting and navigation". I had gone over and over it in my mind a hundred times and was convinced I would be kicking Ben under the table after the first question. "Now tell me Lorraine, exactly how did it all begin". Oi, Ben, How did it all begin! "So, now tell me Lorraine about this epic training plan you have put together for the swimmers". Oi, Ben, What training plan"? L.O.L.<br />
<br />
We wanted to have some photography done before hand so we engaged the services of Julie Dempsey, who was recently crowned The Official Redcap Challenge Photographer of the Year. A great crowd of potential SKS swimmers and volunteers turned up to support myself and Ben. We all had a cuppa in Sands Restaurant first where the sponsor forms and other documentation was handed out, including my photo-copy of the 'Core body strength Exercises for Swimmers' regime, which I have to say, was not received as kindly as the tea/coffee for some reason.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaQTdnqNMWSYfqantWY8peuDCGDWzQYSduO2zQTJDbl_21gvsNLSoRpgHrtfAODSIvskEbKamvCYEdFvr9gh2vzO2uFKC3BU4XGNCMjZ3zJSOv95xx5I61qx0W3fGfsv29kzgAtERdV1x/s1600/314578_1889943148259_1831893365_1247634_1995604230_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaQTdnqNMWSYfqantWY8peuDCGDWzQYSduO2zQTJDbl_21gvsNLSoRpgHrtfAODSIvskEbKamvCYEdFvr9gh2vzO2uFKC3BU4XGNCMjZ3zJSOv95xx5I61qx0W3fGfsv29kzgAtERdV1x/s320/314578_1889943148259_1831893365_1247634_1995604230_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back to front sweatshirts - all the rage!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tracy was so friendly, everyone relaxed immediately (apart from me of course). With hands still shaking with nerves, even the portion of fish and chips that were bought in wasn't enough to take my mind off the task ahead).<br />
<br />
So here is the official interview. Well done and huge thanks to Julie for the recording. She's a dab hand at videoing too. No wonder she got that title.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/auyF3HqetdM" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
And part 2....<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/USFUfW72ev8" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
And needless to say, after the interview, I headed straight for the Fish 'n Chips! <br />
<br />
So that's the fun part over. Now back to reality. Immediately after the interview, Wouter and Jane were heading off for yet another SKS Kayak attempt. Last week, you may have read that Andy and Jane made it to the shipping lane, but the winds were blowing and the surf was up, so heading back was the sensible option.<br />
<br />
I want to stress at this pont how much the SKS swimmers are grateful for the support crews time. Over the coming months, the kayakers and support crews will be making many crossings in order that we can learn of all the pitfalls out there. This is when you realise that this challenge is <b><u> definitely NOT about the swimmers</u></b>. It's about <b><u>every single person involved in ensuring that this challenge is a success</u></b>. Whilst the swimmers are putting in the distance in the pool and the gym, the support crews are putting in twice as much work behind the scenes to ensure this challenge is achieved without a hitch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuOvbuGYgVus49i-hI1aWLrx1n_Y1ZHsvvrVqmmt26kSlLPB3gg7MimPmMvW2qhUkXWb5l9upfT1yZlUZ1yBgMJYmkR_ru3NSfpHMYrGNbuNLd4Xk6EJbq9EWwa2aCZd_zPd2Q63ZxG4u/s1600/304134_10150330779546971_710126970_8337183_787618493_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuOvbuGYgVus49i-hI1aWLrx1n_Y1ZHsvvrVqmmt26kSlLPB3gg7MimPmMvW2qhUkXWb5l9upfT1yZlUZ1yBgMJYmkR_ru3NSfpHMYrGNbuNLd4Xk6EJbq9EWwa2aCZd_zPd2Q63ZxG4u/s320/304134_10150330779546971_710126970_8337183_787618493_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGGQzg8pE_cbAxEaLWgqMqfPDSQx-ELxlACSqQJPs-Yxdun4WzV8bJB2J_vQZaDTxYE0s6creYzashpRJVsFjye5IFXb9-VJBwj_ERe7NIIlwhKEiohSYc1IuMpbyaU5ZT07cVSpnYZaf/s1600/384938_10150330779626971_710126970_8337184_1582079203_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGGQzg8pE_cbAxEaLWgqMqfPDSQx-ELxlACSqQJPs-Yxdun4WzV8bJB2J_vQZaDTxYE0s6creYzashpRJVsFjye5IFXb9-VJBwj_ERe7NIIlwhKEiohSYc1IuMpbyaU5ZT07cVSpnYZaf/s320/384938_10150330779626971_710126970_8337184_1582079203_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Next report comes from Wouter. Read all about SKS Kayak mission no. 2 soon.<br />
<br />
Many thanks to Tracy Jones and everybody else at Southend Radio.bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-82814055194619009892011-10-25T08:30:00.000+01:002011-10-25T12:24:31.864+01:00SKS Kayak Reconnaissance 23 October 2011 (by Jane Bell)<span style="font-family: Calibri;">OK guys, here’s a brief run-down of Sunday’s kayak reconnaissance mission:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Andy Lean and I checked in with the Thames Coastguard and struck out seaward from the Crowstone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waters were on the choppy side but we were pleasantly surprised by the 13.5 degree sea temperatures which prevented our hands from freezing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heading directly into the incoming tide it wasn’t too long before we recognised the Ray marker buoys and reminisced on times spent splashing with the seals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyond that familiar playground were the unknown waters behind the sandbank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was pretty ‘samey’ for quite a stretch here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waters over the sandbank are quite shallow so for swimmers there is nothing particularly different from what we are used to further towards the shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There wasn’t too much traffic either, but it was early on a Sunday morning so perhaps the playboys were still in bed….</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOyP61urjOMtsS04NFjlg48wmnuzT2P_Xt1oLPBthjFQnNrGJpOouYpaycGAUZz3odH1QgAIcDZHxfKqt-xPqc8fij8ZwnvwS3sv5W2RfMdXsrrGQ629M2Ow6wZeDDYyaxWU4ATkRrJ2s/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOyP61urjOMtsS04NFjlg48wmnuzT2P_Xt1oLPBthjFQnNrGJpOouYpaycGAUZz3odH1QgAIcDZHxfKqt-xPqc8fij8ZwnvwS3sv5W2RfMdXsrrGQ629M2Ow6wZeDDYyaxWU4ATkRrJ2s/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, bit choppy out there today</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Chalkwell faded into the distance the Allhallows skyline sharpened and Canvey stretched out into the Estuary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our vision became increasingly focused on the buoy at Sea Reach no. 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting in the middle of the shipping channel, this was our mission’s target and would mark our crossing point. All went well until we hit Leigh Middle, deeper waters between the sandbank and shipping channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The winds picked up appreciably here and with them so did the chop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From a swimming perspective this would have been comparable with a bad day at the Crowstone, so loads of experience there folks!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Determined to reach our goal, we paused for a while to acclimatise, and then proceeded onwards to Sea Reach 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Headway did not last long as once again the conditions deteriorated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Coastguard had warned of high winds rising to Force 7 (31-38mph).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of this we were approaching high tide and there was every possibility that things would get rougher as the directions of wind and tide came into conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Approximately 3km out at sea and still a good kilometre from Sea Reach 6 we acknowledged that this was not the day to make our first crossing and, rather reluctantly, made the decision to return to shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbZt7096da9Jr7qLyn7UNH1yIP_yl_63uADXnV3QQqORf67XEQq2pILnZyVAApySztlDDl-bwifBlrntq8wC9v0-7TI2aK8f-mNwU-Vq3bloecGgkKsprzqemCPUhKqHHSQCmQHtWNtgj/s1600/Andy+kayak+reccy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbZt7096da9Jr7qLyn7UNH1yIP_yl_63uADXnV3QQqORf67XEQq2pILnZyVAApySztlDDl-bwifBlrntq8wC9v0-7TI2aK8f-mNwU-Vq3bloecGgkKsprzqemCPUhKqHHSQCmQHtWNtgj/s400/Andy+kayak+reccy+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy Lean - October 23 2011 - test crossing<br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turning around it became clear that we’d made the right call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the waves behind us it was now surfing time!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This game took a bit of getting used to but soon became fun and it wasn’t long before the Crowstone became visible again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking back out to sea it appeared innocent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course there was the feeling that we had turned around prematurely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there was also the possibility that what we could see from land and what it was actually like out at sea were worlds apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little buggers keep showing up !</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So we may not have made it this time, but we have learned some valuable lessons for next year’s swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How the conditions change in deeper water, how the kayaks handle into and against the tide, and most importantly that safety must come first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disappointed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But glad that the ball is rolling and keen to try again when conditions are more favourable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Redcaps challenge is totally do-able and with the correct precautions in place we CAN achieve it safely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just need to practice…..</span>bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-86241519988894037032011-10-18T21:43:00.000+01:002011-10-23T13:50:10.830+01:00Making friends with some marine life that will accompany our challenge - By Lorraine Rate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Last Sunday saw three Redcaps communicating with the marine life that occupies the mouth of the River Thames. They completely ignored Ben, Jane and Paul's impersonation of a dolphin so I do hope they ignore us on the day of our challenge. I was amazed they were so huge. Nice Sealy x.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_2pv6BT2phFczF7BjBEKu3I37pNXKY1vM4EjcsTSv3p3THgUB-B0sOsBfp3ihQu6NL0XpzG3-GiJk0T-h3gbqtYv-zud_N5PM9RqPwEmrvamajuEx8yrejXHARuDlqSHV-tPpjRBpmjw/s1600/IMG_0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_2pv6BT2phFczF7BjBEKu3I37pNXKY1vM4EjcsTSv3p3THgUB-B0sOsBfp3ihQu6NL0XpzG3-GiJk0T-h3gbqtYv-zud_N5PM9RqPwEmrvamajuEx8yrejXHARuDlqSHV-tPpjRBpmjw/s400/IMG_0560.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>We're outnumbered guy's !</u></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-58760629298153087562011-10-12T08:43:00.000+01:002011-10-12T08:51:31.873+01:00I've made a start on my training - By Derrick GriffithsBen and Lorraine demonstrated during "Lorraine's" gentle (2.5 hour) Saturday morning dip that I have some catching up to do, so I sneakily popped to the pool last night to get a head start. Managed a 6.25km swim in 1hour 45mins. Wasn't such a good idea it turns out as I hadn't eaten, so when I got out at nearly 11pm I didn’t feel too great and was a little peckish, spent the next hour eating everything in the house!!bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874084989955205952.post-79201264974984982782011-10-10T20:52:00.000+01:002011-10-23T13:49:28.091+01:00In the beginning..... By Lorraine Rate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJ6feI-ls8iX7nbaaYod-s7LpxlP39OdzwYX-C_dT9P7s0chSUiCfTQkUqoru0dtHEV3Yp4mYGUNph0luhorkmV5p5SRNeIXZU9jbTnaZc8Vsq4fip4cS-Bh87z6wlgL3T4zGmptxSu6-/s1600/45593_10150276202730241_777785240_14495931_4822309_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJ6feI-ls8iX7nbaaYod-s7LpxlP39OdzwYX-C_dT9P7s0chSUiCfTQkUqoru0dtHEV3Yp4mYGUNph0luhorkmV5p5SRNeIXZU9jbTnaZc8Vsq4fip4cS-Bh87z6wlgL3T4zGmptxSu6-/s320/45593_10150276202730241_777785240_14495931_4822309_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Well, I guess this is where it all started. All of us at some point or other have stared out over this stretch of water past the Ray seals towards Kent. The Ray seals gather on a sand bank that is only visible when the tide goes out and what a lovely picture it makes. But way beyond that, is All Hallows in Kent, 7k away. <br />
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"So, who fancies swimming across to the other side and back then?" Whoever was it that first asked that question, I can't remember?<br />
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Simple question, but a difficult challenge. The stretch of water is very tidal, fast flowing in from the North Sea as it enters the Thames Estuary. When the tide is fully out, it's just miles of mud flats that are visible with the odd water pools here and there. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wouter - bang in the middle of the Shipping Lane !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But when it's in, its a different story. A 500 metre wide stretch of water bang in the middle occupies, on a daily basis, a very busy shipping lane.<br />
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The fact that it's very tidal makes the 7k race across to the other side seem almost impossible. A 3 hour maximum window to get there. Easy, you might think. Most of us can cope with 7k in 2 hours! But could you cope with it if it was pushing you towards London. <br />
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Could you cope with it if it was choppy? What about how cold it is? And what about the 500metre sprint you are going to have to do right bang in the middle to escape the shipping traffic? And more importantly, if you do get across in one pace, are you going to have the stamina, strength and ability to get back again before the mud flats re appear?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraImPHMKp1NbCJSVwnoDek-bihG0bd0NdQJuPQ1LQiH0PRU6oyBNYej4ZobOKQRUTktugGFprRqfM7bTAUzP25H2nOPFLfVwKyidQnkSbOg5pbCC_xA_yjXRhXFvrr9ciY5QICpyLAuL1/s1600/hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraImPHMKp1NbCJSVwnoDek-bihG0bd0NdQJuPQ1LQiH0PRU6oyBNYej4ZobOKQRUTktugGFprRqfM7bTAUzP25H2nOPFLfVwKyidQnkSbOg5pbCC_xA_yjXRhXFvrr9ciY5QICpyLAuL1/s200/hat.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So that's it. The Redcap Challenge. We are calling it 'Six Swimmers, Six Hours - Only One Tide'.<br />
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We've just had our first meeting and it was intense. We are all fully aware of the task and dangers we are undertaking. Volunteers are coming forward from all over to assist the thirteen swimmers that have put their name forward for this challenge. Safety is paramount. We need qualified crew for every kayak as it will be a one kayak, one swimmer ratio. <br />
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Health and safety - tidal conditions - radio control - nutrition - the training plan - the best time to go - fundraising - the charities - everything was thrashed around the table for the initial meeting.<br />
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So, it's official. <b>WE ARE GOING TO DO IT</b>. Sometime in July onwards 2012. <br />
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Two charities will benefit from this challenge. The RNLI and Essex Search and Rescue. The donation pages have been set up which can be found at the top right of this blog. And we already have a live interview set for 30 October 2011 with Southend Radio, 105.1, (programme starts at 11.00a.m.), where Ben Jaques and Lorraine Rate will talk about the challenge. The training plan is in place, the volunteers are gathering, the sponsorship ideas are coming forward, and now here is the blog. We hope to make this an epic diary of all the trials, traumas and elations of all those involved in this challenge. <br />
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Over the next year, we will all be posting our stories whether it be on the difficulties of sorting out the navigation of such a challenge or whether it be just simply what suffering the swimmers are encountering during their training.<br />
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But for now, here's a taster of how tidal our waters get in Southend-on-Sea. This is Ben Jaques and Wouter Van Staden conquering an expedition to the Mulberry Harbour which sits about 2k out at sea. Turn your music up and enjoy his never <u>never ending</u> final leg of the Mulberry Harbour swim. Brilliant.<br />
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And just to prove how dedicated we are to our cause, and to ensure we don't let our supporters down, we even train (sort of) in the snow. Again, music up and enjoy.<br />
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Please, if you have read this far and appreciate the difficulty of our forthcoming challenge, post this to your facebook page. Please advertise our fund raising pages as much as possible in order that we can ensure that a very large amount of money is successfully raised for our chosen charities. Thank you.bettsy180258http://www.blogger.com/profile/07195688257491561712noreply@blogger.com0