Gimme Shelter.....

"THE CAPTAIN "
Please Gimme Shelter.
Big Ricks Captain Rob `Chunky Monkey ` Cash..
At a very wet and cold Swan pool on Sunday Morning (29/4/12) 

This class tune was the perfect choice for this weeks Big Ricks blog read along tune....The weather here in the UK has been shocking for the past week , with Sunday being the absolute worse day you could imagine but Ricks still swam..!! f....so why not sit back and chill as you listen and read, to one of the all time classic songs by The Stones... Gimme Shelter....enjoy Ricks x( simply click on the arrow on the picture above to hear Mick and the boys in all their glory) 

Please Gimme Shelter..!!
Big Ricks Team who braved a typhoon to Train at  Swan Pool on Sunday Morning (29/4/12)
(Richard,Paul,Rob,Doug,Nicky,Gary) 

The Grim View
 that greeted us on arrival at  Swan Pool early Sunday morning
(29/4/12)

I wonder what you were doing last Sunday morning at 8 Am.... Maybe you were sleeping off the previous night excesses of beer or wine! Or maybe you were tucking into a beautiful full English breakfast with a big mug of tea, while browsing the Sunday papers reading who will be the next England manger or most likely reading yet another story about Lada Gaga or Rihanna.!!. Well I guess whatever it was, I’m pretty much sure it did not involve venturing outside for an even second. , why do you ask....?? BECAUSE it was blowing a typhoon across the most of the UK on Sunday. And we think it was centred directly over Swan pool in Birmingham..!! So what mad, crazy people would even dream let alone think about going open water swimming at The Swan on a day like this..??, Mm I think  You`ve guessed it...Big Ricks Channel Team would...  

Basher ,
Paul was not looking is normal happy and positive self when he arrived,
 just wait until he hears what the water temp is
then he really will be unhappy..;-))

The Meat Boys and The Gimp.
Whats are the guys thinking..? i could tell what they were saying but none of it is printable
on a Swimmers Blog..;-))
Richard,Rob and Doug surveying the scene..!!
(we are still not sure why Richard brought his Deck Chair..but we will find out and let you know) 

Big Edge and The Gimp
the only team member laughing was Ricks cold water King Gary..
he could not stop laughing at all his moaning team mates...
saying its  was to cold to swim , to windy,and to wet..!! and the best line..
We Are To Old For This Sh*T..!!

                                                                           Part 1

                                                                            Part 2 Ricks Video Report prior to the swim...its not a nice morning, sure the water temp is only 8.5 degrees, sure the air temp is only 3 degrees, sure its blowing a typhoon and raining heavy, sure its to choppy and to dangerous for the Birmingham lifeguard to let us do laps , but we have to get in..its only 54 days until we start the channel swim its self , and we can not afford to miss any training sessions not matter how bad the weather might be. If you ever wondered how much effort,hard work and dedication goes into a double channel swim well today shows just what needed  if you are to have any chance of being successful with a double channel swim...( simply click the arrow on the picture above to hear Bashers swan reports ) 

The Gimp
As always Doug was the 1st in...had enough of waiting around,
if we are getting in lets just get in...The Man is Hard Core..
Doug was quickly followed by the rest of the team..i won`t say it was the most enjoyable open water swim we have ever had, but swim we did...45 minutes to hour was done by everyone.The only down side was after, it was almost impossible to get changed..as we were so cold, some the guys just gave up, and put the Robbie robes on ran to the car and went home still in their trunks..welcome to real joys of open water swimming ;-)

Watch as Doug starts his swim Sunday...and ask would you do this..????, Doug is doing this not just for the fun of it , but because he thinks like the rest of BIg Ricks Team...if by doing crazy things like swimming in a cold pool in April when everyone  thinks your crazy can help others improve their quality of life,  well getting very cold, shivering for hours and hours is a price we are all willing pay ..Ricks x  

The great Dougie Dugmore
Big Ricks Swim Team are attempting a Swim For Life in June of 2012
we are doing a 2 way swim of the English Channel in aid 
of  
The British Heart Foundation 
and
Cancer Research UK
The Fight To Beat Breast Cancer

if you wish to help and support  with our

"" Swim For Life ""
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/bigricks

( to donate simply click the link above ) 

Thank you..Big Ricks x

This Weeks Session.. Most of our Training work now is spent at Swan Pool..all the team are now managing up to hour in 9 degree water, which is fantastic ...we think the channel come June will be around 12/13 degrees with the odd spot maybe being under 10...so the work we are doing now in such cold water should be invaluable come the time of the swim .. we added our pool sessions this week..

Perry Beeches Pool 25m

Walsall Gala Baths 33.3m Pool

Perry Beeches Pool 25m

Handsworth Pool 25m

                                                         Big Ricks Picture Of The Week  

The Edge and His Box...(he loves his Box)
Garys keeps it  a closely guarded at all times, Guess its a bit like a ladies hand bag , you would never ask a lady what she keeps in her bag. The team dare not ask Gary what he keep hidden under his B&Q rubber door mat....?

Have  a great bank holiday weekend everyone in the UK..and please
spare a thought for Big Ricks as you tuck into your big Sunday dinners won`t you
as we are away sea training all weekend...;-)

                          Ricks Next Blog......Two Tribes..!!!                   Big Ricks Swim Team Vs The Seabrook Seals .                  Its one not to be missed..it could get messy.....???