Big Ricks Swim Team: Big Rick.....WHO ARE YOU.....?

Sunday 10 March 2019

Big Rick.....WHO ARE YOU.....?

Big Rick.!
it would be easy to say Mark Rickhuss was just an amazingly talented swimmer, a superb all round sportsman..and great family man, well yes Mark was that , but so so much more...!! we hope to give you a small insight as to who the man 'Big Rick' was and why his smooth, easy and laid back personality and approach to life, had such impact on so many peoples' lives..without him ever knowing it...!

So...Who is Big Rick...?, Why not play as you read..!!

Mark was an accomplished pool and open water swimmer. In his teens Mark swam for both Darlaston and Walsall Swimming clubs and won many ASA Staffordshire County, West Midland and British National titles in the swimming pool. As much as Mark enjoyed pool racing, his real love was always Open Water swimming.
As soon Mark transferred his efforts to the open water, he had only one thing in mind; swimming The English Channel..!! he won all big BLDSA (The British Long Distance Swimming Association) races whilst training for his Channel attempt in 1999.. Windermere,
Coniston , Torbay , Liverpool ultra and so many more...

Mark completed his English Channel dream in the summer 1999, the conditions on the day were not perfect by any means, but nothing was going to deter Mark from swimming with the constant support and encouragement from his father John (a fine open water swimmer himself) in the support boat. ( Mark`s Channel CSA pilot for the swim was the great Reg Brickell with his boat Viking Princess .)

Mark not only swam the Channel, which is an amazing achievement in itself, but he set a few records for that year. at the time Mark was only the 605th swimmer to ever swim from England to France in the past 100 years, his time of 9 hours 18 minutes resulted in him being the fastest British person to do the swim in 1999. His time, in the roughest of sea conditions on the day, was considered so amazing by the CSA (Channel Swimming Association) that they awarded him the title of 'Best Open Water Swimmer' of 1999. ( Mark always thought that given better conditions on the day a sub 8hrs swim would have been possible , he was in such great condition )

In 2002, when still living and working in Warwick, Mark along with with his dad John and 5 others formed 'Sandwell Long Distance Swimming Club',

Mark Passed away in 2005 . aged just 41.

Big Rick.!

'Big Ricks Open Water Swim Team' was set up in 2008 in memory of Mark.. Over the past 10 years the team have participated in many open water swimming events around the UK to raise much needed funds for The British Heart Foundation & Macmillan Cancer Support & Cancer Research UK . To date team 'Big Rick' have raised over £100,000. We are always motivated by the memory Mark...!!

Just a few team pictures from some of the events Big Ricks have completed over the past 10 years.!

BHF Bournemouth Pier to Pier 2008

BHF Bournemouth Pier to Pier 2009

The British Gas Great North Swim 2009

The British Gas Great East Swim 2010

The British Gas Great London Swim 2010

BHF Bournemouth Pier to Pier 2010

BHF Heart of England Swim 2010

ASA Midlands Open Water Champinships 2010

The British Gas Great Salford Swim 2010
If you wish to support 'Big Ricks' English Channel challenge
in aid of The British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK,
then please log onto our Virgin Money Giving Page;
Big Ricks Channel Swim 2011 Virgin Money Giving