Sorry..it had to be done.. its Christmas .!!! and this has to be one of the best loved Crimbo songs ever..!!! the classic Fairytale of New York..( plus was there ever a better line in a song than " you scumbag ,you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot,) why not play as read..!!
Channel Success..
July 20th 2011
It’s certainly been a fairy tale 2011 for everyone involved in Big Ricks Swim Team, and we do mean for everyone, because Ricks are a Team in every sense of the word. , it’s not just all about the swimmers, it’s about our families, our friends old and new , and I could go on...the help ,support and encouragement this year has just been overwhelming....
Ricks swimmers proud to be Supporting
the BHF and CRUK
We are Proud to finally announce that Big Ricks Swim Team along with many people’s help and support have raised over £18,000(Inc Gift Aid) for The British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK in 2011...in fact it’s well over £20,000 if you take into account the amazing support AF Blakemore & Sons gave us by agreeing to cover all costs of our Channel Crossing in July..
It’s such amazing amount of money, we can not believe people`s generosity in such tough times here in the UK...we will never be able to thank you all enough...the Money when its finally been cleared and the gift aid collected will be split 50/50 between both charities.
Big Ricks Team along side other supporters of CRUK
at Birmingham university CRUK research Facilities
We know Cancer Research UK will use the money you donated to continuing their ongoing research into hopefully one day soon to find a cure for Cancer.!!..Ricks have seen at 1st Hand what amazing work CRUK do when the team were very kindly invited to tour the CRUK research facilities at Birmingham University in August
The other 50 percent of the money donated will go The British Heart Foundation Walsall Appeal. We are not sure at the moment be we are hopeful , that thanks again to everyone’s amazing generosity we have helped The British Heart Foundation purchase 9 life saving portable Defibrillators. They are to be placed in GP surgeries and medical centres in partnership with NHS Walsall in 2012...We know without question a Defibrillators is a piece of live saving equipment , it helps restore the hearts normal rhythm following a cardiac arrest...
So that 2011 done... we have managed to do all the things Big Ricks hopes to stand for... they are To Have Fun.. To Stay Fit and To Help Others...! and we also never forget we do all this in the memory of our dear friend Mark Rickhuss..x All that’s left to say is massive Thank You to everyone , and hopefully you will join up with us all again, as we plan do it all again to 2012.....!!! Big Ricks Swim Team x
And Finally
Big Ricks would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year..!!!!
Ricks Blog Tune this week seems to be very apt for the start of December and the fact with have got step it up and start training 100%...its the classic tune by the Stereo MC`S......" Step It Up." Listen as you read..dare you not to dance...;-)) Its Time for Ricks to stop partying , time to move on from this years swim ,Its time to get training , time to focus on next yrs 2 way channel relay swim...its planned for late June 2012..It seems a long way off.. but not really...we only have 4 months of hard pool and land training to do before we head back into open water in March..!! so its time to step up...!! ( hope these training plans might help other swimmers, we look at other blogs for sure for ideas..as we all know how hard and boring pool training can be for all of us.!!) happy training .Ricks
This Weeks Sessions ( Land Work is also being done twice a week..concentrating in Back, Shoulders,Core,Chest and Triceps don`t go mad, your not trying to be the next Arnie.!!!)
11/12/11 @ Perry Beeches (25m),
10 minutes stretching...IMPORTANT..!!!
Concentrate on good form on all strokes ALWAYS.!!
Warm Up
800..( 200 swim kick pull swim ) choice stokes BUT no F/C on this set. Main Se t 3 X 1200 F/C 70% effort
1200 ( 3 x 400 of 6 minutes) 1200 (6 x 200 of 3 minutes) 1200(12 x 100 of 1min 30 ) try and make all the sets comfortable, want it done an even pace Warm Down..
6x2 ..breathing every 5..long stroke..counting strokes again 400m easy swim down
5 minutes stretching
10/12/11 @ Walsall Gala (33m pool)
10 minutes stretching
Warm up.
200( 3 x 2`s F/c to Back) 15r
200 (3 x 2,s F/c to Breast) 15r
200 ( 3 x 2`s Back to Breast ) 15r
Main Set..75% effort ( aim to hit 5.45 or better per 400m) 15r
2 x 400`s F/C Full
2 x 400`s Pull Buoy
2 x 400,s Paddle & Pull Buoy
2 x 400,s Full & Snorkel
2 x 400`s Paddles, Pull Buoy & Snorkel
Kick & Full Set ( fins , but NO Board)
200 (3 X 2`S up u/w Fly Kick back Full Fly ) 20r
200 (3 x 2`s up back kick, back full stroke) 20r
200 (3 x 2`s up f/c kick back full f/c use snorkel) 20r
400m easy swim down
5 minute stretch down.
Total.5600m.
8/12/11 Village leisure club (25m)
10 minute Stretching.
400m( 2x200`s choice stroke drills not F/C ) easy,nice and relaxed.
Main set...75% Effort (Aim to Hit 2.45 per 200) R15
10 x 200`s
2 x 200`s paddles
2 x 200`s Pull Buoy
2 x 200`s Pull Buoy and Paddles
2x 200`s Full with Snorkel
2 x 200,s Pull Buoy ,paddles and Snorkel
Kick Set 80% EFFORT 20R
4 X 100`S f/c going off 2.00 minutes
400 easy swim done
5 minute stretch.
Total 3200m
6/12/11 Village leisure club (25m)
10 minute Stretching.
400m( 4x100 each stroke drills) easy,nice and relaxed.
Main set... (Aim to Hit 1.20 per 100) R15
21 x 100`s ( use Paddles and Snorkels for this set)
Kick Set...Fins, NO board
8 x 25`s U/W Fly Kick R20
Kick and Full set..(with fins) 20R
4 x 50`s (25 fly U/W,25 fly full stroke)
4 x 50`s ( 25 Back kick,25 back full)
4 X 50`s (25 kick f/c,25 f/c full..try snorkel on this set)
400 easy swim done
5 minute stretch.
Total 3700m
4/12/11 @ Perry Beeches (25m),
10 minutes stretching...IMPORTANT..!!!
Concentrate on good form on all strokes in this warm up
400m easy choice Full (at least 3 different strokes)
400m easy choice Kick (at least 3 different strokes)
300m reverse IM Full...(3 lengths on each stroke)
300m reverse IM Kick...(3 lengths on each stroke)
200m Full (25.f/c, 25 No 1 form)
200m Kick (25.f/c, 25 No 1 form)........(1800m)
Main Set...90% effort...F/C
3 x 100,s f/c (aim 1.10 or better) 30r after each 100
1 minute rest
3 x 200,s f/c (aim 2.20 or better) 30r after each 200.
100 easy swim down....(1000m)
Starts, Turns and Finishes set...important..!! (500m)
F/C drills...600m various...
200m easy swim down
5 minutes stretching
3/12/11 @ Walsall Gala (33m)
10 minutes stretching
200m full every 3rd length back
200m full every 3rd length breast
200 Kick (2 f/c 2 back 2 breast)
3 x 2,s F/c full 1st length head up 2nd length head up sculling (try and get chest high in the water with head up...work those legs)
3 x 2s F/c Pull 1st length head up 2nd length head up sculling (try and get chest high in the water with head up...work those arms...NO KICK)
Main Set 10 x 300`s F/C 70% effort.. 20r or of 4.45...
2 x 300`s Full
2 x 300,s Pull buoy
2 x 300 Paddles Full
2 x 300,s Paddles and Pull Buoy
2 x 300,s Snorkel Full
Think about stroke for the whole set..!! Tempo, catch. Bi breathing, kicking from the thigh not the knees, hip movement through the pull
Kick...8 x 100 (set done twice) with Fins No Board
100... (1ST L F/C, 2NDL Under water, 3RD L F/C)
100 ( F/C , U/W,Back)
100 (f/C .U/W, Choice)
400m Swim down Choice
5 minutes stretch
Total 5200m
1/12/11 Village leisure club (25m)
10 minute Stretching.
400m easy F/C...nice and relaxed.
Main set...1 hour timed and distance recorded swim.
It’s never fun but its great gauge of improved fitness through the winter...should be done at least once a month...learn your pacing...a good swim 4000m in the hour
400 easy swim done
5 minute stretch.
Total 4800m
Before we sign off , the Team would like to send a special get well message to Big ricks swimmer Nick “Mr Average “Platt...Who as you can see from the picture has had somewhat of a miss hap with his tiny feet ...! But Not to worry it’s not as bad as it looks, Nick is that competitive and driven, after many yrs off be always coming last in Rick's swims ( we keep telling him it’s not a race.!!) he finally decided enough was enough ..so he took the strange decision to have some plastic surgery done on his dainty size 5 feet in an effort to 1st beat the elusive 30 minutes barrier at one the Great Swims one mile races, but even more important he also hope the results of increasing the length of his Big Toe, he will at last be able to beat fellow Ricks swimmers Mrs Platt and Keil “Chewy” Morris .!!! Seriously we all wish him a speedy recovery.
Big Ricks At Walsall`s Civic Awards Held at Walsall Football Ground (25/11/11)
Nick,Kiel ,Paul and Gary
How Posh..!! ICE..
The Awards are affectionately known as "Dora`s" after Sister Dora,
one of the Borough`s best known historical figures
Ricks were short listed for...
And the Winner is.....
Big Ricks with the amazing young swimmer Tully Kearney...
Tully was awarded The Outstanding Sporting Achievement Of 2011.Ricks were very proud to have been nominated by Paul`s daughter Lauren, and to be placed runners up to Tully was massive bonus for the team.. ... you had best watch out for Tully at the paralympics 2012 ...she is going to be a star
Big Ricks Basher Receiving Ricks Runners up award from our Host for the evening BBC`s Bob Brolly and Walsall,s Mayor Gary Perry
Basher`s proud to accept the award on Ricks behalf
Ricks Dora..!!!
Big Ricks were so proud to be a small part of the Mayor`s Civic awards., Walsall as town always seems to get bad press locally, yes things are tough for the people of Walsall ,and yes maybe some of things that are reported are dissevered we don`t know, But going from what we witness on Friday night the town has some amazing people in it, doing some incredible things , for their local community . Achievements that never get reported.!!, Achievements that would go unnoticed and unrewarded if it was not for The Mayors Civic Awards.. Well all we can say is that Big Ricks are Proud to be part of The Town of Walsall, and we are Proud to represent Walsall when ever we swim around the UK...;-)
Click Video to see Ricks report on a fabulous night at the Walsall Mayors Civic Awards 2011
Easy choice for Blog Tune this week..." What have you done today make yourself Proud"
Big Ricks Cold Water King...The Badger..!!
Gary is the undisputed King of cold water..the Edge has risen in only a month from being the 2nd biggest girl guide after Darran for his disliking of cold to the cold water King.....sure he takes his time to get in, sure he wears a David Beckham tight fighting revealing top to keep warm and show off his manly figure to ladies (and gents..) before getting in , but get in his does..46 degrees was the temp on Sunday..and he did a mile and half swim..top marks young man, you put the rest of the team to shame.
Its Forever Summer for Big Ricks , still Training @ The Swan.(20-11-11)
(but only Just.!!!) Basher wishing everyone would just go away so he could get out..
Finally after 15 minutes of messing about Paul dives in..
it was the fastest lap in Swan history....!!
As time draws to a close on the Swan for a few months, all our efforts have to return to the pool, like it our not we have 2 way channel swim to get ready for...which means a lot of swimming over the next 4 months is needed..as we are sure all of us will have to do at least 4 hours each if we are to be successful and join a very small list of teams who have completed a 2 way English Channel Swim..
Perry Beeches Pool,Bham some of Ricks Team train here 3 times a week with Perry Beeches SC. if you want more details http://www.perrybeechesswimming.co.uk
As many Training Sessions as we can fit in will put up later in the week...
we hope they might be of some use ( good or bad.!!) for those who are planning channel swims in 2012, we now have 12 months experience under our belt of what it takes to go from pool swimmers to open water, we have made mistakes along the way, hopefully we have learned from that and can improve in 2012..well that's the plan..!! good luck to everyone 2012....Ricks
The White Board used in the Channel Crossing says it All..
The Super Chest..
(a must to be Played as you read)
Big Rick Super Star ..Darran "Super Chest" Dyke
Flying on his way to gold at the ASA Midlands Championships in April
The Future Mr and Mrs Super
Ricks Star...Darran aka "Super Chest" has had amazing 2011 in and out of water.., Daz, started of the year off in fine style by asking the beautiful Karen would she fancy being his wife Maybe..!! to which she said Yes..;-)) all the team wish them all the best for wedding in 2012 x
Super look cool and unshaven at The Great Salford Swim
in May.. he went on to win the 44-49 age .!!
Super looking even more chilled out than normal at the Great North Swim
he won the 2 mile 44-49 age and 3rd overall
Daz forever smiling after another successful swim..
this time at the Great London Swim in July
The Super powering along in the English Channel in July..
Darren helped Ricks team to be the fastest CSA Men`s relay of 2011
The Super is The British 100m Champion 2011 won at British Masters Champs held in Sheffield in October
Super is the most laid back and chilled person you will ever meet, he is nearly always the butt off the jokes in the team but does he care...? Never .!! why.. because he`s just to cool..!
The Man is a star....!!
Supers list of Swimming achievements in 2011
The British Gas ASA British Master Championships in Sheffield Gold in the Mens 44-49 100m Freestyle ..
Big Ricks Swim Team English Channel Swim July 2011 The Channel Swimming Association Fastest Men`s Relay of 2011
The British Gas ASA Midlands Age Group & Masters Championships Golds in the Mens 44-49 age. 400m, 100m and 50m Freestyle and was part of 2 winning relay teams
The British Gas Great Salford Swim @ Salford Quays 1st Place in the 1 mile 44-49 age group ( 19th over all )
The British Gas Great North Swim in Lake Windermere 1st Place in the 2 mile 44-49 age group ( 3rd overall )
Member of The British Heart Foundation Team of 2011
The British Gas Great London Swim in the Albert Dock 3rd Place in 1 mile 44-49 age group..
Super`s 1st Dip in the swan
Super at the Great North Swim 2011 Super in the Channel
Mmmm Super...Thinking....!!
if you think 2011 was good just wait till you see what happens 2012..
The Super Chest II ....at a blog near you in 2012.....
Big Ricks Paul collected the award on behalf of everyone in Big Ricks Swim Team..
Paul is pictured here along side The British Heart Foundation Chief Executive
Mr Peter Hollins (5/11/11)
Big Ricks 1st ever Team Swim At The BHF Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim 2008
Ricks Channel Team Part of Big Ricks swim Team in 2011
Ricks Swimmers,Friends and Family @ The BHF Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim 2011
Big Ricks Swimmers at The BHF Heart of England Swim 2011
Long May The Light Shines Bright On Big Ricks Swim Team..
Full story to follow....
We all miss Mark everyday...
everything we do as Big Rick,s Team is dedicated to his Memory
Big Ricks Proud to be Part of the Kellogg`s ASA
Swimtastic Awards At Sheffield,s Ponds Forge Int Sports Center (5/11/11)
(Gary,Keil and Paul)
Swim With Stars . (Award Finalists along side Great Britain Aquatic Squad having a spot of fun before the dinner latter in the day..everyone had a great time )
Swim Done. now time for the Kellogg`s ASA Swimtastic Awards 2011
Our Host for the Evening was former Olympic Bronze Medalist Swimmer Steve Parry...this video is Steve,s opening address (watch very Funny) before the dinner and then awards. Steve did an amazing Job..!
We enjoyed a beautiful dinner with some great company on our table.
Kellogg’s ASA Swimtastic Awards are a national honour set up to reward outstanding non-elite achievements and unsung swimming stars across the country, and for the first time this year they were held Ponds Forge in Sheffield, one of the best aquatics venues in the UK.
Big Ricks were at the swimtastic,s to support Ricks very own Basher ( Paul) who had was nominated for the Fundraiser of the Year award , by fellow ricks swimmer Nick platt ...did he win......?? watch and see
Paul along side Olympic Swimmer Cassie Patten
with the award for Fund Raiser for 2011 ..
The of Fundraising Award was presented to Paul Bates, who has raised over £18,000 for Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation as part of Big Ricks Channel Swim team in 2011 . Paul set up the swim team in 2008 in memory of his friend, Mark Rickhuss, who sadly suffered a heart attack whilst helping his friend to complete a channel swim in 2005. Paul, along with his friends have raised over well over £30,000 for the British Heart Foundation by completing open water swimming events all over the UK and they recently swam the channel in honour of Mark.
Ricks 3 celebrate a win not just for Paul but for everyone in Big Ricks Team
Ricks 3 with the Beautiful and charming Cassie Patten
there was only one song of the night, big ricks danced along with all the other amazing people from the world of swimming...it was an amazing night , Big Ricks were so proud to part of it...the song is Big Gary`s Favorites Reach for the Stars ..By SClub 7.....take in away gaz........
Gary and Keil showing there moves along others guests from our table Liz and Alison, and others winners at the swimtastic,s
Not to be out done by Gary & Kel, Paul decided to grace the dance floor to show off his classy moves and Michael Buble singing voice..!!! Mmmmm never seen a dance clear so quickly .. we all decided Paul might be great sportsman..but his dancing and singing skills suck..!!! sorry basher, the team think you should stick to swimming and leave the team dancing to Big Edge....
