 Welcome from Sunny Salford..!! This week’s Big Ricks channel humming classic , had to come from one of the many top bands that Manchester has produced. we did think of the superb Joy Division or the equally fabulous Smiths....!! but in the end we had to go for the bad boys of Manchester...it had be Oasis and 'Don`t Look Back In Anger......! why not Click to play to listen as you read  |
| Big Ricks Swim Team @ The Great Salford Swim 2011 back row Rob, Jenny, Victoria, Nicky, middle row Paul, keil, Nick, Darran, Richard and at the front Ted. |
The day began at 10.00 with Haile Gebrselassie again winning the Great Manchester Run !!, then During the afternoon it was the Great City Games which took place in the centre of Manchester with the likes of Jessica Ennis, Christine Ohuruogu and American sprinter Tyson Gay all in action. But.....
Big Ricks team had not come all this way to run.!, oh NO, we came to Manchester to be part off The Great Salford Swim . Us along with 2000 other swimmers came to do the unique one-mile open water race in the beautiful Salford Quays , and we couldn`t wait to swim it..
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| Big Ricks Blueseventy Boys..!! |
Well the first 5 of big Ricks team rolled up at very wet Salford Quays at 9.30 ,It was a bit early as our heat wasn't until 2.00 in the afternoon..But we can came down especially early so we could help one of Big Ricks sponsors Blueseventy , I`ll be fair we weren't asked to do a very tough task..but we loved it.....
We were positioned at start of the race, with a rack of spare wetsuits in one hand ( they were for swimmers who had hired the wrong size suit and needed to change it ASAP, many did.!! ) and in the other we had a Very large tube of Anti Chaff Cream.!..why Anti chaff i hear you ask...??, Well the cream really is essential when wearing a wetsuit . without it the suit will rub your neck to pieces as you swim.! which is very painful believe me..!
Well despite the cold and rain for 4 hours we had great time...we really did feel like we were part of the event, best part was we were able to chat to all the swimmers and their families before and after they swam, Many of them were doing an open water swim for the first time. We gave what advice we could to try and calm their nerves ,and off cause gave them good coating of chaff cream and sent them on their way.!,
By 1 the weather had got alot worse but no one was worried about the weather..! by this time all of Ricks team had turned up at the start, we were split over 2 heats 1.20 for the slow coaches ( Nick,Vic, Ted and Keil.!) and the fast heat at 2 with (Nicky,Jenny,Rob,Richard,Darran and Paul ) it was a first time for a few of team at Great Swim event , and god did they look nervous..Vic and Ted and Captain Cash as can see from there pictures..!! and for the others it was there 7th great swim and so it looked like it was just another day at the office, Darran for one ( how cool and calm does super look.!! )
The great news is that all off us swam well but most importantly everyone enjoyed the swim , the weather conditions weren't the best on the day for sure ,and as result made the water very choppy in places and off course lets not forget how cold the water was...14 degrees.!! is chilly for anyone even the channel boys...!, but in spite of this everyone was smiling as we had our pictures taken at the end of the swim..
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| The Anti Chaff boys and girls along David Davis. David was taking part in the elite mens races |
one of the highlights of the day was having Olympic swimming god Ian Thorpe Walk past us as and comment " is this what it has come to lads , standing in the rain and cold in the middle of Manchester putting anti chaff cream on strangers " don`t you just love him.!! also we were lucky to have our picture taken with 2 time British Olympic medallist star David Davis.! he was top man and gave us some great advice how to swim faster later in the day .!
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Victoria smiling through gritted teeth... Hmm..she is wondering has she got time for another wee before the off.!! |
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Now why is Ted smiling so much.??... Hmm..I hope you haven`t done a wee in your suit Mr Edwards.!! |
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Captain Rob looking a bit ugly ,old and worried before the off.!! and Nicky is making a wish she gets passed half way by 15 mintues.. |
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Darran looking like the king of cool as alwasy..all smiles just before the off , 20 or so mintues later he had won the 44-49 age group.! |
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| Big Ricks Men Team @ Salford |
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| All smiles Now its over..!! Roll on the Great London Swim in July |
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| Darran "Super Chest "Dyke Great Salford Mens (44-49) Champion |
The swims of the day must go to Victoria,Rob and Richard for doing there 1st open water swim, then there were great swims by Jenny and Nicky who came 3rd and 4th in the ladies 40-44 age group, and then to Paul who had a great swim to finish 18th overall , but top swim of the day goes to darran for winning the 44-49 age group by minutes...really top swim super..as it was by the other guys as well...Keil,Ted,Nick
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Now we are not sure what Doug is doing here...either he is in pain after 7 laps of swimming and is finding it a touch hard to get out.?? or he is on all fours as usual pleading with Mrs Copeland( Doug,s mature sexy older partner) to let him do the Great Swims at London and Scotland..! sorry Doug you have no chance..! |
Just a short note 2 of the channel guys Doug and Gary sadly could not make salford , but still went to the Swan sunday morning and bashed out 7 laps...as you can see from the picture ..7 laps can be very painfull..top swimming boys
Big Ricks Great Salford Report
As a Bonus if anyone ever wondered what it is like to do a Great Swim Event then have a look at first heat of the day on Sunday...if you have never swam at a great swim or any open water event then trust me you are missing out on a amazing experience ....Try it...you will not be disappointed ;-))
So the Fun swims are over time being and its time to back to Channel training this weekend is our 3 hour test swim and monday brings us the joy of our first Night ( yes Night) training session..!! ...
Its now only 62 days
Please feel free to contact Big Ricks Swim team ..our email is.. bigrickswimteam@gmail.com It would great to hear your thoughts on our channel swim, or perhaps you wish to have a go at open water swimming..i am sure we could help get you started..;-))...
Its now only 62 days
Big Ricks team are swimming the channel in aid of Cancer Research UK and The British Heart Foundation . If you wish to Support us in anyway ,then click this link and Please give what you can. Every penny you give will go to help save Lives..!!
Big Ricks News @ The Swan....wednesday ( 18/511) night at the swan was very sunny and also very cold.!!! its seems the water just doesn`t get any warmer....!!! nice chilly 12 degrees tonight..!
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