Ricks Weekend At The Lakes........

Some of Ricks team arrive  nice and early at Windermere
for the British gas Great North Swim Liz,Nicky,Jenny @ Kevin .
( Jenny is already in race mood, closed eyes picturing the race)

After the  hard work and cold of last weeks Dover test swim , It  was great to have a weekend of from Channel training duties and have some fun racing with all others from Ricks Swim Team  for the 1st time since The great Salford Swim last month.

Derwentwater in The Lake District
Venue of The Epic Lake Race

Lake Windermere.
Venue for The Great North Swim

we had a fun weekend planned in the Lake Distict, some of the team were doing the British Gas Great North Swim  at the amazing Lake Windermere and some of the team were 50 miles further afield taking part in The Epic Lakes swim at the equally amazing Derwentwater Lake in Kiswick,

Big Kev on the ferry to the swim tucking into his fave food..
he looks deep in thought...Hmm  i know i can beat Nigel and Nicky.??
but can i maybe beat jenny.?? hmmmm

Miss Alsop...looking nervous..!!
Thinking i can take them all this time..even super

Jenny just playing it cool before the off...But you know she is
thinking..Hmm Kev you have no chance.!!, Can i Maybe beat Darran.?;-))



Super Daz.. thinking..!!!
 just chill man.. you guys worry to much..



All Smiles after the long ferry the journey across the Lake,
now for the long walk to the race start

Big Ricks coach Basher Bates seems to be running late for start
at the Epic Race in Derwentwater... 

So Darran was the first of the gang to swim on Friday afternoon (17/6) at the Great North Swim, Super did the  2 mile race starting at 5pm  ( the man is rock hard )..watch Super Chest in action below...

  look out for Super....he is that good he can gave some of the swimmers a 200m start and still win..( big thanks to Mrs Super for doing the Video )
 

Darran looking just as chilled as he did at the start of the race..
Super had a great race , Won his age group(45-49) in 45.50, but even better daz came in 6th place overall out of the 600 or so who did the 2 mile race..top swimming ..



Big Nigel..was first to swim Saturday morning..good time 29. for the mile.
he was so keen to do well, that he felt the need to have a fake tan session the night before and if that's was not enough to look good, t he then went on to wear Mrs Longstaffs gloves in the race.., Nigel is so posh, he was doing business the minute he finished.!! either that or he was giving his GPS position to Tracey ( Mrs L)  as she has to know where he is every second of everyday ..!!! ;-)) and we thought Doug had it tough with Mrs C..



The Girls ready for the off...Kevin was missing as he had gone of to
shave off all his body hair in the mobile toilets..!! that man will do anything to swim faster.. but did it work.??????

 Yellow wave 3.pm Saturday afternoon at the North swim, the heat before the big Race between Jenny The champion from Salford against her 2 older opponents Nicky and Kevin..!!

The race is over....
but who took home the silverware.???

Sunday was Pauls turn to swim,  he swam at The Epic Lake race at the beautiful Derwentwater near Kiswick..The other channel boys wimped out of coming,Gaz,Rob and Richard did however swim at the very cold Swan Pool , as for the  Doug it was off course Fathers day, so no way he would swim 

short Video of Derwentwater....fabulous place even when its cold and raining..;-))

Basher had good swim at Derwentwater.3.8k race.

Derwentwater was really a lovely race , and we would recommend it to anyone to try..

Okay  Big Ricks Results ....
Great North Swim @ Windermere...
2 Mile  Race 
Daz "Super Chest " Dike .. 
6th overall and 1st in age (45-49) 45.50

1 Mile Race
Jenny ' Silly Bottom' Powell..
123rd overall in the ladies and 9th (40-44) 28.02
Kevin 'The Bolt ' Boulter.
.465th overall , 15th in age (50-42) 28.19
Nigel ' Ive shamed Big Rick by wearing Gloves ' Longstaff.
592th overall and 62nd in age(44-49) 29.11
Nicky 'sloppy' Alsop
194th overall in the ladies, and 16th in age (40-44) 29.31
Liz 'I,m a Virgin to Open Water Swimmer' Parker
2822 overall in the ladies and 429th in age (35-39) 1.06.51

Epic Lake Swim @ Derwentwater Kiswick
3.8k race
Paul 'Basher' Bates ..
3rd overall and 1st in Vets (over 40,s) 52.29

The Mighty Edge chooses his channel classic...
(the Badger might be getting on in years, but he still likes the young tunes.!!)

Yo!..I've had a think about a classic tune for the Blog. and my suggestion brings things right up to date with an anthemic tune from Chris Brown (featuring Benny Benassi )- Beautiful People - ( A tribute to the "beautiful" people out their who have given there support thus far!!!!! )

Regards

Gary 'The Silver Badger' Edge


                      Only 27 days To Go.......

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 just click  link below and Please give what you can. Every penny you give  will go to help save Lives..!! 

                        

                            Big Ricks Channel Fundraiser Page

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..;-))... 

The Bolt
Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo-doo...
I'm singing in the rain...!!

Link to More Pictures from The North Swim
Big Ricks @ The Great North Swim 2011

Swim Sessions This Week..
Friday 24/6/11 David Lloyd pool 25m
25 x 100s of 1.30....chilled swim..
Wednesday 22/6/11 @ Swan Pool
6 laps
Monday 20/6/11 @ Swan Pool
6 laps (2 1/2 miles )
Sunday 19/6/11 @ Derwentwater & Swan Pool
3.8k race ( Paul )
8 Laps ( approx 3 1/2 miles ) Gaz .Rob & Richard
Saturday 18/6/11 @ Lake Windermere
1 mile race ( nigel,jen,kev,nicky liz)
Friday 17/6/11 @ Lake Windermere
2 miles race ( daz )
Thursday 16/6/11 David Lloyd Pool 25m
25 x 100m of 1.35 ( target time 1.20 or better per 100m) 
Wednesday 15/6/11 @ Swan pool
6 laps ( Approx 2 1/2 miles ) stroke work
Monday 13/6/11 @ Swan Pool
6 laps ( approx 2 1/2 miles )
Saturday 11/6/11 @ Swimmers Beach Dover..
2 hour swim ( approx 5 miles )

The  Legend that is Tefal ( Nige`s nickname ) ..
No Way....Nigel is still on the Phone
speak up (he is saying).. i can`t hear you..my next spray tan appointment is when.?.
 We dare not even guess what Big Rick would have said of his best mate swimming in  Gloves..!!