Big Ricks Write up in May issue of The A.S.A Swimming Times
( Simply double click picture to read a little clearer )
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
The time has come for Ricks to pump it.....!!! Time to show the world what months and months of winter training in and out of the Pool looks like..!!..Time to show off the teams big guns (biceps), big chests, and chicken legs ;;-)) from the hours and hours of pushing Tins in the Gym...!!! Hold it..... before we go on...we have to make an apology to any lady readers .. Ladies we have to warn you there is more chance of seeing big bellies and hairy chests than seeing any big guns and Manly Pecs sorry..;-)..!! this weeks blog read long tune is the classic Pump It ..by the Black Eyed Peas..( simply click the arrow on the picture to dance and sing along as you read..) hope you enjoy..Rx
The Bullitt
Marcus "Steve Mcqueen" Alsop.. ` Ha..Steve Mcqueen he wishes..;-) `
It’s been a good week for the team, all six of us have managed to get back into the swing of open water training with little or no trouble at all...which is surprising considering how shocking the weather has been in the UK this past week or so is no mean feat..!! really I should have said all seven of us , as last Sunday Ricks newest member Marcus “Sloppy slops” Alsop made his virgin appearance at the Swan., and as is this norm with Big Ricks swim team ...that any new virgin open water swimming that joins us, must 1st do the walk of courage in front of his team mates into the VERY cold water of The Swan.....!! , what makes it even more special and funny for his team mates, is that , not only is the water even colder than normal for this time of yr, but even better is that Young slops (Marcus) is a none believer... (Or he was) ...he believed Wet suit was best...!..
The Gimp and Big Edge..
Doug and Gary fighting over the who would check today's water temperature .!
and then have the pleasure of telling Young Slops how cold it was..they are mean..;-)
The Gimp won.. Today`s Official water temp was a chilly 9 degree,s and as Doug said that,s just perfect for your first even swim without a suit Sloppy.!! off course he said it with a massive smile on his face..
The Bullitt meets Mr Swan
Marcus gets to meet the King Of the Swan Mr Dan Earthquake..
Dan is explaining the safety rules of the swan to young Slops before his Virgin Dip,
The Guns are Out...!!
Marcus looking just a tiny bit nervous ,
its only cold water ..time to Man Up...
The Birmingham Lifeguards
The Swan Lifeguards have seen it all before..young fast pool swimmers who are Lions in a nice warm swimming pools but become mice when they swim at the Cold Swan..!!
Big Edge is doing his final Check with The Coast Guard, Police, Ambulance , Fire Brigade
Mrs edge to get his breakfast for after and finally he checks with Mrs Alsop....!!
the Swim is On.....
And Finally, after months and months of worry for Marcus , and off course months and months of joking from his team mates of just how bad the first time in cold water really is...the time had come to Push It., 8.45am on a fresh and sunny Sunday morning young Slops entered the water..!! ( simply click on the Arrow on the picture above to see how Marcus got on..!!)
The Bullitt..
a job well done..Marcus did amazing for his first time, and it has to be said
he was maybe the best of anyone on Big Ricks Team in getting in.,as you saw he did not mess around at all ... a couple of swings of the arms and off he went...he last 20 minutes plus and sure he got the swan shakes after ( who doesn`t from their 1st time in any open water let alone 9 degrees) but it was job well done ..Top Effort young man.
Big Ricks Swim Team are again proud to be continuing our support of two amazing charities .. Cancer Research UK and its Fight To Beat Breast Cancer and
The British Heart Foundation in our `Swim For Life` Challenge in 2012.. A Double Crossing Of The English Channel ..if you wish to help us in the Fight to beat Breast Cancer and Heart Disease , then you can by clicking this link below..Thank you..B.R X
Ricks Sessions :The Swan sessions so far have been going great, everyone is almost up to an hour swimming every session (Gary even more ) which is not bad at all after only a few sessions back..The continuing bad weather in the UK at the moment is a slight worry for us with the swim now only being 60 days away, The water temp at the Swan is a lot lower than it normal is for this time of yr, so if its colder here then its a good guess it will be the same for the sea..!! Mmm so much is it worrying us that we are off for 2 days of sea swimming next weekend in Bournemouth( Dorset ) , if anyone is around the Boscombe pier at 9.30am 5th may..youa are welcome to join us..until next time Swim Safe and Have Fun...R xpool sessions:
Walsall Gala Baths 33.3m
(main set is 4400m, total swam 5200)
Erdington Pool 33 yrds
Perry Beeches 25m Pool
Handsworth 25m pool
Perry Beeches 25m
Erdington Pool 33 yards
Big Ricks Pic Of The Week
And Finally Team Picture of Week...
The Captain with his Dad
Mr Cash Snr and Jnr...
(Swan pool Wednesday night 25/4/12 ,Don`t worry about Rob`s face..it always looks like that )
Ricks have been around since the beginning of time.(okay since 2008)
Some say Captain Cash coached Adam and Eve to their 1st 50m Badge.!! sadly they failed, but Rob swears it wasn`t his fault for teaching them his water polo stroke .!!..
From Ricks very early and very slow primitive animal monkey beginnings with Rob" Chunky Monkey " Cash... the team developed and evolved at great speed first with" Basher Bates" , then "The Meat Brownjohn" ,onto "The Gimp Dugmore" and then finally the finishing touches with The Big Edge..so in the end we ending up with the supreme BIg Ricks swimmer....` Darran "Super Camp Chest " Dyke..`..;-)
Big Ricks are back at the Swan
and Open water swimming....!!
This weeks Ricks listen to as you read Blog Tune is the Classic Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve.... Wonder why we choose this tune...?, Well we all love the freedom and joy of returning to Open water...BUT the 1st time back in the cold water after a winter of boiling hot swimming pools is always a Bitter Sweet Symphony for Ricks Boys... ( simply click on the arrow on the picture above to hear the Class Verve Song, its worth checking out ricks blog for this song alone..! ) Rx
Welcome to Swan Pool..!!
Home of The SLCSC (Survivalifeguard Channel Swimming Club)
of Which Big Ricks Swim Team are proud membershttp://www.slcsc.blogspot.co.uk/
"The Meat" Richard checking over the Safety rules and Regulations at the Swan on Sunday Morning.. The safety at Swan Pool is the best we have seen at any open water venue in the UK. all the swimmers who attend open water swimming at the Swan, have to thank The Birmingham Lifeguards Club who look after our Safety at every swim. http://www.BirminghamLifeguards.co.uk
Big Ricks Return to the Swan and Open Water Swimming 2012..
its a cold and windy Monday night in April .!
it feels like we have never been away..;-)
"Big Edge" Not only is Gary , Big Ricks Cold Water King, but it is also the Swan Official Water Temperature Checker.!!..The Edge inherited the prestigious honour from The Birmingham Lifeguards Richard, Gary was given the position only because we are sure Richard temperature gauge is Faulty or he keeps telling Fibs...?? ever week Richard says the water is lovely warm 15 degrees and every week its not.!!! ;-)))
"Super Camp Chest " We are not saying it was cold..!! However Rick `s Swim God Daz "Super Camp Chest " Dyke
Felt the need to have a cup of tea before he went in.!!!
( oh Daz , the team are loving your new Swan prayer carpet tiles )
"Basher" We are not saying it was cold..!!!, but even Paul had use Doug`s Gimp mask and Gloves.!!to brave the 1st dip of the year., what a big wimp Basher... ( and let it be known he wore the socks as well on Sunday.!!)
Okay before we move on with Ricks channel news this week, lets first clear up the reasons why it’s a bitter sweet symphony for Ricks to return to open water,.?..it’s simple really because unless you are like some of Big Ricks Open Water friends Dan Earthquake, Tom Reed , Bryn Dymott and now even Ricks very own Gary who all love to swim in open water all year round, and we do mean all year round and we do mean swimming in skin ( NOT wet suit in sight with these guys ),
Bryn Dymott
A true lover of all year open water swimming......
Bryn is top guy, a friend to Ricks and to many open water swimmers in the UK,
he always gives great support and advice to any who need it, and do ricks ever need it. Bryn is in training for a Channel breaststroke solo in August of this year, and Big Ricks wish him all the best for that for sure..( Bryn is pictured having just done a fast 200m dip in 1.7 degree water...Star.!)
So unless you are like the cold water kings who have managed to overcome the fear and now love cold water swimming in the winter months then you may be in the same boat as the most of Big Ricks team, as in its `Sweet` to be able to return to open water swimming , but `bitter` because as much as we all love the freedom that open water swimming brings compared to the closed conditions of the pool, I mean we yearn for it all winter, cannot wait to get back into it,
"The Gimp"
We are not saying it was cold..!! but when Doug turned up on Monday( 16/4/12) evening wearing his smoking jacket and holding a piece on Shag pile carpet ..!! what next i fear..?? a wet suit...!! are Big Ricks Turning soft.???
Is Big Edge the only true open water swimming in the team.???
However when the time comes in late April to return to your loved open water , that’s when those lovely dreams you've been having over the winter months of swimming in lovely warm sun drenched lakes, turn into nightmares of the fear .!! that fear that comes with dipping your toe back into cold water after months and months of warm swimming pools...that cold shiver that overtakes your body as you slowly enter the very cold water....!!..It does make you bitter or perhaps I should say shiver..!!!!!!!
"The Captain"
we are not saying it was cold , but when Rob finally turned up for his 1st session of the year on Wednesday(18/4/12) evening he was already wearing his swimming cap and goggles and evening coat.!! the man is so classy..;-))
Okay...Let’s not kid ourselves Once the bitter feeling of the cold has gone, the feeling of being back in open water really is Fabulous...this week all the channel team have took the tentative steps back into swan Pool.. and loved it...sure the water temp is still a bit on the low side, and with the British weather being what it is, the is no assurance that it will warm up any time soon,. Just take this week as an example, Sunday was a beautiful sunny morning and the water temp was warm 10 degrees, however Wednesday nights outing at the Swan...took part in a storm..!! And the water had dropped back to 8.5 degrees and god could you feel the difference between the 2 swims...But most of us managed 45 minutes plus on every session, with Gary doing well over the hr on ever occasion....
Ricks Join the Swam Regulars for the 1st Wednesday Nights Training session.
as you can see, it was April Showers and some.!!
We think we are in much better shape than we were for last yrs swim...we have only 68 days till the start of the channel swim. So the next month is going to be very important to our success or failure in June...I hope you will follow what happens...Somehow I feel it might be funny and entertaining and more ... ;-)))
The Return of The Gimp to The SwanThe Gimp..aka."Big Doug" shows his class, Having not been in open water since august 2011. The gimp wastes no time in getting into 9 degree water at the Swan and knocking out a couple of miles swimming...Top Effort Doug (16/4/12) ( simply click on the arrow on the picture to watch the Gimps return )
"The Famous Swan Post Swim Shakes" However...as all open water swimmers will tell you, their is a price to paid for being out of cold water for so long..!! The Shakes...., Doug did amazing to swim for so long 1st time out in 2012 almost an hour swam...but he paid for it after with "The Swan Shakes" only with the help of Kevin, did he finally manage to a well deserved sip of coffee...! ( simply click on the arrow on the picture to watch the Swan Shivers )
Captain "Chunky Monkey " Cash
Sadly Rob was to unable attend both Sunday and Mondays swan sessions,
apparently he was having his annual Tanning , leg and back waxing appointments..however we did not want to leave the captain out of this week`s blog , so we dug up our old Favorite of The Captain`s 1st dip in 2011....we have to say his legs do look tanned and smooth...!!
Big Ricks " Swim For Life "
Big Ricks Swim Team are attempting a 2 -Way swim of the English Channel between the dates of June 25th to 1st July 2012.. We know the thought of swimming 60 miles really is quite Boring to most of you..!!, BUT the thought of are supporting us to help others beat and Breast Cancer and Heart Disease by sponsoring Big Ricks really is exciting and very special .!!! `This swim will be completely meaningless without your amazing generosity , We know times are hard so we really,really thank you from the heart for your support..Ricks x
This Weeks sessions: ( apart from now doing open water training at the swan, we are still doing a couple of pool sessions a week ) Sunday.. Swan Pool 50 minutes (Approx 3k ) Monday Swan Pool 45 Minutes (Approx 2.8) Wednesday Swan Pool 50 Minutes (Approx 3k )
Beeches Pool 25m
Walsall Gala Baths 33.3m
Beeches Pool 25m
Beeches 25m pool
Beeches Pool 25m
As you may know Big Ricks Swim Team are massive supporters of the British Heart Foundation..so if you only take one thing from looking at our blog pages today then please make it this...Click the Video to watch as Vinnie Jones shows how hard and fast Hands -Only CPR to Stayin`Alive by the Bee Gees can help save a life...this is no joke...Vinnie is supporting the BHF in their new ad campaign...Watch...it may help you save a life one day......!! Rx
BIG RICKS SWIM TEAM BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION SPORTS TEAM OF 2011
2012 team Tops..
"Joining the Fight to beat Breast Cancer".
Ricks are Pink and Proud...
Would you fancy getting in the freezing cold sea in Wales ever year in March
just because you were superstitious that if you missed it , you would have a bad year..??
well Big Ricks..Paul does that very thing every year...!!
(we think the clouds look like Face saying he must be Crazy..well he is..!! )
Well Ricks winter pool training is almost over.!! only one more week and then we return to open water., Yippee, but before we do, one of the team has to keep up with his Mad yearly Superstition !! mmm think that maybe clue to Ricks blog Song this week ;-)) This week’s listen as you read along song. is the classic "" Superstition "" by Stevie Wonder.. we dare you not to start dancing to it and as you read this weeks Blog...Hope you enjoy..Rx ( simply click the arrow on the picture for it to play )
One Man and His Dog...!!
Paul and Jasper enter the sea in Barmouth Wales..!
(Jasper didn`t last long....to cold...)
Are you superstitious..?? Or more importantly are Open water swimmers Superstitious..? Do you have crazy superstitions like maybe having a favorite pair of goggles, costume and even a hat to wear when it comes to open water race day..?? .. Maybe you have a superstition that if you still use the same training aids and floats that you did as a youngster in 70`s you can recapture your speed from those glory days.. .!! Well perhaps that bit is more Captain Cash`s dream than superstition..!!! But seriously we are sure all open water swimmers a superstitious bunch...if we find things that work for us, or we do swims that have gone well for us, then we will move hell and high water to make sure we do everything exactly the same time after time for every swim there after...come on OW swimmers you know it’s true....;-)
35 minutes later the swim is cut short , because Basher claims
he was surrounded by Jelly Fish and panicked ..!!
Jelly Fish In Wales..??? what a wimp....
For Big Ricks Paul.....this has been the case since 2008.., this was year The Ricks team was born and formed but it was also the 1st year Paul in late March went to the Town of Barmouth in mid Wales to do his 1st sea swim of the year. And for every year since, on the same beach in the same month Paul will drive the 100 miles from the west midlands to do his 1st sea swim there ...But why does he do it..???
Simple...he`s very superstitious....for reasons only known to Paul...he feels unless he makes the effort to go and do his 1st open water swim of the year in Barmouth’s cold and jelly fish infested seas he will have and the team will have a bad year..!!! To most this most make no sense at all or it will make perfect sense...!! the crazy things we all do that have no logic on how well we perform and swim, have no Logic in whether we fail or not, but unless we do our crazy superstitions our adventures will fail...
Okay.,..you not a wimp Paul..
Barmouth in Wales is a lovely place to swim, however it does have a problem with Jelly Fish around March/ April time every year....!!
Ricks Jelly Advice....Look ...But Never Touch...;-)
I’m sure this a subject needs to be carried on in another blog ...there must be a long list of open water swimmers superstitions...?? Like you cannot change your energy drink you use in the channel , even though you have been told it’s no good. , or you must wear the same hat in ever swim ... or perhaps it has to be the same boat you used, stop in the same hotel, drive the same route down, do the same things over and over again in the morning before every swim....etc..We would love to hear about your superstitions...drop Ricks an Email...at bigrickswimteam@gmail.com ..thank you...now best get on and attend to rest of the team superstitions...now where would we get 20 bacon baps delivered in the middle of the channel....??? Rx
Its Now only 74 days until Big Ricks 2012 Double swim
Big Ricks Swim Team are attempting a 2 -Way swim of the English Channel between the dates of June 25th to 1st July 2012.. We know the thought of swimming 60 miles really is quite Boring to most of you..!!, BUT the thought you are helping people beat and Breast Cancer and Heart Disease by sponsoring Big Ricks really is exciting .!!! `This swim will be completely meaningless without your amazing generosity , We know times are hard so we really,really thank you from the heart for your support..Ricks x
Big Ricks Cold Water King...The Big Edge..
not superstition for Gary..just another hours swim at the beautiful
Carbis Bay in St Ives in Cornwall
This weeks sessions....
At last this week have felt like a real open water swimmers week...with swims in the sea and pool... Paul and Gary did 3 or more sea swims in Wales and Cornwall..and the rest of team continued with pool training...over the coming weeks...we will do more and more open water training with the odd OW race thrown in...
some of this weeks Pool session`s
Walsall Gala Baths 33.3m
if done right...this is a beauty..
Beeches Pool..25m This is a beauty...swim and land session combined...!!
Walsall Gala Pool 33.3m
hard set..!
Wyndley Pool..33.3m
the next few sessions are down to Ricks friend Rob Small..
Wyndley pool 33.3m
a rob,s special with a run thrown in.!
Wyndley Pool..33.3m
this will test you..!!
Paul,s Video from his 1st open water sea swim of 2012...lets hope his superstitions come true and ricks have a great 2012.!
and finally....Paul got dared by his children to a dance for sport relief in the UK...if he put it on Ricks blog for all to see his kids would pledge their months pocket money to our channel swim for Breast Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation,.,.the man has no shame....;-)) take it away Paul....
