Many more people have climbed Everest than have swam the English Channel one way , let alone 2 ways . And although our team will be doing a double crossing as a relay we still must overcome two massive challenges: the English Channel is the world’s most revered sea crossing AND we are a the team of very Old Men!
The swim will take place sometime between July 14th and July 19th 2013 (depending on weather). The team will consist of 6 chubby Men from the west midlands who`s Average age is well over 45 years Young.!!
The swim will begin at around 0.00am. The first swimmer will have to set out in pitch darkness (although we will have a light trained on them from the pilot boat and they will be wearing light sticks). Then after exactly one hour the next swimmer will go in and so on until they arrive in France some 10 hours later , before then attempting to swim back to England in time for a well earn Beer. . As well as darkness we may well have to overcome jelly fish stings, sea sickness ( for some swimming may come as a relief!), salt ingestion, the cold, fatigue, ferries and floating debris of the unsavoury kind. The swim could take anywhere from 20 to 30+ hours depending on the weather, tides and of course the old men,s individual performances.
Fred Mardle will be our pilot for the Crossing , Fred is Thee Man, when it comes to channel Swimming ,( if truth be told he is The Channel Association No1 Pilot God no less...!) , Fred has been a pilot for nearly 40 years and has guided 100,s of solo and relay swims across the Channel. We could not be in better hands .!
we hope you think we are deserving of your support not only in our quest to swim the 60 miles to France and back .!, but more importantly we hope we more deserving of your support in our quest to help Breakthrough Breast Cancer with their amazing work to save lives . http://www.justgiving.com/pipschannelswimteam
(this is Pip,s Channel Justgiving charity page link,either clink or copy and paste to go to our page )
BIG RICK`S SWIM TEAM Presents.... Pip`S Double Channel Team 2013
The Channel Impossible III The Re Match (Nothing Great Is Easy..!) Only 32 days to go....
"Your mission ', should you choose to accept it, is to once again attempt an Epic two way swim of the the English channel, only difference this time please Finish it ...;-)) As usual you will have same team , lead from the back as always by the Special one Captain Cash with your lead man being Basher , followed by Mr Copeland, Supa Daz , The Graying Badger and the Meat ,Now should you or any member of your team feel the need to start panicking again this year , as it gets a bit dark and foggy with 2m waves ,and then starts running up and down the boat shouting this should be stopped , or perhaps you get Sea Sick, or maybe stung by a Jellyfish, or hit by the odd piece of wood or ferry or worse.. Well tough..!!!! you're are so not getting out until your hour slot done and the finally swim is completed...!!! This boat will self-destruct after 24 hours so you had best get a move on do it.!!. Good luck, Boys.(Simply click the arrow on the picture above to listen to a great song as you read, and TURN it up loud..!!)
This looks simple wouldn`t you say...Just jump in at Dover,paddle over to France, make a sand castle have a ice cream maybe on Cap Gris Nez Beach, and then paddle back to Dover for some Fish and Chips and a beer.. EASY...!!!
The Challenge...! The truth is Ricks loved trying to swim the double of the channel in 2012.!! we failed yes, but we really loved the challenge of it , well okay some of us did and some of us were scared to death towards the end ..!! , with that very much still in our minds , when we finally all got back together for a team chat for plans for 2013 we all still very much had what happen that da on our minds.! , we started to talk about what our challenge would be for 2013...? the suggestions were varied and not all swimming ..but after a few hrs chatting and a some arm twisting it became clear what we would be doing this year.., We could not walk away from The Channel once and for all before we had a attempted another at 2-way crossing, just no way, ...So the plans have been put in place to do just that.......
The Dates and Venues.. OKAY...plans are now in Place...We tried to book once more into the famous channel hide out, the place where all channel swimmers who are anyone have stopped before their attempts to conquer the mighty channel...Varne Ridge Holiday Park.! but it was full up..!!! so it looks like the premier inn Dover for us , as Richard likes the all you eat breakfasts..;-))) the Swim itself we start anytime from Sunday night the 14th July to 18th July 2013,. This years Swim we think will Start ( like the last 2 yrs crossing ) from Samphoe Beach (Dover ). It can start at any time, once we get the Green light from our Pilot, (who is again is the Channel God Mr Fred Mardle) i say any time but please Fred let it be a better hour this yr , last time starting at 1.15am was not fun !. Once underway we will stop only once at Cap Gris Nez beach in France, before then returning back to Samphoe beach in Dover .!(it really does sounds simple don`t you think..!!!)
Looking Out across the English Channel from the white cliffs of Dover..!! its only 22 miles to France from here.ONLY..!
The Time and Distance.. Okay..before we carry on , lets make one thing clear to Pips Coach Basher , THIS year we are not getting hooked up on best times..!! SO before you even think it, before you even ask it or say or suggest anything , the answer is NO NO NO !!) our goal, (our only Goal) is to Finish..as every good channel Pilot will tell his or her swimmers this year or any year, every swimmer should Just be happy to finish , because Many Don`t.!!! .. So back to our time and distance for a 2 way swim..., truthfully the answer is we really don`t know.. going on last yrs swim it could be as good as 17 and 18 hours or in a blink of eye or stroke even you are looking at 24 hours + .!, As for the distance , well this again is almost impossible to say, as so many things have an impact on the day as to how far you will swim, so our only guide is what we did on last years crossing, so it could be well over 60 miles + of swimming( tidal assisted ) .!!!, off course its not just the swimming that makes channel relay swims so hard, as we found out last year big time, its being on a small boat , most likely in very choppy water, its most likely going to be colder on the boat than in the water, if that's bad enough you are also trying navigate the busiest shipping lane in the world..Twice.!! Mmm its not sounding so easy now...;-)
Masterpiece.. Pip,s Boat for the 2 way..! as you can see its not the biggest you will ever see.. joking aside...We are sure the hardest part of this Epic challenge won`t be the 4 hrs each we have to swim, but surviving 24+ hrs on tiny boat in rough seas and Cold air Condition's on board after each of us swim .!! but no one ever said channel swimming was easy , so we just have to deal with it..!! plenty of sea sickness tablets for starters..!!
The Charity .. This year there is change , a very important change, We are swimming the 2 way under a new team name " Pip`s Double Channel Swim Team " in memory of Big Ricks Swimmer Richard Brownjohn’s partner the beautiful and charming Phillipa "Pip" Thomas who lost her 2 yr fight with breast cancer just a few months ago, with a change in name comes a change in Charity
We are doing the double for the amazing charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.. Breakthrough Breast Cancer is a pioneering charity dedicated to the prevention, treatment and ultimate eradication of breast cancer. We believe passionately that this disease can be beaten. By fighting on three fronts – research, campaigning and education – we are determined to save and change lives by removing the fear of breast cancer for good if you think after we deserve supporting not only in our quest to swim the 60 miles to France and back .!, but more importantly we hope we more deserving of your support in our dream to help Breakthrough Breast Cancer with their amazing work . http://www.justgiving.com/pipschannelswimteam
(this is Pip,s Channel Justgiving charity page link,either clink or copy and paste to go to our page
Big Ricks Channel team The Don, Basher, The Badger,The Gimp & Captain Chunky Monkey. ( sadly Super Chest was unavailable for the Team Picture )
The Swim Prize. The Prize should we be successful in June is Massive..! Pip,s would join a very exclusive club of just handful of teams that have successfully completed the a double English channel Swim (Since records began 1950 ), only 55 teams from around the world have ever achieved a 2 way crossing ..of which only 14 teams were from the UK...only 14.!!! Successful 2 way channel Men's / Ladies relay swims by year since records were started in 1950..( Relay Records from http://www.channelswimming.net/index.htm )
1990...US National Swim Team USA 14 18(WORLD RECORD)
1990...Bolton Metro U.K 28 39
1991...Howe Bridge (Breast Stroke) U.K 29 15
1992...Canadian Channel Challenge Canada 18 48
1993..RAF U.K 20 51
1993 Wielkopolanka Poland 20 43
1994...Sazanami Japan 24 14
1996...West Aussie Double Crossers Australia 19 26
1996...National Grid Ladies U.K 25 01
1997...Exmouth Swimming & L.S.S. U.K 23 41
1998...Pine Crest Juniors USA/Venezuela 19 25
1998...Pine Crest Seniors USA/Venezuela 16 48
1998 ..Sakura Japan 24 36
1999..Adventure Seeker International 19 25
2001...Team Extreme Australia 20 59
2001...Mexican American Family Mexico/USA 18 48
2003...Force 6 America USA 20 18
2003...Michigan Masochists USA 21 20
2004.. Irish Team C Ireland 27 48
2004....Victoria Police Australia 24 45
2005... Femmes de la Manche International 30 40
2005...Fionn Uisce Ireland 30 23
2005.. Finn McCool Ireland 31 56
2005...Lir Ireland 33 05
2005...First Mexican Relay Mexico 20 14
2005...Eltham Training & SC (1) UK 31 36
2006....Casablanca Mexico Mexico 18 54
2006... ABCDEFGH USA 21 37
2007...New York Harbor Seals USA 21 45
2007...Altamar 66K Mexico 18 59
2007...Warrington Dolphins UK 28 54
2008...Friends All Swimming Together (2) Australia 25 51
2008...Friends All Swimming Together (1) Australia 26 06
2008...Casablanca Mexico Mexico 31 56
2008...Dublin Fire Brigade Ireland 21 12
2012 Warwick School UK 25 37
2012 Channel for ALS ? 18.55
2012 Silver Marlins ? 24.04
2012 Dutch Ladies Holland 18.21 (WR all ladies team)
2012 2 by 3 ? 30.16
2013 Big Ricks & Pip,s Swim Team UK ?????
The Team feels this could be an amazing year i hope once again you will join in with our adventures, some will be painful , some will be messy , but i can promise you it will be fun..!!! Rx
The First..!!! The Man who started it all in on August 24th 1875 Captain Matthew Webb.. (1843-1883) http://www.captainwebb..co.uk
The Words under Captain Webb Statue in Dover UK read.... Nothing Great is Easy......!!!
ONLY 32 DAYS TO GO........
if you think after we deserve supporting not only in our quest to swim the 60 miles to France and back .!, but more importantly we hope we more deserving of your support in our dream to help Breakthrough Breast Cancer with their amazing work . http://www.justgiving.com/pipschannelswimteam
(this is Pip,s Channel Justgiving charity page link,either clink or copy and paste to go to our page)
Win or Lose.. this will be Ricks last go at the English channel..!!! we said that last year as well.....lol
"Pips Double Channel Team 2013.."
Doug,Paul,Richard,Rob,Darran,Gary "Breakthrough Breast Cancer"
The Re-Match is on..! The Challenge A 2 Way Swim Of The English Channel. The Date 14th July to 19th July 2013 The Charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/ We crashed and burned only half a mile from finishing the double in 2012..
The Question is , can we put that right and make it 2013..????... YOU BET WE CAN...................!
THE SHOW MUST GO ON.... (Simple click on the arrow to hear the Queen at their finest and see some of the pictures from last years oh so close attempt ...The Show goes on...!!!!..) we cannot get the video to show on Moblies the is link to see on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsOH4Z5voRM
In 2012 Big Ricks Swim Team got within half a mile of
completing a double swim of the English channel, but due to extreme weather fog,rain,8 ft waves ,force 5 winds, strong sea swells (just a normal day in the channel really) , the swim was eventually stopped , our pilot Mr Freddy Mardle had let us swim on for 4 hrs through the bad weather hoping against hope it would clear enough for us to be able to finish but sadly the weather to get even worse as we approached Dover as darkness fell , so after swimming for more than 22 hours Fred had to stop the swim due to his growing concerns for not only for the safety of the swimmer in Water , but also for the safety of the 9 soles on board the Masterpiece boat , it was the correct decision off course , we loved Fred words after we finally arrived back in folkestone harbour at 2 am some 26 hours after we left.. ..Well Lads you did okay , you almost made it, i know you are down and disappointed now , but Ha that's channel swimming for you...Everyday is different , Everyday brings a new challenge , if it was easy everyone would be doing it..!!, just be glad your safe and well and able to try again.!! .. every channel swimmer knows Captain Webb`s famous remarks about swimming the Channel...."" Nothing Great Is Easy,"" he can say that again..
After a long hard re think and then some arm twisting we decided to come back for one final go at the English channel ( and it will be our last swim )....! Sure we are older ,sure we are even balder and most of us a lot fatter than last year , but we are also wiser ....!!! Hmm well okay maybe only Darran and maybe Gary are wiser but we are Back anyway..! Why....Because The Ricks show Must must go on .!...we cannot stop just because our pride was hurt by not completing last years challenge ..! Sooo A Double English channel re-match has been arranged for July 14th to 19th 2013...We are the same
Team of Fun ugly chubby middle aged men from the west midlands , but this year there is change, an very important change, We are
swimming the 2 way under a new team name " Pip`s Double Channel Swim Team " in memory of Big Ricks Swimmer Richard Brownjohn’s partner the beautiful and charming Phillipa "Pip" Thomas who lost her 2 yr fight with breast cancer just a few months ago ...wish us luck...Ricks & PIps
Richard & Pip. x ..Pips Swim team are now in back in Open Water, training hard to be ready for another double channel crossing in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. This is not Just Pip`s swim team that are doing
things in Philippa`s Memory this year , Around the time of the swim four of Pip’s nieces and
nephews will swim the same distance in swimming pools in Pershore and Sutton
Coldfield. Her sister Deb and brother-in-law Andy are entering the Great
Midlands Fun Run, and on 1 September sister-in-law Julie will be aiming to
complete the Vitruvian Middle Distance / Half Ironman Triathlon at Rutland
Water. This involves a 1.9km open water swim, a hilly 54mile bike ride and a
half marathon. This will be double the race distance she has completed before. also Lisa younger Sister of Pip is walking the Coast to Coast Walk along
Hadrians Wall, along with Steve, Hazel and John - along with our dogs Jake and
Max... everyone is raising money in aid of in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/ and
we are all hoping if we work together, it will to make it a year to remember , a year Pip would have been proud of x
We are doing the double for the amazing charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.. Breakthrough Breast Cancer is a pioneering charity dedicated
to the prevention, treatment and ultimate eradication of breast cancer. We
believe passionately that this disease can be beaten. By fighting on three
fronts – research, campaigning and education – we are determined to save and
change lives by removing the fear of breast cancer for good if you think after we deserve supporting not only in our quest to swim the 60 miles to France and back .!, but more importantly we hope we more deserving of your support in our dream to help Breakthrough Breast Cancer with their amazing work . http://www.justgiving.com/pipschannelswimteam
(this is Pip,s Channel Justgiving charity page link,either clink or copy and paste to go to our page )
Pips Training Starts..!!
1st of May 2013..
Venue Swan Pool..
all smiles for a return to open water after 6 months off.. the smiles did not last long when we were told the water was only 10 degrees at best,..!
good to see everyone is keen to get in..!! see Darran is all smiles , reason being he left his Kit to swim in Liverpool , as you do..!
Quick Team picture before the off, well we had to be fast , as this is the only time we will most likely see Supa Darran before July`s swim.. Pips team( "Supa Redman Dyke","The Special one", "The Meat","Mr Copeland" ,The Graying Badger and "Basher" )
Hmmmm really boys.. what happen to your weight watches diet plan over the winter..!! Doug,Paul & Big Rich
we all love Doug really.. there is nothing better than getting splashed when you are already shivering.
Hmmmm....Basher not looking keen to get in..
Paul shouted i,m sure something is moving in the water..???
..
sh** it touched my leg....that`s it..
""I'm A Pool Swimmer Get ME Outta Here.......!!
The boys slowly making there way into a cold looking Swan Pool. there was no looking about it , it was freezing..!!
The Special one Big Bob Cash all smiles , well we think they are smiles... he is doing his normal 30 minutes of messing around before finally getting some swimming done
Hmmmmm The Edge does not look Happy.. Big Gary looking a little edgy about getting in the 10 degree water.!!! who can blame him.
short Video from the Swan before we got in..!! ( just click the Arrow in the picture above to hear Pip`s report)
if you think after we deserve supporting not only in our quest to swim the 60 miles to France and back .!, but more importantly we hope we more deserving of your support in our dream to help Breakthrough Breast Cancer with their amazing work . http://www.justgiving.com/pipschannelswimteam
(this is Pip,s Channel Justgiving charity page link,either clink or copy and paste to go to our page )
