Big Ricks Swim Team

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Mission Impossible III

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 )

1971...United Nations International 24HRS 07Mins

1973... Eastern Marathon S.Assoc. USA 29 46

1974...Hetzel's Texas Volunteers USA 17 50.

1974...Eastern Marathon SC USA 31 26

1977...Egyptian Relay Egypt 17 34

1977...Saudi Arabian Relay Saudi Arabia 16 05

1980...7th Regiment RHA U.K 19 40

1981...7th Reg. Royal Horse Artillery U.K 24 09

1981...Belgian Channel (Breaststroke) Belgium 24 01

1982...Br. Cross Channel (Disabled) U.K 24 14

1985...West 1 International U.K 15 36

1986...Egyptian Sports Fed(Disabled) Egypt 25 11

1987...Scarborough Castle LDSC U.K 26 43

1988...Eltham Training & S.C. U.K 30 06

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

Friday, 14 June 2013

'The Show Must Go On'

Introducing

"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

Macmillan Cancer Support
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx

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

(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)

(this is Pip,s Channel Justgiving charity page link,either clink or copy and paste to go to our page )

Saturday, 25 May 2013

Here Comes The Sun.................

anyone fancy a dip!!Sea time if fast approaching for Pip,s channel team....
the picture is from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer

As you know, every Ricks blog comes with a tune!! well this one is the most charming and feel good songs ever..!! Here comes the sun by the Beatles..why did with choose it..well the sun came out at the beginning of May... but went away...here,s hoping it returns for the beginning of June and stays for the whole summer..Pleaseeeee..
(simply click on the arrow on the picture above to hear George and the boys at their absolute best)

The Meat
Richard enjoying the best day of May..water was a lovely 16 degrees .!!
and it was only the 6th of May!!

It’s really has been a strange month, we could not wait to return to open water on the 1^st of May, our 1^st few swims at swan pool were great, you could not believe our relief when we heard the water temperature for our 1^st few swims was over 12 degrees and it got even higher, reaching 16 on bank holiday Monday, yippee we thought this year is going to warm one for change..Not more swan shakes, not more dropping coffee all over the place as we cannot hold our cup for shaking, not more speaking in some unknown foreign language that is only recognized by other cold open water swimmers...however it was not to last..Well this is England after all

the Special One
Rob, having a coffee before he got in.
its not so warm today..!!

Wednesday night at swan...look inviting ??
water temp was only 14.and dropping!!!!

Yes you guessed it......the highlight of the month was the 16 degree on the 6^th May..!!! Hmmm I feel like crying as I write this...those warm days seem so long ago...lol after the 6^th the weather started to return to the chilly weather of December ...rain , windy . day after day...only 2 days after the 16 degrees it had drop to 13...by the Sunday it was 11..and within a week it was 10....so instead of getting well passed the hour in swimming terms in the lake it was getting shorter and shorter..

The King!!
King of the swan , Mr Dan Earthquake
snr lifeguard and channel solo swimmer 2013

the edge.
Gary makes his return to open water!!

The Edge
but not before his now famous 20 minutes swan stand off .
do i get in , or do i go home...

The Supa is Back and its only May.
its no secret that Darran Redman Dyke is the superstar of the team..!
he`s like a formula one racing as Richard always says..
as in super fast , finally tuned..but at any minute it can break down
and like all formula one machines it doesn`t like cold water !
top effort Supa for getting in so early this year

The Brat Boys chasing the Channel swimmers on a Monday evening..!!
as always channel won...lol

The iron men and ladies of the great Brat triathlon club.
on Monday evening we have the pleasure of swimming along the BRAT tri club .
we always have a bit of friendly banter about skin Vs Wetsuit!! but it a real honour to swim them.the best Triathlon club in the UK, even if they are a bunch of wimps when it comes to cold water..!!!!

the boys are back!!!
our friends are back for another seasons at the swan

However...there is really is something great about being able to swim and adapt to cold water..., and even though for us warm pool loving swimmers 10 degrees feels so incredibly cold that our fingers and toes will break off at any second after 10 minutes of swimming to other swimmers at the swan it feels lovely and warm..So seeing the winter crew from swan pool stay in for an hour with ease at 10 degrees gave us encouragement after a little teasing from Dan,Jim ,Anji Chloe that with a bit of guts , with a little less crying, whining and picture taking, and a bit more doing you could do it...

the meat dives in at last!!
Richard makes his 1st big splash of the year at the Swan, watched very carefully
by swim legend the lovely Karen Thorsby

Swan Legends
the charming Paul and Jim
stars both.
( Jim..mop why??? lol )

Mr Williams
Ricks Pool training buddy from Walsall SC makes his 1st appearance at the swan..
Dave pictured trying to get into his new super suit !! after 30 minutes he finally got
squeezed into it and 50 minutes swimming top effort

the swan temp checker is Back...
Big Gaz doing the the business..
great ...its 11 degrees

Rob & Gary..
welcome to the changing rooms at the swan.!! the guys all smiles ..
over the hour has been done with not to much problem..!!..
really the smiles are about a conversation about frozen bananas !!;-))

Mr Cash...
Rob 1st hour+ swim over.cold but happy
22nd May...

monday night at the swan..
water was still getting colder session after session
after starting the month of at 16 , 3 weeks later the water was closer to 10 degrees.!!
don`t we all just love the weather in England.
we hear snow is forecast in some parts of the country this weekend 26th may!!

Mr Copeland.!!
Doug showing what he thinks of the hearing reason why Richard has not come again..!!

So here we are on the 25^th may...back to swimming to 3 miles + in 11/12 degree water , and you know what we are enjoying it....ish.no we truly are lol , the next step or should be say stroke is to return to sea and some swimming there , because as good as training in the lake is, there is no substitute for swimming in the sea especially if you want to swim the channel...so over the next week most the team are away all over the UK and Europe who plans and hopes to do some sea swimming well that’s the plan!!!..Happy swimming everyone...ricks

the lovely and charming Mr & Mrs Cash..
who always come down the swan to support the guys and
cheer on their boy. Mr Cash Jnr.

the swan pool lap or loop..
however it does change from week either as the sail club changes it,
or Rob swims into the buoys and drags them all over the place before he notices ;-)

Swan Pool..
looking peaceful as we leave on a Wednesday night around 8.30
after a very chilly swim that night 10 degrees

we hope you think we are deserving of 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 )

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Big Ricks @ The BBC...

Ricks at the Beeb..!!
the Ricks boys are pictured here with
The BBC,s Radio WM presenter.
the charming Dr Carl Chinn
Gary,Carl,Richard and Rob

Big Ricks Swim Team were very kindly asked on to the BBC`S Dr Carl Chinn Radio WM show last Sunday (19/5/13) to talk about the why BIG Ricks Was started ,also about its charity work with BHF and CRUK and now Breakthrough Breast Cancer , and also about our the channel swims .!, including this year’s 2 way channel re match swim in memory of Pip Thomas ...( so to listen to Ricks Gary,Bob and Richard talking to Carl simple click in the arrow in the the picture above .. so get yourself a coffee or glass of Red and you enjoy our story....so far...Ricks

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