Ricks @ Cliff Lakes

Welcome to Cliff Lakes Open Water Swimming
(Ricks we have moved open water venue

from  swan pool to the new  cliff lakes in Tamworth )

more details http://www.clifflakes.org/ 

Its been a busy few weeks for the Ricks channel team, with the return to open water swimming , the lake temperatures are still a little all over the place ranging from 9 degrees on the 30th April to last nights swim (16th May) where the water was a roasting 17 degrees. The sea temperatures are still thankfully low . the reading in Dover on Monday was is still a chilly 10.6 degrees ..;-) yum 

...whilst the lake temperatures were under 16 degrees  , all the team took the chance to do their English Channel  tests swims , which means a two hour swim none stop in water under 16 degrees .. glad to say all the team passed the test with little issues, It won`t be the last 2 hrs swims we do ,plan do few more in the sea in the coming weeks as we know the channel temperatures even in late July will range from 12 to 16 degrees ( maybe even lower  in pockets of water mid channel ) so we have to be prepared to swim in those temps should they occur on the day of the swim July 26th .!!! no that long to wait now.... 

anyway we had best get on ...below are just some pictures and videos from the past few of swims in the lake ..Ricks ..our back ground tune to listen to as you flick through the pictures is lovely song by Lukas Graham . 7 Years (just click the arrow in the picture to listen as you view )

Ricks Report .

short Video from Saturday morning swim @ the cliff 

07/05/16

Ricks Report .

short Video from Monday Evenings swim @ the cliff 

09/05/16

Ricks Report .

short Video from Thursday Evenings swim @ the cliff 

12/05/16

Ricks Report .

short Video from Monday Evenings swim @ the cliff 

16/05/16

Saturday Facts N figures
21/5/16

 Big Stu Please with his 5k swim &
his new monster Dryrobe...

 We should have been at Durley today...
but due to shocking weather forecast for Bournemouth
decided to go in few weeks time instead  

hear Ricks Report 
on Saturdays Swim

Simon , saying i,m just having a rest ..
i,ve done 2000m already ..yeah Yeah 

Video showing Simon still has the skills alright 
 if just no as fast as he used to be in the 80`s 

Big Ricks  Rob..
2nd in the 5k  Island to Island  
Port Dickson event
 Kuala Lumpur  14/5/16

just a few off our official NOWCA swim details..

all swims done in Skin ( No Rubber in sight )

(  not sure how accurate  the distances are, but the temps and times done are pretty close to right )

We are 6 swimming friends taking on the ultimate swimming challenge - 

a 2-way Channel relay swim in July 2016, 

raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

https://www.justgiving.com/teams/bigricks

As of today 18th  May
69 days to go
www.ricks-channel-countdown.co.uk

See you soon 

Open Water Return For Ricks..

 great effort this morning by everyone 

not the best conditions for an open water swim..
but swimming as the snow fell made it a touch more fun wouldn't
you say
a lovely 45 minute dip, in skin ...2.8k ish ...

water Temp 10 , air temp 1

16/4/16

the Boys are starting to feel the effects of the cold water
shivers are starting to appear 

The boys have well and truly got the 

shakes and shivers  

click arrow in picture to see..;-)))

2 of the channel team had braved the open water the week early...

as you can see the water was a lot colder that we had expected..

we loved loved Caroline`s open water  tip...

"The Hardest Part Is to Get Your Nuts In " 

say no more...

to watch our painful entry click arrow in the picture 

Big Ricks are Swimming the English Channel
to France and back.!
in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
if you wish to help and support the Ricks team and Macmillan
please click the link below..thank you https://www.justgiving.com/teams/bigricks    

Tom Gregory -The youngest person ever to swim the English Channel

At the age of 11, Tom Gregory became the youngest person ever to swim the English Channel, driven on by an extraordinary coach. It's a little-heralded feat of endurance that won't be bettered.

when you have a spare 15 minutes, get a coffee and have a listen to this ..

Thomas Gregory was on BBC Radio 4`s Saturday Live . 

telling his story for the 1st time about how he and his inspirational coach John Bullet conquered the English channel in 1988 .. ..its a really great listen, Tom comes across a such a lovely man. 28 yrs on its still such an amazing achievement

(to hear Tom simple click the arrow in the picture above )

On The 6th of September 1988 , Thomas Gregory aged just 11yrs 11 months became the youngest person to ever swim the English channel

 ( a record that will never be beat )

Hot Tomato Soup 

for Tom 

Tom getting encouragement from
the inspirational   John Bullet  

( Tom is talking to Aasmah Mir and the Rev. 

Richard Coles on BBC Radio 4s Saturday Live 16/4/16 )

for more info about Tom`s swim check out this link
from the BBC about this amazing achievement
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35341642