Big Ricks Swim Team

Tuesday, 12 July 2011

The Heart Of England..

The British Heart Foundation .Heart Of England Swim.. 2011
at Blithfield Reservoir ,Staffordshire

Another weekend, must mean more races for Big ricks.!! , This weekends fun started at the beautiful Blithfeild Reservoir in Staffordshire , which is home to the BHF Heart of England 1 mile swim....

Blithfield Reservoir ,Staffordshire

Click video to see what conditions were like pre-race

We had some great news to start the morning ,as Ricks welcomed 2 new swimmers to the team..Both were taking part in open water event for the 1st time , Martin who we have known for 30 yrs, decided to take up challenge of after a 20yr break and the there was Tim....Tim was at school with Mark ( Big Rick) . he read about big ricks team attempts to raise money for the BHF and for Mark, and wanted to join in and and help raise funds in memory of his great friend..

Martin warming up....!!!
http://www.justgiving.com/Martin-White4

Tim all smiles before his first taste of open water racing
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=TimWarner&faId=117941&isTeam=false

Both Martin and Tim are swimming to raise funds for the BHF , so far between them they have raised over £ 480.0 for the Heart Foundation...which is just an amazing effort guys...

Nick and Rob..chilling before the start..
does the Chunky ever stop eating..??

Nigel..
Hmmm.. we are loving the Jesus sandals Nige

We Had Great support at the swim..
it was lovely to see Marks old mate Ash, along with his
beautiful daughter Fran and his ever young mom Marg

Big Ricks Team shortly before the off

click on the Video to hear a short race report.

Well sadly for some the event was cut a little short, as BHF organizes felt the water was a bit rough for some of the weaker swimmer to manage the mile course so, it was changed to about a 1000m, which is the always the correct the decision if there any doubt., After all the BHF swims are take part events, and NOT races..which some of the Triathlon swimmers who turned up clearly forgot as they were moaning after..

Nigel and Martin after the swim..!!
Hmmm..ill say no more..

Big Ricks Tim , along side Brother Paul , and his children
and their mom Mary..Tim does amazing work for the BHF..
he has raised well over 2 thousands pounds in the last few years
in memory of his dad,, the Great John Sanger..

Its all over for another year..

That was Big Rick at the BHF Heart of England Swim 2011.
Check out the BHF Events page for more Great swims ,
i`m sure you will see us there..
www.bhf.org.uk/events/swims

Okay....well that's the fun over....The channel swim is now only 7 days away....its time to focus and get ready.....this weeks swims are just chilled ones..3 or 4 laps at time...all the hard work has been done...and now its all about getting ourselves ready to drive down to Dover next Monday (18/7/11) to hopefully be swimming at 4.30 on Tuesday morning...we hope..!!!

Mondays(11/7/11) channel training report from the Swan

Only 7 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

Ricks Channel Swimmers were very busy this weekend, The BHF Heart of England Swim wasn`t` the only swim the team members attend....in fact in all 5 events were swam over 3 days...!! Great effort everyone.. A bonus we had great results in all of them

The Badger
ON Friday, Gary took part in the Jones Lang LaSalle Property Triathlon at Dorney Lake Windsor. Gaz was in Rider Levett Bucknal team who finished 2nd in the Event.
http://www.jones-lang-lasalle-property-triathlon-2011-relay-results

The Don
On Saturday Richard took part in The Big Cotwold 1m Swim
at Waterland Outdoor Centre,, Shorncote, Rich did a great swim coming 10th overall (3rd in the over 40,s) in great time of 23.40
http://www.triferris.com/results/BigSwim

Sloppy
On Sunday Nicky took part in The XTERRA EPIC Lakes Swim Series at Ullswater in The Lake District . Nick had a great swim in the 3.8k race coming 21st overall in the ladies race (7th lady in age group)
http://www.epicevents.org/Ullswater-results

Basher..
On Sunday Paul took part in 2011 ASA Midland Open Water Championships
at BOSWORTH WATER in LEICESTERSHIRE.
Paul Did the 3k race..and came home in 3rd Place..http://www.swimming.org/2011-midland-open-water-championships

Friday, 8 July 2011

Ricks @ The Great London Swim...

Big Ricks Swim Team @ The Great London Swim 2011
Victoria,Nick,Keil , Gary, Rebecca and Darran

Big Ricks Swim Team take to water with the other swimmers
in the 12.30 Red wave at the Great London Swim

Some of Big Ricks Swim Team this week had the pleasure, of missing channel training and instead were taking part along with 5000 others swimmers in the British Gas Great London ,( 2/7/11), The swim was being held in the beautiful surrounding of the Royal Victoria and Albert Dock in the heart of the capital.

The Millennium Dome was an amazing back drop to the swim

The London course is simple and fast course..its 800m to the 1st turn, 200m sprint , then turn and 600m to the finish..sounds simple , but when your swimming with 300 others in the heat, well anything can happen..

6 of Ricks Team traveled to London Darran , Keil ,Gary , Nick, Victoria and our old swimming friend and newest ricks member Rebecca.

the swimmers take to the 16 degree water for a warm up before their 12.30 start

Watch a Clip of the start of the 12.30 red heat, look out for ricks team...Darran and Gary are one the 1st swimmers into the water..

22 mintues later Darran was the 1st swimmer to finish..
Top Swimming super..

Daz takes a rest and removes his timing chip..
a job well done ...now for a beer...!!

Darran was of the team to finish..., in 22,20...which resulted in him coming 3rd in the 44-49 age group, next was Gary in 24,50 .( 17th in 40-44 age), then came new comer to open water Rebecca in 24.59 ( 3rd in the lades 40-44), the came keil ( 30.01) nick in (33.20 and finally a great swim by Victoria in 37.14..great swimming by all the team....

Darran and Rebecca.
3rd in their respective age groups

Nick giving the Thumbs Up..to another Victory over his wife Victoria..!!

Kiel looking just a bit Red after he finished..!!

Victoria has just discovered Nick has beaten her for the 2nd great swim in a row.!

Nick and Gary showing of their manly bodies after the race..

Moving on to the channel news, the rest of the channel team continued with their training at swan pool,..with it only being 12 days till we swim , training is now all about maintaining our fitness levels ..trying not doing anything to mad, just 6 and 7 laps of swan pool is enough 3 times ..(that takes around 1 hour 15 minutes...) to keep us fit and sharp for the 19th July..!! ..But We have had one or two tiny problem this week....

Swan Foot
These are Big Ricks Captain Rob "chunky monkey" Cash`s dainty size 6 1/2 pins..!! ( yes baby feet) this is what happens when your feet have to carry 17 stone of meat around year after year and its also from a tiny tiny winy winy nat bite at Swan Pool..!!we did suggest he should chop them of as it would most likely make him swim faster..!! well he couldn `t be any slower..said young Doug..;-)

Wednesday nights report from Swan Pool (6/6/11)
Joking aside , but Rob and Nicky have been side lined from swimming because of insects bites that have turned poisonous ,all the team dozens of bites every time we swim, but not much we can do about it really apart from scratch and bear it..

This weeks humming channel classic is just a top top song..it was chosen by ricks swim teams ladies champion J.P...Jenny Powell....its the Queens true Classic song Don`t Stop Me Now...

Only 12 days To Go.......

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..;-))...

Mr @ Mrs Platt..
all smiles after the race...

Mr & Mrs Super..
just chilling as normal..

Mr @ Mrs Edge..
looking cool as always

Saturday, 2 July 2011

Journal...' Ricks Story '

Mark Rickhuss
( Big Rick )

Amy Walters from The Journal , Central Independent News & Media took time to meet Big Ricks Team and tell our story....!!

"" Many Swimmers Take On The Channel for Personal Achievement..!!

but for one particular team ( Big Ricks) have an altogether more pressing reason for attempting the swim........""

(To Read the pages of the story more clearly, just click on the picture and zoom in)

In just 3 years what Big Ricks Swim Team has achieved is an amazing tribute to their Friend , The Team are well on there way to raising over £25,000 pounds for local charities ..

Big Ricks Channel Team

Ricks are a long way from finishing their sporting challenges be it on Land or Water

said Paul ... I am sure we haven`t heard the last of good things from Big Ricks Team...

Only 20 days To Go.......

Big Ricks Channel Fundraiser Page

Saturday, 25 June 2011

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 Channel Fundraiser Page

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..!!

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