Plans are taking shape

I suspect it's going to be a challenging season in the water, as per the side bar the scheduled events are all pretty much pencilled it. Having already committed to 2S4L which is as brutal as it gets. Today I entered another gruelling swim. The BLDSA Champion of Champions, here's some details

The Event
The senior Champion of Champions events will consist of three swims - over 10 laps, 6 laps and 2 laps of a designated course in Dover Harbour. Each lap will be 1/2 mile - the course being set using GPS.

To complete the full Champion of Champions event, competitors must complete all three swims and the Championship will be decided on the basis of the lowest aggregate times

Outside the Champion of Champions event, swimmers will be able to enter one or two races separately but such events will not be eligible for the full Champion of Champions competition. Entry to only 2 races will be the 3 mile and 1 mile events and entry into only 1 race will be the 1 mile event.

In order for competitors to complete the full Champion of Champions event, they must complete each individual event before the designated time for the start of the next element.

Start times 
5 mile swim - 9:15am
3 mile swim - 1:30pm
1 mile swim - 4:30pm 

So, similar to the 24 hour 24 mile swim, the quicker you are, the more rest you have. I will be lucky to have defrosted by the time I have to restart ! 

The last time I attended this event (as a swimmer not spectator) was entertaining to say the least, the write up is here for your convenience. C of C link here. 

Oh and I also entered the BLDSA Wykeham Lakes event a mere 5km, if memory serves this will be the fourth time for this one, and the closest event to home. 

Need I say more ?

A message from Kevin Murphy (CS&PF) re 2015 EC

Hi All

This is a message to all solo swimmers and relay teams intending to register with the CS&PF for their English Channel swims this year.

You should all, by now, have received your application and medical forms. If you haven't please notify secretary@cspf.co.uk immediately.

After an initial burst of enthusiasm by a few swimmers and one relay team submitting their forms during January, the flow has dried up. There hasn't been a single application returned to the CS&PF office for some days now.

The deadline is 30 April and there is always a last minute panic by swimmers and teams trying to get their forms in. If nearly 200 solo and team applications  are delivered by email attachment or post to the CS&PF office during the couple of days immediately preceding30 April there will inevitably be some delay in processing and acknowledging them all.

Please do it now - by post or by email attachment to secretary@cspf.co.uk 

I look forward to your success in the Channel.

Also - I am aware that some members have indicated a wish to stand for election to the CS&PF committee but I have not received their nomination forms. The deadline for those forms to be received is this coming Friday. The forms can be found atwww.cspf.co.uk/documents

Regards

Kevin Murphy

(CS&PF Sec.)

2015 ..and there off

Having thoroughly celebrated Christmas which  involved me surrendering to the girl previously known to you as KGB, it was into the New Year with a few plans floating around my head. Out of the water I re-joined the BLDSA with a view to completing a few of their events, both as swimmer and some as Kayak support for Nuala MC at the Derwentwater Event in June (you have a to give a little back remember).

In the water it was a return to the grotty pool at Total Fitness where I have been concentrating on some technique issues in particular hand entry (I was being called a slapper apparently) and also rotation.

I had missed the opportunity for the standard 100 x 100 over the holiday period therefore I addressed that on Sunday 18th January with no after effects to speak of which was pleasing. At 3-4 sessions a week I have been swimming a little less than a few years ago, however the quality is greater. I no longer get hung up or stressed about not swimming what was 7-10 times a week.

That said, distances of sessions will need to increase as the first event of the season approaches. That being the 24 hour swim at Guildford. You may recall an old post related to this brutal event in 2011, here's the link for your convenience 2S4L2011

Will be back writing more soon, in the mean time, here is a little something I enjoyed today..

"When You Say You're a Swimmer" from Chris Shimojima on Vimeo.