Long distance and open water news – 2011
Six swimmers have recently swum in ASA the Half Hour (now T-30 Challenge) and await results of this national competition.
Three, Jane Dodd, Jenny Ball and Tom Rooney have signed up for the British Gas 2011 One Mile Great East Swim. Jane and Jenny had enjoyed this event in 2010 but were the thousands of disappointed entrants in the Great North Swim last September, when Green blue algae in Lake Windermere, caused the cancellation of the 2010 event.
Having raised nearly £300 in support of Cerebral Palsy Sport for the swim, in car boot sales, garden parties and sponsorship, Jane and Jenny swum their One Mile in Sandown Bay rather let the event pass them by completely!
Two intrepid club swimmers joined a team to take part in the Cold Water Championships at Tooting Bec Lido in January. In a water temperature of just over 3 degrees centigrade, Ruth Carroll and Rebecca Wills swam their 30m. leg of the race.
Both had been regularly taking a dip at Shanklin in the sea throughout the winter months to accustomise themselves to this temperature, with a positive result for their perseverance – brrrrr!
At the very successful Christmas Charity Swim at Gurnard, arranged by the staff of the Little Gloster Restaurant, three hardy Marlins took the dip, with Michelle Lock taking third prize in the freezing waters over a 300 metre distance.
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The first competitive, indoor competition of the year was the South East Region Masters Long Course (50m. pool) at Crawley. Jenny, being one of only two ladies in the 70-74 years age group, won 7 of her events and gained a sliver medal in the eighth. Old ladies are prone to falls and unfortunately two had had this misfortune just prior to the event, thus depleting the opposition! Nevertheless Jenny was pleased with her times in 800, 400, 200 and 100 freestyle and 50, 100 and 200m backstroke.
With no Isle of Wight Masters meet this year, our next events include the Royal Navy meet at Millfield School in Somerset and Guernsey Open Masters. Weather permitting, Duncan Heenan and Gordon Osborne will sail there to the Channel Island!
The Marlins Club plan to enter two teams, as last year, in the Sandown Lions Charity Swimarathon at the Heights on Saturday April 2nd. Each team of 5 or 6 people swims for 55 minutes, all swimmers completing a two length lap in turn, aiming to complete the most in that time. Last year we won the 16+ years team!
