Week 20 - A nation mourns
Weekly Review
NB Please scroll to the bottom for a selection of the photos taken
A nation mourns
Last week saw torrential downpours, thunderstorms and moody skies. These passed and left rainbows in their place. A rainbow that appeared as Queen Elizabeth II died.
In my ponderings I reflect on a live well lived and an example well set.
It is a sad time indeed.
Her example was one to carry on, and so we did. We’re at the point in the season where our numbers are low as so many have already done their swims yet the select few still brought their A game with them for another weekend of short or long swims.
We welcomed the SwimTayka 2023 hopefuls for their assessment day.
After the storms of the week we had calm water and flying fish!! Whoever said the water is unclean is clearly incorrect - there were thousands of whitebait and hundreds of bigger fish.
Next weekend
Next weekend is our last weekend of ‘normal’ training. It’s the last weekend when we’ll be providing feeds. So if you’re hankering after one last long swim before the training season ends then this is your weekend!
Shout outs
Training
Congratulations to:
Kevin for (fairly) gracefully accepting a stretch from 4 hours to 6 hours
Channel swimmer on the beach
This week’s shout outs, here’s what I saw (in no particular order):
SwimTayka Jamaica for their successful channel relay on 10th September in a time of 15hrs 54mins
Kristie Waller for her successful Windermere solo in a time of 7hr 38mins
Nikki Pope for her successful 20 Bridges solo and in completing this she also completed her frosty triple crown (Ice Mile plus triple crown)
Swim stats
Note: Water temperature taken during the swim session in the harbour. Air temperature, wind direction & wind speed taken from the Port of Dover app. Please remember that we get a lot of shelter in the harbour thanks to the walls.
Saturday:
Swimmers: 20
Water temperature: 20.1C
Air temperature: 18.8C
Conditions: F3 WSW. Partly cloudy
Sunday:
Swimmers: 12
Water temperature: 20C
Air temperature: 18.9C
Conditions: F1 S. Sunny, calm. Jumping fish!
Volunteers & beach crew
Thank you to everyone who helped out this weekend - either a little or a lot. Thank you to Mandi, Paul, Vikki & Keith in particular.
Paul spent hours in the kayak supporting the SwimTayka assessment day - thank you!
Watch out for new ways to get involved and help from next year.
Changes to our Leadership Team
This year has been a year of reflection for me. A year where I’ve had a few reality checks. This is a good thing.
I’ve spoken about the sustainability of our current model and this is a reflection on changing expectations of swimmers, an evolving sport and the harsh realities of business.
I have always been blessed by a fabulous group of trusted advisors to help steer what we do and as we embark on a period of review. I am delighted to let you know that we have extended our team to include:
Vikki Chester (safeguarding lead)
Paul Cross
Hayley Brant
Dirk Gewert
Each bring a different perspective and skillset.
I’m looking forward to working with you all.
The adventures of Dover Dave
Dover Dave continues to live his best life. This week he spend time with Paul and had a much calmer week with a touch of Daveness. Paul is obviously a good influence (or Dave managed to hide it better).
This week he’s with Mel. I have high hopes that he’ll be as good as gold!
Paddlefish Ponderings - Be a Queen for a day
“It’s all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you’re properly trained.”
Queen Elizabeth II in her younger years - who knew she was a swimmer?!
Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth II
Most people alive today have known no other British & Commonwealth monarch.
It’s sad how it’s taken her passing for the great outpouring of love. She was important to so many people. She was like a mother or grandmother figure as well as being a monarch.
In normal circumstances, people they are born to fulfil this role. Whilst clearly a member of the Royal family at birth, her line was not one that should have been on the throne, yet at an early age, her father became King when his brother abdicated and young Elizabeth’s destiny was set.
Her father died young and she came to the throne at 25 years old with two children.
From there on she lived a life of service and became the most incredible role model.
I’m currently working 7 days a week and evenings too. She was a wife, a mother and was known in the communities that she lived in. She had charitable interests. In comparison to Queen Elizabeth II, I’m a part timer. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it must be to work so hard, for so long in plain public view all of the time.
What an incredible role model. Over the time of her reign she modernised the monarchy whilst holding true to the values that were important to her. When tough times came along, as they did, she found the resolve to carry on. She learned, she adapted, she inspired. She cared deeply. She had integrity - Prime Ministers spoke about how it was the one place they could talk and know that what they shared would never be leaked.
She also had a wicked sense of humour. How she kept the 007 sketch for London 2012 a secret I’ll never know. More recently she did a double act with Paddington. She became relatable.
When you step back and think about her characteristics - resilience, hard working, fun loving, supportive (the list goes on), these are also many of the characteristics that I see in people who are most successful in our sport.
If ever you have a tough moment in training or on the big day, spend a moment and think about her example. She was a walking example of what it takes to be successful and to carry on even when you’d rather stop. Be a queen for a day.
She also reminded me of my own parents, but then is that surprising? We have a nation of people who have been influenced by her leadership. We are incredibly lucky.
King Charles has a tough act to follow and my heart goes out to him. Starting a job that you’ve known that you’ll get for most of your life, and not starting it until after retirement age and whilst suffering the grief of losing your remaining parent must be unbelievably difficult. From what I’ve seen so far he’s doing an amazing job.
God bless Queen Elizabeth II. Long live King Charles III.
Reminders
Bookings can be made up to 48 hours ahead and be cancelled or rescheduled up to 48 hours ahead also. The system doesn’t arrange automatic refunds, so if you would like a refund, please check out our refund policy and get in touch if you would like a refund.
If you miss this deadline then I’ll book you in if I have the available time and I have your disclaimer. There is an admin fee if you don’t use the self-service option.
Arrive on time and attend the mandatory briefing. The briefing is generally at 09:50
Wear the right colour hat - red for soloists, yellow for relay swimmers
Those of you who are members, please remember to cancel your membership when you no longer want it. You can do that within a membership period and still have all the benefits of it, this will prevent it from auto renewing next year. You can do this within your account, by following the link in the confirmation email when you took out your membership, or by asking me to do it for you.
Looking ahead
On Tour
This Saturday we are ‘On Tour’. Our location will either be Ramsgate or Hythe and we’ll make the decision on Thursday based on the weather forecast.
End of season celebration
It’s become a bit of a tradition that, rather than fade away as the season progresses that we get together for an end of season celebration on the last weekend of training. So mark the date in your calendar - Saturday 24th September - bring a picnic. We’ll bring inflatables!!
The theme is Grease - make of that what you want! We’re looking forward to some fun & creative outfits.
I have a challenge that you can practice for and there is a very significant prize on order - a double Mr Whippy with a flake for anyone who reaches level 6 of this challenge without a wipeout along the way:
Level 1 - get on the SUP
Level 2 - Kneel on the SUP
Level 3 - Stand on the SUP
Level 4 - Stand on the SUP and rock it from side to side
Level 5 - Stand on the SUP on one leg for 10 seconds
Level 6 - Perform a head stand, handstand or cartwheel on the SUP (and stay on the SUP)
Who’s up for it?
Chilli Dips
We’ll be starting up our monthly Chilli Dips again from October. Like last year, we’ll aim to visit a number of locations. I’m speaking with a coaching colleague about the logistics for a Surrey chilli dip option too. Watch this space.
Halloween(ish) Fright Night
We’re planning on doing a night swim / bob in October - those who don’t like swimming in the dark need not apply!!
This won’t be a training session, just a bit of fun. We’ll do our very best to make you jump in the water - definitely one where you should expect the unexpected.
Provisional date to be confirmed
Seminars
Back by popular demand - we’ll be hosting our weekend event early 2022 - watch out for further details soon. This is an event you want to be at!
Spotlight in the shop
Class of 2022 Hoodies
Watch out for details of the special online shop for these hoodies coming very soon. There will be two versions. Both have the same front design. The back has our logo and then names as follows:
All those who have swum with DCT this season
All successful English Channel solo swimmers and all successful English Channel Relay teams.
Thanks to Dave Chisholm Cartoons for the design.
There are tons of colour options in one tone or two tone. Which will you choose?
Photos
A few photos from the weekend….
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