Week 22: An accessorised weekend!
How did 22 weeks disappear so quickly?
If I think back to the chilly early weeks of the season, the season ahead looked long. Your beach crew talked about factoring in weekends off. Yet here we are at the end of an action packed season and it seems to have disappeared in a flash!
We have seen incredible performances in training and on the big day. We’ve witnessed some heartbreaking oh so nears.
I’ve watched people change in front of me, some seeming to get taller and even look younger as the season progressed.
Thank you to everyone who put their faith in us and followed the process. The class of 2022 is going to have a tough act to follow.
This weekend saw our annual end of season get together. We usually have a BBQ, but the picnic this year seemed almost more relaxed. There were swims for anyone who wanted them before lunch. Then after lunch the real fun began. There was the egg-citing race, parachute relay race and what turned out to be an assault course worthy of ‘It’s a knockout’. It was physically pretty tough and absolutely hilarious to watch!
The beach was full of accessories. Bonny was dressed in her pod leader jellyfish outfit; there were inflatables of all shapes and sizes; parachutes; themed outfits and Wookie’s special edition drinks holder for his super comfy new chair!
Thank you for all the amazing bakers - wow we were spoiled! You’re a talented bunch. ‘Let there be cake’ they said - and there was!
Over & out from your pod leaders
Having training pods was something new for 2021. We didn’t know how it would be received and I’m interested in your feedback. From my perspective it seemed to go really well and the dedicated WhatsApp groups have kept the conversation going between training weekends.
I would like to say a massive THANK YOU to Mandi, Paul & Jon for all their hard work this season. I’ve appreciated their practical support at weekends and behind the scenes support & ideas.
Jon has decided to focus more on his own training next year and so will not be leading a pod in 2022. Mandi, Paul & I will continue.
I owe Jon a great debt of gratitude. He signed up as a beach volunteer for one training session in 2019 and has pretty much stayed put since then! That’s three years of supporting swimmers to achieve their dreams. That is massive and a lot of work. Thank you Jon, from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you to all of the Class of 2021 too. You put your faith in us and followed the process. To work with you and be a small part of what it takes for you to achieve your goal is an honour and a privilege. For you to then buy us gifts was an unexpected and incredible surprise. Thank you so much. I think I speak for us all when I express our absolute delight and gratitude.
Channel swimmer on the beach!
Swims to call out this week:
The Swim Bitches English Channel Relay with 2021 DCTers Ed Horne, Jon Southey, Catherine Stefanutti & Lucy Ashdown-Parkes on 21st September in a time of 13 hours 52 minutes.
Training may be over, but the swims are not. If you’re still waiting to go, we’re still right with you and will be tracking. Good luck!
Danny Hanlon - Channel swimmer
Amelia Beaver - Channel swimmer
Amy Mellor - Jersey to France
Annabel Maggs - Channel swimmer
Joanna Stokoe - Channel swimmer
Weekend Stats
Note: Water temperature taken during the swim session in the harbour. The lowest recorded reading is shown here. Air temperature, wind direction & wind speed taken from the Port of Dover app.
Saturday:
Swimmers: 24
Water temperature: 18.7C
Air temperature: 17.4C
Conditions: F3 SW. Foggy to start, then sunny, light breeze and small wavelets.
Sunday:
Swimmers: 7
Water temperature: 18.5C
Air temperature: 17.9C
Conditions: F3 to start then F4 gusting F5 SW. Cloudy.
Dates for your Diary
Monthly Chilli Dips
I’ll send out some separate comms on this, but put we look set to hold these on the third Saturday of each more. Look out for further information very soon.
2022 Dover Intensity Week
Due to popular demand, this is set for 6th-10th June 2022. Save the date!
Video evidence!
Here are some videos from the weekend shenanigans!
Photos
A few photos from the weekend….
Spotlight in the shop
The shop remains online during the winter months.
I hope to be able to reveal the Class of 2021 hoodie design soon. This will have the names of anyone who trained with us this year on the back.
I’ll also be creating the 2022 wall calendar in the coming weeks - please send me any of your nominated photos from your big day and the best of the best will feature.
Reminders
Annual membership and training subscriptions will renew automatically. If you don’t wish to continue your subscription, please remember to go into the system and cancel or let me know and I can do it for you.