The Gozo groupies

What a fantastic group of people travelled to Gozo with Swim Trek for their long distance training camp.  We all came with different backgrounds, hopes, fears and plans. 

 

Mark Bayliss (Channel Swimmer)

Mark is what I would call a 'proper' swimmer.  He's swum since he was a kid, and does freestyle - fast!! 

Mark made his attempt on the channel on 4th September 2007 and finished in 11 hours 33 mins.  Well done Mark!!

 

Jim (the Leprechaun) Boucher (Channel Swimmer)

I have known Jim for what seems like forever as we have trained together in Guildford City.  We have travelled to all sorts of places in the pursuit of swimming challenge and competition.  Jim is a one of the founding members of the Lido Legends who completed a successful channel relay in 2005.  When I first met Jim he was a breaststroke sprinter, but open water is contagious and the last few years have shown the ambitions and achievements just keep on getting bigger and better.

Jim's first attempt at a solo crossing was on 10th July.  Unfortunately on this occasion Jim did not complete the distance, but achieved a very credible 9.5 hours in chilly 15.9^oC water.

Jim was not to be put off by this first attempt and went for a second attempt on 11th-12th August 2007 and succeeded in a time of 15hrs 28mins.  Well done Jim!!!

Jim's other highlights of the year include 50m Breaststroke victory in the coldwater championships and being a member of a round the Isle of Wight relay team which came frustratingly close to beating the existing record.

For more info on Jim and his swims visit www.lido-legends.co.uk.

 

 

Jan (The Iceman) Deodens

I met Jan in Gozo.  I didn't swim much with Jan as he is such a fast swimmer and I'm, well not!  But from what I hear from the fast team he is quite a swimmer!!

Jan made his attempt on the channel on the channel on 7th September 2007 and made a very respectable 6 hours.  2007 has been a very busy year for Jan with great achievements in the Straights of Gilbraltor and Lake Zurich.

 

Andy Dickson

I had the privilege of being in the same swim group as Andy in Gozo.  He is a great swimmer with a brilliant attitude.  Recovering from a bad back I believe that Andy is focusing on technique in his preparations for a solo channel swim in 2008 - good luck Andy.

 

Greg (Doddsey) Dodds (Channel Swimmer)

Greg is another 'proper' swimmer.  He's swum since he was a kid, and does freestyle - fast!! 

Greg made his attempt on the channel on 4th September 2007 and finished in 12 hours 10 mins.  Well done Greg!!

 

Dana Haugli

What can I say about Dana?  Apart from that this is all her fault!!  I would never even have considered attempting the channel without her.  It was Dana that gave Jim and me (amongst others) the opportunity to have a go at a relay.  It was the relay that has led to everything else.  I wonder what the long term impacts of her influence will be?  How many people will take inspiration from her or from others that she has inspired?

I understand that Dana has decided that a solo is no longer her aspiration, but she certainly has achieved more this year than in her previous channel seasons.  She also showed amazing endurance when demonstrating how to evacuate her stomach after the qualifying swim in Gozo.

Dana was part of the same relay as Jim that almost broke the round the Isle of Wight record on 29th August 2007.  I understand that they were only 11 minutes outside the record - amazing stuff!!  I think it was Dana's legendary Chilli Shrimp Soup that helped them swim so fast (I wonder if it is on the banned substances list?)

 

Lynn Hawkins (Channel Swimmer)

Lynn has impressed me all season, like Mick, not once did she appear to waver in training.  Whatever the task, no matter how cold, she was in there - job done.

Lynn made her attempt on the same day as me, so I know first hand, that it was not a millpond out there.  Two other people aborted their attempts on that day, but adverse conditions were not enough to stop Lynn from getting to France - she landed in France after 16 hours and 45 mins.  Well done Lynn, a thoroughly deserved result.

 

 

 

 

Rob Healey

Unlike the rest of us, Rob has managed to achieve something that has never been done before this year.  Rob orchestrated (and swam in) the first every relay race across the channel.  On 1st August 2007 four team sets off in a race against each other across the channel.  The teams were Navy (winners); Army; RAF; Army Aviation.

Rob also made an attempt at a solo crossing on 5th September 2007 which, unfortunately, was not successful on this occasion.  After 10 hrs and 20 mins Rob decided to pull, which having read his account sounded like it was absolutely the right decision as the A&E visit he had could have been a lot worse. 

What makes all this that much more amazing is the fact that he is a diabetic.  It is hard for your average person to regulate their feeding to ensure they don't get ill from too much Maxim or run out of energy.  The consequences for a diabetic are far more serious.  With most sports you can take regular blood sugar readings - something that is simply not possible in the middle of the channel!  Rob managed to sort his feeding to keep his diabetes under control, shame it's not so easy to manage the weather.

Latest news is Rob is planning a re-match for 2008.  Go Rob!!

 

Mick (Metal Mickey) Helps (Channel Swimmer)

Well what can you say about Mick?  On a serious note, actually there really are no serious notes when it comes to Mick.  OK, OK, so his training philosophy was very impressive - always one step ahead of the game physically and mentally.  But Mick's major contribution to the 2007 season (apart from adding to the statistics of successful channel swims) is his campaign against the evils of the pineapple fruit!

For the record Mick did his swim on 10th July and completed it in a very impressive 13 hours 35 mins.  The water was a chilly 15.9^oC.  I do have to take exception with one of his beliefs though.  Mick appears to be under the impression that 'REAL' swimmers do their attempts in July and those who swim in September have 'bath like' conditions.  I feel I am qualified and experienced enough now to counter this argument.  I can concur that the temperature in July is a couple of degrees cooler than September, but that is only one small and insignificant point.  The real swimmers endure weeks more of back to back gruelling swims in the harbour and swim far more of their swim on the day in the dark. 

I succumbed to temptation and brought my swim forward from September to early August and paid the price.  I should have just said no and been that little bit stronger.  Initially I thought that it was all a lot of noise to hide the fact that he couldn't be bothered to train any longer, but I came to realise that it was because he's afraid of the dark - I think he would have swum on the longest day given the chance - anything except having to start or finish in the dark!!  (Light taper and retire to a safe distance).

Mick's website is www.thehelps.co.uk.

 

Rose Levien (Channel Swimmer)

For most normal people swimming the channel is a huge thing - something to train 100% for, for months on end.  But for Rose, swimming the channel was only one challenge for 2007, she also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro just a month before her swim.   There are no ends to some people's potential.  I understand that she now plans to swim the shark infested straits of San Francisco bay to Alcatraz!! 

Rose completed her Channel swim on 25th August 2007 in an amazing time of 13 hours and 22 minutes.

I wonder what will be next?  Whilst she has clearly pushed the boundaries on what she previously thought was possible, I don't think she has come anyway close to her limits yet.  One to watch I think!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Morriss

Chris the Oestopath joined the Swim Trek Gozo trip to prepare for Lake Windermere claiming he hadn't yet caught Channel Fever.  Chris entered Lake Windermere as an entry level swim.  Entry Level????!!!!!  It's 10.5 miles of very cold water - that's an impressive entry!  I haven't heard how he got on, but I'm sure it was impressive.

I wonder if the Gozo trip and/or Windermere has taken him any closer to channel fever?

 

Thomas

Thomas joined Swim Trek from Germany looking to do some stroke improvement work.  I don't think he realised just how much opportunity there would be to practice his stroke!  The Swim Trek Long Distance Training trip is tough enough for those of us crazy enough to want to take on a Marathon swim somewhere in the world, but to voluntarily join for the fun of it takes one determined swimmer!

 

Dover

I have also met many inspirational people in Dover, more than I can cover here.  But here are some of the crowd who have really stood out.