
Above: The fabulous Tooting Bec Lido, home of the South London Swimming Club.
As the alarm went off at 4.45am on a cold frosty winters morning, I really did not feel like getting out of bed. Then I remembered we were off to one of my favourite events of the year, the UK Cold Water Swimming Championships at Tooting Bec Lido, London. I leaped out of bed, took my usual nutritional breakfast of Herbalife milk shake with bananas, grabbed by kit, scraped the ice off the car windows and set off on our 100 mile trip to South London.
Walking from the car park to the pool, it really was a cold but sunny winter morning. The frost was all over Tooting Bec Common, and the thought of getting into the icy water did not appeal. As we entered and registered, the official water temperature was given out as 3 degrees centigrade (37 Degrees Fahrenheit). This would be the coldest water I had ever swum in.
My first event was the men's 40 - 49 years old Freestyle event, in which there were 44 men registered. I was in event no. 12, and we went through the very well rehearsed and organised routine of walking around the pool and undressing at various stages so as not get get cold.
As the alarm went off at 4.45am on a cold frosty winters morning, I really did not feel like getting out of bed. Then I remembered we were off to one of my favourite events of the year, the UK Cold Water Swimming Championships at Tooting Bec Lido, London. I leaped out of bed, took my usual nutritional breakfast of Herbalife milk shake with bananas, grabbed by kit, scraped the ice off the car windows and set off on our 100 mile trip to South London.
Walking from the car park to the pool, it really was a cold but sunny winter morning. The frost was all over Tooting Bec Common, and the thought of getting into the icy water did not appeal. As we entered and registered, the official water temperature was given out as 3 degrees centigrade (37 Degrees Fahrenheit). This would be the coldest water I had ever swum in.
My first event was the men's 40 - 49 years old Freestyle event, in which there were 44 men registered. I was in event no. 12, and we went through the very well rehearsed and organised routine of walking around the pool and undressing at various stages so as not get get cold.
After lunch, was the final of my Freestyle event. We lined up and stepped into the water, and went through the same routine again. It really did not get any easier after the 3rd time. It still totally took my breath away. When the 3-2-1-GO! went again, I went absolutely flat out. I hit the wall in exactly the same time as my heat, and jumped straight out again.
When I got out, Beccy confirmed that I had taken 3rd position and so would be going home with a bronze medal. I was so chuffed!

Above: My participation certificate and bronze medal for taking 3rd place in the Freestyle event.
After such a great day, I didn't expect things to get any better. However, arriving back home and checking through my e-mails, I received the following e-mail from the Chairman of the Bury St Edmunds Round Table:-
Dear Hoffy
Your request for funding from Bury St Edmunds Round Table has been considered by our members and I am delighted to inform you that a donation of £500 to St Nicholas Hospice has been approved [....]
Yours sincerely
Anton Woodward
Chairman 2008 – 2009
Bury St Edmunds Round Table
After such a great day, I didn't expect things to get any better. However, arriving back home and checking through my e-mails, I received the following e-mail from the Chairman of the Bury St Edmunds Round Table:-
Dear Hoffy
Your request for funding from Bury St Edmunds Round Table has been considered by our members and I am delighted to inform you that a donation of £500 to St Nicholas Hospice has been approved [....]
Yours sincerely
Anton Woodward
Chairman 2008 – 2009
Bury St Edmunds Round Table
I was absolutely thrilled by this. As a member of the Bury St Edmunds Round Table between 1996 and 2002, I know how hard everyone works to organise fund raising events. The above donation comes from the funds raised from the 2008 Fireworks display in the Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. I would like to personally thank the Bury St Edmunds Round Table for the very generous donation to one of my swimming charities - St Nicholas' Hospice. This now brings the fundraising total to:-
£16,156.13p
If you would like to sponsor me for yesterday's UK Cold Water Swimming Championships event, please do so by clicking on either (or both) of the links below:-
7 comments:
Love your blog Paul, and great to meet you at the Cold Water Champs - all the best Chris Dean EWPC
Thanks Chris. Same time, same place next year? Let me know how you got on with the Herbalife H30 products.
Cheers.
Hoffy.
you people are mad - it looks freezing in there!
It bloody was mate! None of this "I'm not going cycling because it's raining" nonsense! LOL!
Hope the training's going well.
Cheers.
Hoffy.
Erm - 'and bump' - has that been mentioned before - when is it due? And congrats!
Hi Grumps. Long time no hear! July 29th and thank you!
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