Swim the Door 15

Did you go? Did you swim? Did you survive?

STD 15 took place over the weekend of 6th and 7th June.

Huge thanks to everyone who attended especially those who swam.

(Also huge thanks to everyone who gave me cards and presents, especially if I forgot to thank you)

Who attended?

Here’s the STD (Sunday) group photo.

Roll of honour

Aja (STD), Andrew (first attendance for a while and partner of STD swimmer), Chloe (attendee and previous winner of artwork award), Chris (attendee for first time in 10 years and partner of STD choppy Saturday swim), Chris (attendee and non STD swimmer), Di (first STD for a while and not in a wet suit, welcome back), Cole (first attendance and, like his mother, was heard to promise to swim it next year), Digger (STD), Ella (first attendance for a while, welcome back, and best fossil finder), Emily (STD and winner of 3rd STD in row by person under 11), Graham (STD and regular winner of the casual swim award), Helen (STD veteran and regular winner of “wetsuit are for wimps” award), Jo (first attendance in a while and supplier of “The ultimate STD fire-water”), Jono (STD, social secretary, facebook co-ordinator and entered for the “most improved” swimmer award), Jonney C (STD veteran, attendee at early bird Friday and choppy Saturday swim, but now wears a wet suit even though it “gets warmer every year”!), Julia (STD veteran and mother of STD child), Liz (first attendance but I’m sure she promised to “swim it next year”!), Lorna (attendee and regular winner of “I’m lost, is Dorset in South London?” award), Louise (not far off being a STD veteran and best supplier of 50 year old spectacles), Luke (a regular attendee since before he was born, but no official STD although his mother claims “he did it when he was minus 6 months”- legal case pending), Mark P (no STD but manned the rescue canoe all of Sunday- hero!), Mark (STD and of the famed 2009 helicopter incident which we promised not to mention again -oops!!), Megan (first attendance in a while and winner of the best birthday card- children’s- award), Richard (a regular attendee who I understand is still looking forward to his first STD), Ron (first STD for a while, welcome back), Russell (STD veteran although his misses now forces him to wear wetsuit- sounds a bit dodgy), Rog (STD veteran in all but name and travelled by boat and foot to attend), Sandra (STD veteran, mother of STD child and CPK co-coordinator), Sandra (first STD for 10 years, non wet suit and during choppy Saturday swim, respect!), Syann (first attendance in a while, welcome back, and partner of a STD veteran), Uncle Bulgaria (first attendance and STD), Ursula (1st STD that we know of and on choppy Saturday and not in wet suit, but we don’t actually know her real name- this is what Jono called her as he photographed her coming out of the sea “thinking she was Sandra my lord”), Zoe (STD veteran and mother of STD child veteran, did you know she ran the London Marathon this year?!!).

Attendees who didn’t quite make it to the beach this year:

Lorna, Mike, Ciorstaidh, Esme, Alec, Nan and Dave.

Who all promised to make it down next year and do the swim (even if it meant learning to swim). Well I think that’s what they said!!!

Why?

This year some people reached a significant age, but for confidentially reasons they will remain anonymous:

So, someone was 50, but who?

Oh, I’m still not quite sure who it is.

Many people were heard to say “I can’t believe Digger is (only) 50”!! (Huge thanks for specialist “age” glasses that were provided by Louise).

“Wild” Thursday night

I know you are wondering how wild Diggers bday weekend would be- well here is the answer. Two elderly gentleman at the (Doom) bar and the only other person in the bar trying a photo bomb in the background. Why not join us next year?

“Calm” Friday swim

For both the Thursday and Friday swims conditions were “calm” which was a shame as the numbers of swimmers were low

Only the highly select group did the swim (Jono, Jonney C and Digger)

“Choppy” Saturdays swim

Respect to Sandra, Jonney C and Ursula who made it. Respect to Aya and Chris for (eventually) agreeing to abort.

Sundays “group” swim

Photo by Graham

Some of the Sunday swimmers (others had left or had not made it down to the beach yet- think well oiled machine!!)

Swim the Door is a well-choreographed operation- here you can see some of the swimmers entering the water in the perfect V-shaped formation. Errh except there are already three swimmers visible as blobs in the distance and several still getting ready!!

The swim is underway (photo by Mark P who captured the “misty and romantic” nature of the swim beautifully with this shot). Emily is the only person I know who can smile, swim and talk at the same time!!

OK. I can see three of you but where are the others? (photo by Mark P)

Pwwh. Here comes everyone (photo by Mark P)

Ron, Zoe and Helen in calm, but not entirely flat, conditions.

Sunny (but busy) Sunday

Sunny Monday

Perfect…………. (except its so flat its a bit boring so time to head home!!)

MORE PHOTOS TO COME……MORE PHOTOS TO COME…..MORE PHOTOS TO COME……MORE PHOTOS TO COME…..

Awards?!

Being a product of the comprehensive education system I wholeheartedly disagree with the concept of a competitive STD………..so here are this years:

Person/s who have travelled the furthest

Rog (Holland)
Louise/Richard (Lytham St Anne’s). Not sure which is furthest

Person/s who have travelled the furthest not in a petrol/diesel car

Rog (boat). Judicial enquiry launched as it had been assumed he came from Holland in it but “rumours” suggest it was harboured much nearer
Zoe/Mark (electric car). Rumours are that they only had to stop five times on route.

Person/s who have travelled the furthest by means other than car

Rog (boat). Hang on how come he is winning so many awards?

Family that has a 100% attendance record

Sandra, Graham and Emily Cooling/Armfield

The Cooling/Armfields. Hot when it comes to STD

Julia, Russell, Chloe and Luke

Person/s who have a 100% swim record when they attend

Aja, Di, Digger, Emily, Graham, Helen, Jono, Jonney C, Julia, Louise, Mark, Ron, Russell, Rog, Sandra B, Sandra C, Uncle Bulgaria, Ursula, Zoe

Person/s who have a 100% (non wet-suit) swim record when they attend

Aja, Di, Digger, Helen, Jelly Fish, Mark, Sandra B, Uncle Bulgaria, Ursula

Person/s who have a 100% non-swim record

Richard
Lorna
Syann
Luke

Person/s who have run London Marathon and Swam The Door in same year

Digger witnessed both events. BBC news- how did you miss this one!!

Person/s who Swam the Door with a London Marathon medal

Zoe. Hang on, how come she is winning so many awards?

Oh yes she did! (photo by (other) Mark not Mark in the photo- although I can’t quite see his right arm so maybe its a selfie?)

Person/s who have photographic proof of a 100% attendance record from 1997

Digger. Well I had to win something!

Person/s who “oh so wanted to come but couldn’t” so did a virtual Swim The Door

Hebe (2 x kitchen door in Brighton STD)

Esther (1 x kitchen door in Brighton STD abort)

Alice (1 x kitchen door in Brighton STD)

(This will make no sense unless you watch the video on facebook page)

https://www.facebook.com/swimthedoor?_rdr

First Womble to STD

Great Uncle Bulgaria

Where? All I can see is that damm women holding a medal….. (photo by Mark P)

Oldest person to STD

Great Uncle Bulgaria (between three hundred and eternity).

OK. Not sure if that is the real Great Uncle Bulgaria as this one looks only 50 (photo by Mark P)

Best Ursula Andress impression

Sandra Bloxham. Apparently Jono has a more close-up photograph……..

Every year we like to meet a mystery person and this year is was Ursula. Of course, we don’t know that’s her real name.

Best Daniel Craig impression

Digger. Close-up photograph unsuitable for children.

Shadow nicely hiding his six pack (or is that beer belly?)

Members of the Daniel Craig fan club meet their idol on a Dorset Beach. One breaks into tears as is overwhelmed by the excitement (or was that disappointment!)

Best rescue craft operator

Mark Phillips. No competition

Person/s who attend every 10 years

Chris and Sandra. Don’t leave it so long next time.

Person/s who brought the “best inflatable animal”

Emily and Chloe

Need I say more (photo by Mark P)

Person/s who sent the “worst inflatable animal”

Horonicus. Apparently a much loved friend of Neil but after attempts by three different people was un-inflated so unable to do the swim

Horonicus West

Person/s who has brought fire water most years

And after this we drink it…………….

Person/s who brought “The ultimate STD fire-water (2015)”

Please can you bring it every year?! And please can more people drink it next time!!

Person/s who can eat most chips

Digger

No competition.

Person/s how regularly “miss out” on being in the group photo

Louise
Richard

Person/s with the strangest leg action

Jono

Far Right (although we use to hope he was only centre right!)

LOST PROPERTY

In their keenness to escape doing another swim some people have left items which I am now caring for:

Digger would have liked to have kept this “trendy” t-shirt but was unable to get it over his tummy

Digger has decided to keep these items. Hick, hick………..

A secret STD (!)

Chut, ne le dites à personne, mais certains d’entre nous envisagent une autre Swim la porte vers le 23 Août 2016 au célèbre Pont d’Arc (une arche rocheuse naturelle sous lequel coule l’Ardèche), France.

(Sssh, don’t tell anyone but some of us are planning another Swim the Door around 23rd August 2016 at the famous Pont d’Arc (a natural rock arch under which the Ardeche flows), France. )