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:
“Wild” Thursday night
“Calm” Friday swim
“Choppy” Saturdays swim
Sundays “group” swim
Sunny Monday
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
- 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
- Zoe
Person/s who Swam the Door with a London Marathon medal
- Zoe. Hang on, how come she is winning so many awards?
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
Oldest person to STD
- Great Uncle Bulgaria (between three hundred and eternity).
Best Ursula Andress impression
- Sandra Bloxham. Apparently Jono has a more close-up photograph……..
Best Daniel Craig impression
- Digger. Close-up photograph unsuitable for children.
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
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
Person/s who has brought fire water most years
- Zoe
Person/s who brought “The ultimate STD fire-water (2015)”
- Jo
Person/s who can eat most chips
- Digger
Person/s how regularly “miss out” on being in the group photo
- Louise
- Richard
Person/s with the strangest leg action
- Jono
LOST PROPERTY
In their keenness to escape doing another swim some people have left items which I am now caring for:
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. )