Blog

Steve Wall's Latest Update - 8 Sep 11 at Club La Santa (Lanzarote) Lagoon

I agreed with my wife Melissa that we should go out to Club La Santa on holiday just before the Channel swim attempt to enjoy a nice relaxing holiday. When we got there I let her know I was really on a warm weather swimming camp and would be thrashing up and down in the sea or lagoon all week! Soon after landing I was getting used to the mile long route in the salt water lagoon and enjoying air and water temperatures 2 or 3 times warmer than the Loch Morlich in the Cairngorm Mountains where I had been training in.

Each day I swam for at least 2 sessions of 90 mins or 2 hour plus. Wed evening I had just won the advance category kayak race and was feeling fit and motivated so I planned a 6 hour training swim early the following morning.

Completely against the climatic norm for Lanzarote we were experiencing a second day of absolutely no wind as I walked down to the lagoon at 7am finding my way in the dark by headtorch. Drink bottles and peanut butter sandwiches were stashed in a hole in the lagoon wall so that I could feed after each mile without getting out of the water, swim kit on I was now ready. The lagoon was 'L' shaped and had 12 buoys marking the centre which I would use to practice sighting and help me maintain focus as I ticked each buoy off as I swam past.

The first mile was slow but steady (and pitch black) and took about 45 mins but thereafter the sun came up and I felt great so mile 2 and 3 were ticked off in quick succession. By now the other sports holiday makers had come down to the lagoon to use kayaks and windsurfers (although the latter were not very effective in 1-3 mph winds) but all happily kept out of my way as I thrashed up and down the lagoon at a steady pace only stopping to feed whilst treading water. Another open water swimmer joined me but only swam 2 miles at a phenomenal pace so was not much company.

My hands were like over-dried prunes by mile 7, my lips were blistered from the salt water and my tongue was swollen, dried and the salt made it sting beyond comfort and Melissa supporting me from the lagoon side realised I was struggling so quickly hopped into a sea kayak and paddled alongside feeding me every 40 mins as I completed the mile 8 and 9. Despite running me over in the kayak (apparently my fault for not swimming straight, even though for 5 hours I swam as straight as an arrow) Melissa was all the motivation I needed to complete the swim and because of her encouragement I swam faster in the last hour than I had all day.

Then at 9.4 miles I heard Melissa shout to me that I had completed 6 hours. Hungry, thirsty and a slight ache in the shoulders but not at all exhausted I completed my swim. I now felt so much better prepared for the Channel in 11 days time although my salt blisters on my lips and tongue were of some concern.

 

Steve Wall's Monster Swim - August 13th, Loch Ness, Scotland

After swimming for 4 months in cold North Yorkshire lakes and rivers and Scottish lochs without a wetsuit I decided to enter the Loch Ness Monster Swim in just my trunks - well sounded a sensible and sane decision at the time!

Melissa drove me to the event on the stunning Dores beach situated on the southern side of Loch Ness. It's only a 50 minute drive from Aviemore via Inverness. We arrived at the event site which boasted views over the entire Loch from both the Start and Finish lines. Loch Ness holds a staggering more water than all of the other lakes, in England and Wales combined! The water level is 16m higher than sea level and it is 23 miles long (further than the Channel swim) and a mile wide - so large it never freezes. Not only that but it has the legendary story of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. What better place could there be for a wild swim?

There were 2 swims on offer, the "Big Yin" is a 1 mile swim heading out from Dores Beach towards the centre of the Loch before turning towards the Loch's northern shore. Conditions were challenging as there was a head wind blowing, from the prevailing south-west. The views down the Loch were awe-inspiring and the feeling of being alone even when you are swimming with others was exhilarating. The other swim was the "Wee Nessie" a ½ mile swim .

We were set off in waves according to our swim speed and I was in heat 3 (40-45 mins). I thought this would be an advantage as I could watch the first heat and get ready slowly during heat 2. Reality was that the wind picked up as the day went on so by the time I reached the start line the waves were marginally higher and white topped! The water temperature in Loch Ness was a balmy 13°C in the centre and a chilly 11°C around the shore - slightly warmer than my Sunday swim in Loch Morlich. However wetsuits were strongly recommended and of the 131 swimmers only 13 of us were crazy enough to swim without wetsuits. A few more had set off to the event without wetsuits and regretted it until they spotted there was a Sailfish stall offering wetsuit hire for the day. For those 13 of us Non-Wetsuit Participants we had to qualify for the Monster Swim non-wetsuit category by proving we could swim for:
- 60 minutes in 16°C water
- 30 minutes in 13°C water

On the day race registration was slick and friendly with additional changing and bag drop tents. The excellent Dores Inn was situated next to the start and finish line and was packed with shivering post race swimmers eating a hearty, quality and well earnt meal. Race Entry Included an official event swim hat, fantastic race medal, event t-shirt, a free entry into a prize draw to win a free SwimTrek swimming holiday, a nice warm drink on exiting the water and last but not least the knowledge that you have successfully swum Loch Ness (Priceless!).

Each swimmer was invited into the icy cold water by a Highland Piper (that would hopefully scare the Loch Ness Monster away!). The race for me was tough in the high winds and choppy cold water and I was last to enter the water in my heat but steadily I worked my way to the front of the heat and was in contention by the time I reached the marker buoy to turn back towards the beach. The huge swell was making me sea sick and those not used to the cold were struggling and many were resorting to breast stoke just to see where they were going. A few more swimmers were past before I made a strong effort for the finishing line. The eventual race winner completed the gruelling course in an amazing 26.39 and the winning female was 31.49. The first non- wetsuit swimmer arrived to a huge Highland welcome in a time of 31.49. I made it back in 43.54 in 62nd place (out of 131) but was more delighted at being 3rd quickest in the non-wetsuit category. Stunning scenery, brilliantly organised event and I will be back next year.

 

Update Blog Tom Sawyer - Fundraising with a Storm trooper and Swimming the Ouse through York

Both Matt and I headed to York on the 20 Aug 11 to raise awareness and much needed sponsorship from the visiting tourists and York Public by setting up a stall and bucket shaking outside of Boots; little did we know that if you actually approach people and ask them for sponsorship it is classed as heckling as we were reliably informed by a council official who kindly supplied us with the appropriate paper work to make our endeavours official, we were however allowed to continue and raised a good amount for our charities. I believe we could have earned more if Matt had of done as a group of girls requested and flashed for cash but he remained resolute and professional! We also managed to come across a Storm Trooper who said the mask provided him with the perfect cover as he was on benefits! As planned we headed down to the River Ouse on the North side of Town by the Homestead Park with my brother and niece in tow as safety cover for our planned swim through York; needless to say and cut a long story short, we made good progress dodging pleasure cruisers and Gin Palaces until we were told the police would arrest us for swimming in the river at which point we decided to end our Swim at the King Head by Ouse Bridge. On climbing up the ladder to the Beer Garden we were greeted with rapturous applause from family, friends and the large group of public that had congregated. We were also greeted by the Police who took our details explained their position but also understood that we were trained and in training to swim the channel and said that there was no further issue. All in all it was a successful day that both Matt and I enjoyed immensely not to mention the water actually felt warm!

24/8/2011

 

Steve Wall & Matt Higgins Blog - A Truly Scottish Affair

Not wanting to miss out of the 5 mile sea swim off the east coast of Yorkshire Steve Wall and Matt Higgins refused to let their work in Scotland prevent them completing a concurrent challenge.

After 5 days of hot sunny weather preparations began well for the challenge of swimming 5 miles in 5 sea lochs in 5 hours - however that was where the luck ended.

The day dawned and Matt and Steve woke to heavy rain and a carpet of thick black clouds and a wind that had been non existent for 5 days. Not deterred the pair drove north to the quaint fishing village of Inveraray on the north shores of Loch Fyne and Loch Shira. The lads walked to the pier through the high street dressed ready to swim their first of 5 miles. They received strange looks off the American and English tourists and local fishermen that were all dressed in fleeces and waterproofs. Most stood aghast and others voiced their amazement as the intrepid pair walked straight to the edge of Loch Shira and jumped in as if it quite normal and started their mile swim across to Strone Point. Loch Shira was cold and millpond still but teeming with huge jellyfish that focused the boys attention. Unscathed and after just 30 minutes they met their support crew Justin Durrant who fed them juice and words of encouragement.

Justin set them straight off on their second swim across Loch Fyne (famous for its shellfish and chain of seafood restaurants). Matt let out a yell of warning as they both swam into countless jellyfish - too late for Steve who swam over 3 or 4 and was badly stung on both arms, wrist and hand. Matt miraculously survived unscathed. The water was cold and deep but they made it across to the opposite shore in just over the half hour mark again. The boys were feeling and looking good.

Mile 3 was to be the most testing and took a lot out of both swimmers. Their swim began on the west side of the remote Loch Goil south of Douglas Pier. This attempt was to be against the tide and wind and a little further than a mile because their intended put in point was indeed a secure MOD site. They entered the water using a boat yard a little further to the south where a number of families were boarding boats to take a cruise down the sea loch. Not wanting to seem anything but brave and hardened swimmers the lads dropped into the water looking like seasoned professionals. They were not sure if they portrayed their intended demeanour as near freezing temperatures clearly took their breath away and silenced their boisterous chatter! For 50 mins the pair battled wind over tide and freezing water as they battled north to the village of Lochgoilhead. All dignity was lost as they struggled to climb the vertical rusty ladders up on to the elevated pier, their shivering bodies refusing to cooperate or coordinate. Straight to the pub for a pot of tea and a pint of coke the shivering pair looked comical and their frozen faces made for interesting conversations as they slurred incomprehensible sentences!

Mile 4 was the most eventful and both are now keeping a low profile in case they appear on the next series of Crimewatch! Their swim started at a holiday park on the north west shores of Loch Long and were all but chased off by angry park officials. Undeterred they sneaked down to the waters edge and arranged to meet Justin at the pier near Arrochar. Unaware that Justin had been moved off from the intended pickup point by the Police the unsuspecting swimmers breezed through the water in their fastest mile to arrive at the pier where their problems then began. The pier on the map was surrounded by buildings and looked like an ideal place to complete the swim. The reality was very different. It looked like an abandoned Whaling station in the Arctic north or a community that had long since disappeared in suspicious circumstances and Government officials had moved in and boarded the area up and erected 20 foot high fences complete with skull and crossbones signs sat above the words 'Danger, keep out'. Left with the option of returning to the water and swimming further to an alternative pick up and risking missing Justin they decided to remain resolute and stick to their plan. The pier was fenced off and there was no apparent way to safety. So Matt and Steve began climbing walls, scaling fences, crossing industrial work yards strewn with dangerous materials until they were trapped with no obvious escape route. Vulnerable all the more clad in just swimming trunks and swimming caps and surrounded by broken glass, discarded metal, collapsed buildings and no idea where their support crew and vehicle was. Steve's misspent youth came to the rescue and garden hoping and a bit more climbing found them clear of trouble but their embarrassment was to grow. They had come out of the frying pan and landed in the fire on the side of the A83 tourist road, normally quiet and traffic free. Instead they emerged still wearing nothing but swimming attire into a continual stream of dense holiday traffic. Lorries hooted them and shouted abuse from their windows, holiday makers stared in disbelief and car after car tooted their horns at the near naked pair some distance from any water, knees, elbows and hands streaming with blood from their recent adventure, shivering and near blue - what must the tourists have thought? Luckily they were miles from Loch Ness! 2 miles of humiliation followed until they could hide their shame in their car and recounted events to the worried Justin.

Mile 5 was to test their resolve as the evening drew in, the rain worsened and the air temperature plummeted. Waves were ever increasing in size and to get to the start they had to drive through Helensburgh past the hustle and bustle of tourists, shops, cafes and pubs. Instead the lads had to enter the cold water again. Gare Loch was their last hurdle and Matt full of encouragement coaxed Steve into the water. Both were used to cold water after months of open water swimming without wetsuits yet their body temperatures were dangerously low and had not thawed from their last swim. Up to now they had swum 4 miles in 4 lochs side by side despite Matt being the much faster swimmer, but now it was every man for themselves as survival instincts kicked in. Heads down they battled against the withdrawing tide making very slow forward progress. Eventually they both climbed out of the water successful in their mission to swim 5 miles in 5 sea lochs in 5 hours, exhausted, near hypothermic, dehydrated and hungry.

A huge portion of Haggis and chips washed down by Iron Bru soon restored their morale and they were heard telling tales of their exploits long into the night by anyone who would listen. Smug in the knowledge that the rest of their Channel Swim Team had completed their 5 miles in 5 different Yorkshire coastal towns Matt and Steve, Tom, Emily, Amy and Kerry would all sleep well that night.

04 Aug 11

Lee Sawyer's Blog

As an update on all recent AFC channel swimming affairs; publicity is going well with a successful day on the East Coast last Wednesday, thank you to Laurence Roche for all your hard work. The swimming is increasing and we are trying to get most of the team into open water every day if not twice a day. The RNLI in Scarborough have been helping us by providing local area knowledge and safety cover whilst we train, namely Richard Ireland from the South Bay who has been paddling with us most recently. It is our aim to swim from North Bay to South Bay this week with an extension next week taking us all the way to Cayton Bay from the Sea Life centre in North Bay. We are also looking to swim the length of the river Ouse through York all 6.25 Miles of it (Boundary to Boundary) in the near future with an aim of promoting our causes and the obvious training benefit. On a more current note, Sue Klopper has come up to visit and train with the team which started with a river swim this morning and will culminate with a Bay to Bay swim in Scarborough this evening.

03 Aug 11

 

Steve Wall's Blog

Steve Wall was joined for his weekly swim on Sunday 31 July 2011 in Loch Morlich below the Cairngorm Mountains by members of his running club the Cairngorm Runners. Not yet acclimatised to the cold water the small group donned wetsuits and swam with Steve on his 3km route. Big Bruce Cranston provided kayak safety cover and if nothing else kept all the windsurfers and dingy sailors at bay. The group enjoyed coffee and cake in the Loch Morlich Watersports Centre café afterwards to discuss next week's event

31 Jul 11

 

Emily Peers on a North Sea training day

On the 27 July, four members of the Channel Swim team from the Army Foundation College at Harrogate travelled to the east coast with the aim of swimming 5 miles in five locations so that we could draw people''s attention to our event and raise some more money for our charities.

Myself, Amy Baker and Tom Sawyer were due to swim. Although Kerry Evans came along, her enthusiasm far outweighed her health and, having not been able to breathe properly for a few weeks due to sinusitis, remained on shore with Tom's family who came to support. Kerry's presence was twofold as she also offered a perfect target for seagulls in the area. Needless to say, she is now one very lucky lady!

During a very busy period at work it was difficult for others to get away from work commitments, however Matt Higgins and Steve Wall embarked upon a concurrent series of swims in Scotland having taken themselves away from their training Company on exercise to ensure they didn't miss out on any swimming.

Two hours of driving and we managed to get ourselves to Whitby where, confronted by large waves rolling onto the beach, we nearly opted for laps in the children's paddling pool up on the promenade. Not wanting to be defeated, Tom Sawyer strode off towards the beach pushing his daughter's push chair wearing only his crowd-pleasers, swimming hat and goggles! Amy and I plodded along behind in tow in similar attire and with a familiar sense of foreboding. Once on the beach we walked past the locals and holiday-goers wrapped up in their jumpers and coats and we stepped into the sea.

Tom was able to get past the waves quite quickly, although Amy and I will claim this is down to the fact he is nearly twice our height. The two of us ended up floundering around in the surf for some time getting seaweed wrapped around us and getting more and more despondent. Eventually we made it past the break where we managed to get into our stride with our swimming. As there was the occasional 'rogue wave' that would suddenly appear and swamp us, one of us was always on 'wave watch'. I was informed rather abruptly that my wave watching was not up to scratch after Amy was submerged and, after appearing spluttering from the sea, heard me say, 'Watch out, big wave!'

Once out we drove to Scarborough where we met with the press who had kindly come to broadcast our endeavour. The RNLI happily came out with us for an extended swim to offer safety and further plans were made with them for future training swims.

The swims were great and certainly built our confidence and tolerance for the cold water. Matt and Steve reported later that day that they had managed to swim the five miles in five locations in five hours!

We would like to thank the press who took the time to see us that day as well as the people visiting those beaches who were able to contribute some money to help us reach our target.

01/08/2011

 

'Tom' Sawyer updates on progress.

Training is going well with all of the team getting into the cold water as much as possible. The swimming in the river has had to be postponed due to flooding so it seems its back to the lake for now. I managed to get over to the coast on Sunday and did 2 swims (AM/PM) although had fun dodging dinosaur sized seagulls (Terradactagulls?) in South Bay and jellyfish in North Bay. The North Sea is still chilly and the rain didn't help although the fish and chips as a reward were well received.

Steve Wall completed a 5km swim in a Scottish loch so it is safe to say he is still mental. Kerry Evans is unfortunately poorly; we hope she feels better soon as we miss her humour on the cold early morning swims. Sue Klopper is going well and we look forward to seeing her next week. We are all due to complete publicity and fund raising drive on Wednesday the 27 Jul 11 by swimming 5 miles in 5 east coast towns - Withernsea, Bridlington, Filey, Whitby and Scarborough.

21/07/2011