Dave
Dave’s new
job and relocation in the latter part of the year was a great loss to the
group, especially in terms of encouraging longer swims. He and Sara completed the Brownsea Island
swim and he was instrumental in organising the pre-Dart training ‘camp’ in
Rottingdean, providing the feed station (AKA “Dave’s Dinghy”) to enable refuelling
part way through the 6.5km endeavour.
Always supportive, a great team player, we just wish we had seen more of
him and hope he keeps in touch.
End of year
grade: Bronze (upgraded from Little Dipper due to completion of endurance
swims)
Outstanding
Achievement of the Year: Mamouth 10km swim of the Dart in 3 hours, surpassing
all expectations (even his own)
Sara
A doctor’s
note keeps Sara at a Bronze this year, but her late start to the swim ‘season’
(we don’t have one of these in Saltdean, if you hadn’t noticed) was more than
made up for by her focussed training to return to fitness. She reached competition level and maintained
a steady stream of swimming events over the Summer, culminating with completion
of the Dart 10km. We look forward to her
being given the OK to lose the wetsuit once again and to a 2014 filled with
more PBs.
End of year
grade: Bronze
Special
Mention: Provider of home-made honey sandwiches
Ollie
Pressures
of work and impending new parenthood impacted on Ollie’s appearances at the
beach during 2013, but in the early part of the year he added an early morning
run to the swimming in preparation for Brighton marathon. An impressive performance at his first
marathon and some treasured memories of team SSF’s marathon training in the
dark and on the pebbles. He still hasn’t
put up the hook he promised on the groyne wall for hanging up his work clothes.
End of year
grade: Silver
Special
award (from Polly) for the best shepherd’s pie in the world
Alex
Our adventurous
Portuguese Man O’ War made many solo swims this year but we missed his presence
in the SSF posse when he was on work placements. Not as fast as in previous years maybe, but
certainly still a strong swimmer and leader in the water in Ollie’s absence on
some of the longer swims. During the
year provided a range of excellent post-swim cakes as well as informal physio
advice to many of the group. Hopefully
his impending new arrival will not take him away from us too much in the
forthcoming year.
End of year
grade: Silver (made up with solo ‘homework’ swims)
Still
holder of the 50 shades of grey Abs of steel award (apparently, according to
those ladies that notice this sort of thing... ;-))
Pete
You would have
thought that training for his first Ironman triathlon would have distracted
Pete from his commitments to SSF but nothing can deter this man! Coming back from illness over last Winter, he
launched into a gruelling race programme which left him looking very much as if
he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. However, after the Forestman was ‘out of the
way’, something did seem to lift and he seemed to start to really enjoy the
water, something which will only improve his swimming (as will breathing
bilaterally, but we won’t go on AGAIN about that).
End of year
grade: Silver
Honourable
Mention: Flying the SSF Flag when others faltered, oh, and the Fish Crate
Joan
No
improvement possible for our Queen of the sea in terms of water-skills, but,
spurred on no doubt by the marathon efforts of others in the group, she has
steadily improved her running over 2012.
Maybe this will be the Olympic Legacy?
Never late for class, despite residing temporarily in Newhaven while her
house was renovated, she has dispensed wisdom and laughs in equal measure. And fish.
She also came up trumps when she came into possession of a beach hut
key, thus allowing SSF to move into their Winter HQ.
End of year
grade: Silver (only because there was no snow this Winter)
Special
Award: Lifetime services to swimming and Saltdean Archetecture (Can’t think how
the Queen missed her off the new years honours list)
Stefan
This year
saw a first from Stefan – a day when he stated he could not swim because he
was, “not dressed for it”! Our very own
Herbalife representative, he spent much of 2012 globe-trotting but always
returned to SSF to provide lifeguarding support when most required.
End of year
grade: Wader
King Canute
Award for wading to Anita Jones’ Locker
Anita
A Summer
visitor to the SSF shores, but seeing her run down the road to the beach in her
wetsuit is always a welcome sight.
Latter part of the year blighted by injury and so she was able to retire
from the cooling waters with some dignity.
Hopefully a return to form next year as she is one of our strongest and
fastest swimmers and a good asset for those more challenging swims, keeping
Ollie and Alex on their toes.
End of year
grade: Little Dipper
Duvet award
for consistent lateness
Emma
Emma ties
with Cat for most improved swimmer, but she definitely wins hands down any
contest in terms of learning to love the ocean.
2012 has seen Emma go from a tentative paddler to a confident all
weather swimmer. A great addition to the
group (and she often brings cake!).
End of year
grade: Silver
Joint
winner of most improved swimmer award
Cat
2012 also a
good year for Cat although she has had frequent absences from the sea she did
do make up classes at Weirwood. She has
improved not only her swimming, but also her biking, and has added real
triathlon medals to her trophy cabinet.
End of year
grade: Little Dipper
Joint
winner of most improved swimmer award
Paul
Paul’s
contribution to local seaswimming now reaches beyond the Deans, all the way to
the bright lights of Brighton (& Hove) as he was voted onto the committee of
Brighton Swimming Club this year. Work
timings have led him to take more swims with Brighton this year than with us
but we lay first claim to him. A few bad
experiences early in 2012 made Paul a nervous swimmer this year but he gets
kudos for getting back in the water.
Hopefully 2013 will be a better year and we will see a return to form.
End of Year
Grade: Silver
Special
mention for committee work
Teresa
Always
favouring the more temperate climes, Teresa has been an infrequent visitor this
year, but she fulfilled her contractual obligations to organise the second SSF
Handicap race. Always fast, always good
company, we just wish she would harden up a bit so we could see her all year
round!
End of year
grade: Little Dipper
Sharon
Another
tropical water specialist, Sharon made a few swims with us in preparation for
Ironman New York, and proved that working hard in the pool can translate to
some very good performances in open water.
We look forward to hosting an appropriate SSF hen do for her next year.
End of year
grade: Little Dipper
Alison
Made just two appearances this year, both in the warmest week of the year. A true tropical specialist, she prefers the Red Sea to our green one. However, she did also attend regularly at Weirwood and a few away dips at Seaford. She needs to shake off any worries about the cold and work with a bit more vigour, that way, she won't feel it so much. She also needs to embrace the waves and not worry too much about being upended and dumped on the beach!
End of Year grade: Little Dipper
Jon
A rare
sight this year due to inherent reluctance to enter cold water, and then a
serious cycling accident, although some off-piste swims with Swim Trek in the
Lake District had begun his conversion to being an open water lover. I predict a 2013 full of swimming success as
he uses the water to rehabilitate his broken leg and ligament damage.
End of year
grade: Wader
Hildi
A
spectacular DNF at the Dart 10km marks this year out for Hildi. Cold water acclimatisation and a year’s
training not being enough to counter-act 3 weeks of stress, lack of sleep and
sudden weight loss. However, full marks
to her for being brave enough to attempt the swim without wetsuit. Despite the impact of Jon’s accident on
family life, she has been able to keep up attendance sufficient to maintain her
claim on a silver award.
End of year
grade: Silver
Recipient
of the Jet-Ski award for hyperthermia and recklessness
Other
honourable mentions:
Paul W –
fast performances and valued training partner (and on-line race entry provider) of Sara
Helen –
Gutsy winter performance in cold December seas
James – the
Young Persons ‘Gung Ho’ award
Barry –
Support and reassuring emergency service presence
Clive – the
most elusive award
Domino – 50th
birthday party providing a hilarious opportunity for SSFs to dress up!
