End of Year Reports

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 – 50^th birthday party providing a hilarious opportunity for SSFs to dress up!