Friday 14 June 2013

'The Show Must Go On'

Introducing

"Pips Double Channel Team 2013.."
Doug,Paul,Richard,Rob,Darran,Gary
"Breakthrough Breast Cancer"

The Re-Match is on..!
The Challenge 
 A 2 Way Swim Of The English Channel.
The Date
14th July to 19th July 2013
The Charity 
Breakthrough Breast Cancer 

http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/ 
We crashed and burned only half a mile from finishing the double  in 2012..

The Question is , can we put that right and make it 2013..????...


YOU BET WE CAN...................!

THE SHOW MUST GO ON....
(Simple click on the arrow to hear the Queen at their finest and see some of the pictures from last years oh so close attempt ...The Show goes on...!!!!..)
we cannot get the video to show on Moblies
the is link to see on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsOH4Z5voRM

In 2012 Big Ricks Swim Team got within half a mile of completing a double swim of the English channel, but due to extreme weather fog,rain,8 ft waves ,force 5 winds, strong sea swells (just a normal day in the channel really) , the swim was eventually stopped , our pilot Mr Freddy Mardle had let us swim on for 4 hrs through the bad weather hoping against hope it would clear enough for us to be able to finish  but sadly the weather to get even worse as we approached Dover as darkness fell , so after swimming for more than 22 hours Fred had to stop the swim due to his growing concerns for not only for the safety of the swimmer in Water , but also for the safety of the 9 soles on board the Masterpiece boat , it was the correct decision off course ,  we loved Fred words after we finally arrived back in folkestone harbour  at 2 am some 26 hours after we left.. ..Well Lads you did okay , you almost made it, i know you are down and disappointed now , but Ha that's channel swimming for you...Everyday is different , Everyday brings a new challenge , if it was easy everyone would be doing it..!!,  just be glad your safe and well and able to try again.!! .. every channel swimmer knows Captain Webb`s famous remarks about swimming the Channel...."" Nothing Great Is Easy,"" he can say that again..

After a long hard  re think and then some arm twisting we decided to come  back for one final  go at the English channel ( and it will be our last swim )....! Sure we are older ,sure we are even balder and most of us a lot fatter than last year ,  but we are also wiser ....!!! Hmm well okay maybe only Darran and maybe Gary are wiser but we are Back anyway..! 

Why....Because The Ricks show Must must go on .!...we cannot stop just because our pride was hurt by not completing last years challenge ..!  Sooo  A  Double English channel re-match has been arranged  for July 14th to 19th 2013...We are the same Team of  Fun ugly chubby middle aged men from the west midlands  , but  this year  there is change, an very important change, We are swimming the 2 way under a new  team name " Pip`s Double Channel Swim Team " in memory of Big Ricks Swimmer Richard  Brownjohn’s  partner the beautiful and charming Phillipa "Pip" Thomas who lost her 2 yr fight with breast cancer just a few months ago
 ...wish us luck...Ricks & PIps  
Richard & Pip. x
..Pips Swim team are now in back in Open Water, training hard to be ready for another double channel crossing  in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. This is not Just  Pip`s swim team that are doing things in Philippa`s Memory this year , Around the time of the swim four of Pip’s nieces and nephews will swim the same distance in swimming pools in Pershore and Sutton Coldfield. Her sister Deb and brother-in-law Andy are entering the Great Midlands Fun Run, and on 1 September sister-in-law Julie will be aiming to complete the Vitruvian Middle Distance / Half Ironman Triathlon at Rutland Water. This involves a 1.9km open water swim, a hilly 54mile bike ride and a half marathon. This will be double the race distance she has completed before.  also Lisa younger Sister of  Pip is walking the Coast to Coast Walk along Hadrians Wall, along with Steve, Hazel and John - along with our dogs Jake and Max...
everyone is raising money in aid of in aid of 
Breakthrough Breast Cancer 
http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/
and 

Macmillan Cancer Support 
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx


we are all hoping if we work together, it will to make it a year to remember ,
 a year Pip would have been proud of x


We are doing the double for the amazing charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer..
 Breakthrough Breast Cancer is a pioneering charity dedicated to the prevention, treatment and ultimate eradication of breast cancer. We believe passionately that this disease can be beaten. By fighting on three fronts – research, campaigning and education – we are determined to save and change lives by removing the fear of breast cancer for good
if you think after we deserve supporting not only in our quest to swim
the
 60 miles to France and back .!,
but more importantly we hope we more deserving of your support
in our dream to help Breakthrough Breast Cancer with their amazing work .
http://www.justgiving.com/pipschannelswimteam 
(this is Pip,s Channel Justgiving charity  page link,either clink or copy and paste to go to our page )

Pips Training Starts..!!
1st of May 2013..
Venue Swan Pool..
all smiles for a return to open water after 6 months off..
the smiles did not last long when we were told the water was  only 10 degrees at best,..!
good to see everyone is keen to get in..!!
see Darran is all smiles , reason being he  left  his Kit to swim in Liverpool , as you do..!
Quick Team picture before the off,
well we had to be fast , as this is the only time we will most likely  see Supa Darran before July`s swim..
Pips team
( "Supa Redman Dyke","The Special one", "The Meat","Mr Copeland" ,The Graying Badger and "Basher" )
  
Hmmmm really boys..
what happen to your weight watches diet plan over the winter..!!
Doug,Paul & Big Rich
we all love Doug really..
there is nothing better than getting splashed when you are already shivering.

Hmmmm....Basher not looking keen to get in..
Paul shouted i,m sure something is moving in the water..??? ..
sh** it touched my leg....that`s it..
""I'm A Pool Swimmer Get ME Outta Here.......!!
The boys slowly making there way into a cold looking Swan Pool.
there was no looking about it , it was freezing..!!
The Special one
Big Bob Cash all smiles , well we think they are smiles...
he is doing his normal 30 minutes of messing
around before finally getting some swimming done 
Hmmmmm The Edge does not look Happy..
Big Gary looking a little edgy about getting in the 10 degree water.!!!
who can blame him.
short Video from the Swan before we got in..!!
( just click the Arrow in the picture above to hear Pip`s report) 


if you think after we deserve supporting not only in our quest to swim
the
 60 miles to France and back .!, 
but more importantly we hope we more deserving of your support
in our dream to help Breakthrough Breast Cancer with their amazing work .
http://www.justgiving.com/pipschannelswimteam 

(this is Pip,s Channel Justgiving charity  page link,either clink or copy and paste to go to our page )