Saturday 11th June dawned a beautiful sunny day, calm and warm, just right for the Tuesday Swimming Club of West Suffolk Wheelers and Tri Club to test their muscles in Open Water at Alton Water.

Everybody had a degree of nerves, some more than most.  Marc Verzijl, one of our most competent swimmers (1 mile - 2^nd in his ‘wave’ and 4^th in his age group) admitted he had never done open water in a wet suit before – baptism of fire, fun getting it on and off isn’t it Marc?

Geraldine McKeag (1 mile) was carrying out her ‘usual’ mile for her favourite charity and was congratulated by Duncan Goodhew on her performance.  Quite a celebrity, Geraldine was shadowed by Channel 4 in a special orange swimming cap, and they plan to broadcast an interview with her in their October expose of the Event.  One or two others, including Phil Clarke (1 mile in 29.43 minutes) and Rob Adams (2 miles) surprised us all with their excellent performances.  Dave and Mary Leaver (half mile) the cautious type, for their novice attempt in with the kids.  Most of us had our problems keeping the marker direction buoys in sight but the warm, calm water was a big advantage.  Thankfully, not like last year when folk were hanging on to the safety boats and being sick in the water from the conditions.  We had a good swim.

It was a huge relief to run drunkenly up the timing mat at the finish and receive congratulations from friends and relatives and our goody bags but best of all the medals and t-shirt, a real ‘been there done that’ moment.

We had been training for several weeks prior to the event at Fritton Lake (see website for Chris Wiseman’s arrangements) and other places but most of all a big thank you to Chris Curtin and his daughter Olivia who have trained us at the club for this and other events in their own time – we done you proud.

Tuesday Swim Club:       Rob Adams, Mandy Bunn, Phil Clark, Lisa Fairs, David Leaver. Mary Leaver, Geraldine MacKeag, Stuart O’Neill, Lee Sole, Marc Verzijl

Joined by WSW&Tri:        Dawn D’Amarco, Jill Willshaw, Marie Unsworth (2 miles in 1 hour 19 mins 42 secs after recovering from an injury)

Sorry if we missed anyone out, you athletes are so difficult to track.