Fantastic, you have your pound of flesh - I completed a mile at Salford Quays as part of the Great Salford Swim this Sunday 26 September in 45 min 5 sec. Not windermere, much more urban! Quite chuffed with the time and really enjoyed it. Was even interviewed twice for a forthcoming documentary on the great swim series. So watch out for that one, although I don't look to good climbing out of the water! Posted some photos for you to have a look at and will put some video Helen shot of the event on YouTube if you fancy seeing at what it looked like. Quite impressive, definitely doing some more next year if anyone fancies joining me. Thanks again for all you donations

Steve

Unbelievably 3 days beforehand it has been necessary to postpone the British Gas Great North Swim - Windermere, which was due to be staged on Saturday and Sunday September 4th and 5th. This is due to prevalence of blue-green algae and the impact that this may have on the safety of the wimmers in the water.

This decision was taken by the Event Safety Group in the interests of safety of swimmers after further stringent water quality checks were completed.

The organisers are looking at a potential new 2010 date for the swim - so watch this space. If the event doesn't go ahead I will be entering the Great North Swim - Manchester, 1 Mile in Salfiord in Quays 26 September as an alternative. The settings not as picturesque, but the water quality may be better!? and a least 2 weeks more training avalible (thew!)

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The big challenge for this year, and it will be a challenge with my buoyancy! Is the Great North Swim. A one-mile outdoor swim in beautiful , , and I’m hoping to raise £1000 for . The Christie is local but one of ’s leading cancer centres, treating over 40,000 patients a year.  Based in Manchester, Christies has helped and supported some of our friend and relatives during some difficult times and as a national centre of excellence with over a quarter of patients referred from other parts of the country. Cancer research in , most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the .

The British Gas Great North Swim takes place at the Low Wood Hotel and , . I’m starting 11:30 on Sunday the 5 September. My target time?  . . a closely guarded secret and will depend on how badly the training goes over the next couple of months!

In 2009, an impressive 6,000 swimmers took part over two days. The events great for the Northwest, Voted 5th top open-water swim in the world last year with some of the world’s top swimmers compete against one another, across the same one mile course as the drowning masses.

Windermere is ’s largest lake at 10.5 miles long stretching from Ambleside in the North to in the South. Working for the ‘guardians of the environment’ the Environment Agency we’re proud that the event takes place in our waters!

First training session starts next week, once I’ve shaken this damn cold! Promise I’ll put a photo with the obligatory wetsuit and swimming cap (Not that I need one), may have to wait until I loose a few pounds firth though.

If you’re interested in knowing more?

www.christie.nhs.uk

www.greatswim.org

www.environment-agency.gov.uk

 

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