Who is going to the 1500 meet at Barnet-Copthall ?

[Gareth Eckley]

I am travelling down from Mid-Wales to swim at the 1500m event this sunday.

I was wondering if any one from this forum will be swimming there.

[GettingFaster]

Sadly not, but best of luck to you Gareth. Anyone who can swim 1500m deserves a medal - only ever done 800m once!

I hear the Barnet crew are very friendly and their meets have a very good reputation for being well-organised and great fun, so let us know how you get on.

[KatieBun]

Well done, oh brave Gareth. I won't be joining you. Have done it as a Cystic Fibrosis sponsored swim but it was only timed out of interest by my husband, so no pressure.
(It must be dreadful if you get in for a 1500 and think,"I don't really feel like this!")

[mammamedley]

Barnet meets are always great - lovely short course pool - and I always had a great welcome from the Barnet Beavers!

Have fun - swim well.

Good luck Katiebun with your sponsored swim!

[KatieBun]

Already did that one mammamedley, past tense! Huge support and a great atmosphere! It was last year! Wouldn't mind repeating it though.

[Ivor]

I shall be present at some point this weekend to help out, although I will not be swimming. (My entry must have got lost in the post)

As a club we are extremely friendly, in a strange sort of over-familiar, passive aggressive way.

Almost forgot - good luck to everyone who is taking part etc.

[Gareth Eckley]

Ivor, I will be arriving by tube from Paddington. How do i find you and what tube line are you on? Can i walk from the tube station or should i get a taxi?

Thanks, Gareth.

[chlorine_babe]

An amazing amount of your entries seemed to get lost in the post however I liked the guy who faked his own death last year!

[Gareth Eckley]

I made it to the pool, after a very long 4 hour train journey. It was too far to go for 1 swim and after the hassles with the rail, I don't think i will do it again.

After the meet, It took me 3 hours to get from the pool to Farnborough ( 40 miles away) where i was staying with my brother and another 3 hours to get home the next day. The train stopped at Woking and we had to go on a bus for the last 30 minutes, with a manic driver !

My swim felt good, better pacing than my Sheffield swim, but i was only 5 seconds faster.

However there were two highlights for me:
First was seeing a woman with no legs swim the whole 1500m. I think her time was around 28 - 30 mins. Unfortunately, I did not get her name.

Then watching Jane Ascher break her own World record for the 1500m in a time of 24:00 mins. She is now 72 and she was 5 seconds faster than her previous record set when she was 70.

She has a smooth, technically perfect stroke, and watching her was great. She was swimming at 17 strokes per length. On her left was a male swimmer, age 35, who was taking 27 strokes per length.

He started off fast, but i knew after 1 length that Jane would catch him up. It took her until the last 30 metres to pass him and it was a great display of how excellent technique will beat a swimmer who is putting more effort in but is less efficient.

[GettingFaster]

Well done Gareth, glad you enjoyed the swim, despite the transport fun and games. Let us know your next outing and if anyone else from the board is going to be there you can meet up.

[mammamedley]

well done Gareth - a long way for a 1500 especially with the challenging public transport system in the UK.

Jane is a special swimmer as well as a special person - she is such a lovely lady and its so good to hear she is still swimming well.