Newsletter - SA Masters Swimming - SAMS



SPLOSH

NEWSLETTER OF CAPE TOWN MASTERS SWIMMING CLUB NOVEMBER 2003

|Inside This Issue |

|1 |An affair of the heart |

|2 |Member profile: The amazing Amanda Picard |

|2 |From the Chair |

|4 |Lungbuster Lessons |

|4 |Tips for Swimmers and Timekeepers |

| |

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IT BEGAN WITH A WALK...

WE start this newsletter with something different - a story of an affair of the heart.

Our tale begins at this year's Nationals in Durban and ends with a surprise plane ride to Moscow, a move to Cape Town - and real life proof that master's swimming is about more than simply doing laps.

Flash to a warm Durban evening on the Friday night of Nationals where Monica Hubbard, at the time living in Germiston and swimming for Eastern Stingrays, and Marius Campher of Cape Town Masters, find themselves, two strangers who know each other only as swimmers, walking side-by-side.

It was, as Monica confessed to your correspondent recently, almost as if there was a spark between them. She was overwhelmed with a desire to reach out and touch Marius.

She, however, resisted the desire, and it appeared the moment was lost.

But come Sunday morning and a fateful miscommunication results in Monica and Marius making contact via SMS. In the exchange over the ensuing week Monica confesses to Marius the incredible moment she felt that Friday night at Nationals. And what of Marius? Well, he confesses he felt it too.

What followed next could not have been written by Hollywood's best. Marius, back in Cape Town, asks Monica, back in Germiston: Do you want to have coffee on May 10th?

Monica thinks Marius is nuts. How are they going to have coffee on that day when they are living a half a country apart?

But Marius is about to spring an even greater surprise. Monica finds herself with a ticket to Moscow, on a plane with Marius where they do indeed keep their coffee date!

And how does it end? Who knows? But it certainly seems to be going great. Monica is now living in Cape Town, last seen cuddling up to Marius in Mario's following October's Long Street gala.

That's a prize you can't put a price on. Well, done guys and we all wish you the best of luck.

YOUR CLUB

CHAIRMAN: Chris Donnelly chriswd@ Fax: 794 3896 Tel: 794 5406

VICE CHAIRMAN: Di Hau bramasol@ Tel: 794 4133

TREASURER: John Bryce Tel: 788 1593

MINUTES SECRETARY: Vicky Harvey

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY & CLUB KIT COORD: Marcelle Strauss marzi.s@mweb.co.za Tel: 976 5069

CHAMPS COORD (and swim magazine library): Luzanne Boyes luzanne@mweb.co.zaTel: 671 0650

GALAS: Gail McCarney gailbristow@ Tel: 705 5242

SOCIALS: Doug Howieson administrator@ourschools.co.za Tel: 712 1610

PRO & WEBSITE: Andrew Trench trencha@sundaytimes.co.za Tel: 488 1777

WEBSITE ADDRESS: myweb.webmail.co.za/capemasters/

FOR THE RECORD

CONGRATS: TO DION WOODBORNE WHO BECAME PROUD DAD TO ELLA WOODBORNE ON 6 OCTOBER. SHE WAS BORN WEIGHING 3.8KG AND "IS AS SWEET AS PIE!"

GOOD WISHES: TO DIANA GALATIS WHO IS RECOVERING FROM RECENT SURGERY

BIRTHDAYS

NOVEMBER: DION WOODBORNE, ANDREW TRENCH, TIM SHEAD, MARTIN SCHULTZE-HULBE, ANDRE ROOTHMAN, RAFE NUSSEY, DUDLEY NOBLE, MONIKA MUNNIK, JERRY HARTLEY, DIANE COETZEE, MIKE BOND.

DECEMBER: PETER BRANDT, JUDITH BREWIS, GARRY BRISTOW, HILARY FINCHAM, CHRIS HILL, CAROLINE MCILWANE, LEON VLOK.

GALA DRAMA: FLASH!!

As Splosh was going to press, late news arrived of the results of the SA Short Course gala held at Long Street.

There were 55 entries and records once again fell like confetti.

Five SA records fell. Well done to Tricia Rix, Cecilia Stanford, Perry Cadiz, Gary Freeling and Rob Manners-Wood

Twenty WP Records went too. Well done to Tricia Rix (4), Therese Russell (2), Diane Coetzee (2), Rob Manners-Wood (2), Gary Freeling (2) and 1 new record for Perry Cadiz, Cecilia Stanford, Kelly McWilliam, Ralph King, Michael Clark, Doug Howieson, Patrick Verryn and Andrew Trench .

ROBBEN ISLAND RESPECT

While some of us were snoozing on a recent Sunday morning club members Hester Brusser and Tony Sellmeyer (and two other unnamed swimmers) did an "impromtu" Robben Island crossing.

Hester reports they finished in a respectable 2 hrs 29 considering conditions of a brish westerly and icy waters. Massimo respetto (practicing for Italy)

WELCOME TO THE CLUB - PARTY NUMBER ONE

There's nothing like getting to know your new clubmates and new arrivals to the world of master's swimming. New members are to be welcomed on Wednesday November 12 with a little bash hosted by Western Cape Masters and the committees of the various clubs.

So if you are newly signed up get over to 41 Herschel Road, Claremont for a drink or two or...(well you know) between 7 and 9pm. Tales of debauchery later.

PARTY NUMBER TWO

Our end of year bash is to be held on Friday November 28 at the home of Doug Howieson, our ever-gracious host. 104 Zwaanswyk Road, Tokai Bring and braai - and don't forget to bring a prezzie - wrapped and labelled for someone else.

ORANGE RIVER TRIAL

Club member Andrew Chin continues his brave plans for himself and a team of (at last count) another five swimmers to conquer 480km of the Orange River over 10 days in early January.

Andrew, who says he was inspired by an account of a man who swam the Mississippi, plans for his band to cover the distance between Opseepkans gorge to the river mouth at Alexander Bay. The group intends swimming in relays through every day with each expected to cover some five kilometres or so a day which is no mean feat. They are to be guided by Gravity, a specialist adventure tourism company, and Andrew is seeking further sponsors and supporters for

the bold plan.

At time of writing the original team of 10 had reduced to six, as participants realised the scale of the challenge they were facing following an eye-opening practice run on Breede River. Watch this space!

EAST LONDON NATIONALS

Tick, tock...D-Day draws closer for nationals next March 18-20, especially if you have not booked your place at the Dolphin Hotel. Deposits were due end of October and 20 rooms have already been booked. Beg and plead with Di Hau (bramasol@) to accept your payments if you haven't coughed up already.

In a similar vein the cut-off date for ordering new stock is November 15. Among new stock being offered are costumes suitable for woman long distance swimmers without irritating piping. Marcelle Strauss (marzi.s@mweb.co.za) is the kit queen if you are in the market.

WORLD CHANNEL SWIM

Many local masters' swimmers will be competing in the World Channel Swim being organised internationally in aid of a British child who has suffered terrible burns.

Th child's name in Terri Calvesbert and the story of her plight was aired on British TV moving people to want to swim to support her. A number of fundraising swims are being held internationally, including in South Africa where some local swimmers are inspired by this effort.

The goal is for a group of swimmers to attempt to complete the distance of a channel swim in one day (35km), fundraising at the same time.

In Cape Town, the organised swims are Saturday December 6th - the Mykonos Mile (5km, 6km or 10km swims) contact Andrew Chin for details chin@cybertrade.co.za or 794 7102.

Also at Newlands Pool at 7am. To join Dolphins and CTM swimmers (for relay swimming) contact Judy Brewis mikebrew@ or 685 1812

Swim website is

COACHING CORNER

THE ART AND TORTURE OF THE LUNGBUSTER

By Perry Cadiz

Physio and club member

In the lunch time squad at Constantia Virgin, hypoxic breathing is part of every session and yet very few of the swimmers actually hold their breath for the required “9-5-7-5”.

I certainly don’t enjoy the hypoxic set, especially with one of those bands around my feet but yet I know how important it is to do the set properly! Unfortunately for us the coach has method behind the madness and here it is:

The aim of hypoxic training is to teach you how to make better use of the available air. To do this, you simply take fewer breaths per length than normal, although as a training technique it is only relevant to freestyle. The lungs are very elastic and can take in a considerable amount of oxygen, but often very little of it is used. Improving oxygen uptake through hypoxic training will delay the onset of oxygen debt and enable you to swim for longer periods before fatigue sets in.

Hypoxic training puts the body under pressure by asking it to work without sufficient oxygen. The aim is to create more red blood cells to aid the absorption of oxygen from the lungs and to improve cardiovascular efficiency. Not only does it build breathe control, it is also useful for racing since it will teach you to keep your head down after the turns and at the end of a race.

Here is an example of a hypoxic set:

Swim 200m freestyle. For the first 50m breath every 2 stroke; for the second 50m every 4th stroke; for the third 50m breathe every 6th stroke and for the last 50m every 8th stroke. This is probably the maximum you will manage until you get used to this training method.

A favourite at Constantia Virgin is to breathe every nine strokes for the first length, then every 5 strokes for the second length, then every 7 strokes for the third length and then every 5th stroke for the fourth length. This sequence is repeated for whatever distance.

TOP TIPS FOR SWIMMERS AND TIMEKEEPERS

With some confusion at recent galas over some of the finer points of the rules for competitors and officials, Western Province Masters kindly produced these tips.

THE START

• Three short whistles

• Timekeepers check their watch is clear

• Swimmers stand behind the block followed by a long whistle timekeepers stand ready with index finger (not thumb)

• On stop/start button swimmers climb on to the block start watch on seeing the light (sight) on the starter’s gun.

END OF RACE

• Stop watch when the swimmer touches the wall – but watch the wall, not the swimmer from when the swimmer reaches the flags

• Recording – record clearly on the 3 lines allowed the times from the watches – checking each watch. do not write in official time this is calculated by WP masters.

• If giving swimmer their time, make sure they know it is an unofficial time.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

A swimmer will be disqualified:

• If he/she delays the starts once under starter’s orders

• Moves before the gun is fired touches with one hand in breaststroke and butterfly,

• Or faults on the backstroke turn

ONE START RULE

There will only be one start and swimmers are disqualified on the following before the gun is fired:

• If a swimmer breaks before the gun is fired, then the starter will fire the gun twice and disqualify the swimmer who broke

• If the swimmer breaks because another swimmer was delaying the start, then the swimmer delaying the start will be disqualified

AFTER THE GUN IS FIRED

If a swimmer has broken just ahead of the gun being fired, then the race will carry on and the swimmer will be disqualified at the end of the race

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YOU GOT NEWS?

Newsletters need news. If you've got some or some thoughts to share please pass them on to me (Andrew Trench on 0823388161 or trencha@sundaytimes.co.za or

Capemasters@webmail.co.za)

DON'T FORGET!

SAMS NEWSLETTER: LATEST EDITION IS OUT BUT WILL NOT BE POSTED - SO LOOK OUT FOR IT AT THE GALAS OR AT YOUR SQUADS OR CONTACT CHRIS DONNELLY (SEE CONTACTS BOX)

DATES TO REMEMBER

NOV 8: WINELANDS MILE ASHANTI WINESTATE

NOV 15: LAST SHORT COURSE GALA, OAKHURST

NOV 22: LONG BEACH MILE, SIMONSTOWN

DEC 16: FISHHOEK MILE

DEC 6: WORLD SWIM DAY: MORE INFO SOON

FROM THE CHAIR

Chris Donnelly writes

The deadline for membership renewal having come and gone, I am very happy to report that your club has 97 members, 16 of whom are new – swim training is GROWING in popularity. Also, more than a few of you seem to be committing to your swim training again, as was obvious from the attendance at the recent galas.

Although the recent Short Course Champs was not as well attended as the previous 2 meets (being for Members only), participation in Masters swimming is on the up and more people are expressing interest in a sport that often inadvertently alienates “outsiders”. Happily, it only takes a smile and a friendly word to break the ice and crack the perception that swimming is “cliquey”.

I have been approached often by non-swimmers who would dearly love to partake in the squad training but who view the thrashing up and down the lanes as formidable and improbable.

It takes quite a bit of explaining to convince them that the majority of the “thrashers” began swimming, some only in their later years, in a very humble manner, attempting merely to coordinate kicking and breathing. And oh the joy when you do your first hundred. (One can perform miracles with fins!).

The good thing about swimming is the little challenges that you face to nudge you out of your comfort zone: the first tumble turn; the first length of a new stroke; perfecting a streamlined push off the wall; the first gala (the nerves!); even perhaps, your first Worlds Masters Champs! As large, or as small, as the challenge YOU need.

I, for one, am eternally grateful to a sport that allows me to work as hard or easy as I need, whatever my circumstances at the time. We are also blessed to have some extremely talented and motivating coaches in our midst. Its thanks in no small part to their dedication and effort that these patient teachers put in, to ALL levels of the squads, that we can look forward to a well-planned and motivating training session that enables us to attain fitness levels of which we should be proud.

So, give thanks for your health, and friends, and enjoy a superb swimming and holiday season.

Cheers!

Chris

MEMBER PROFILE:

Amanda Picard

What do you do when you've just had your second child and are wondering what to do next?

Simple. You hit the pool, train for three months and then swim a 26 kilometre race across a Swiss lake - and win it!

At least, that's what you do if your name is Amanda Picard (aka "Missy Grendon" in earlier years) who recently had jaws sagging at a Long Street master's gala in October. There, she chewed the field to win the 800m in an astounding 9:37.56, beating the likes of speedster Rob Manners-Wood.

But her performance in the pool was perhaps not that surprising when you take into account Amanda's recent experience and swimming pedigree.

A swimmer since the age of 11 who has competed at provincial level, earlier this year Amanda decided to enter a race across Zurich lake, where she lives with husband Maurice when not in Scarborough.

After 6 hours and 48 minutes of swimming Amanda , 35, found herself in the amazing position of not only completing the challenge, but winning it with a 20-year-old Equadorian male swimmer only two minutes behind.

Amanda averaged 1:35 for each 100m over the epic swim."I was prepared mentally, but mentally it was very tough," she recalled recently, "...but I'm glad I've done it".

She followed that up with a swim in recent European Masters champs in France and snapped up gold medals in the 400m and the 5km and won silver in the 800m.

In other words, she was more than ready for the 800m at Long Street.

"I was very relaxed," she said, "I put my suit on, barely warmed up, dived in and tried to keep up with Rob (Manners-Wood). Then I applied a bit of pressure and suddenly Rob was behind me!".

"I was blown away," she said. Amanda's time was a new SA record.

But for now it's back in the pool with an eye on nationals in East London and World Champs in Italy. "I'm loving masters swimming," gushed Amanda, whose biggest fans besides her husband are kids Joshua, three, and Anna.

Amanda admits it was hard to go back to the pool soon after having a baby but advises anyone who is able to do so to do it. "I'm a better person when I'm swimming," she laughed.

Meanwhile, Amanda gives a nod to her veteran coach - and club member - Clara Aurik for her success in the pool and lake. Clara began coaching her when Amanda was 11 and who still coaches her today.

"Clara says if it's in your blood...I'm hope I'm still swimming at her age!".

WINTER FITNESS CHALLENGE 2003

THE Winter Fitness challenge is over - and alas we were savaged by Barracudas and Fish Eagles.

Bluff Barracudas of Durbs swim away with glory after recording a 250% participation rate. (The winner is decided on this and not actual number of swims; the goal being to encourage new members )

Next up was Fish Eagles who had 127 % participation.

And we can give ourselves a pat on the back to. We had a 76% participation rate, which is fantastic for a large club.

Barracudas won R300 plus their entry fees returned.

But, as SAMS, notes: "Congratulations must go however to each and every swimmer for making our WFC happen."

Did you all get your handy and sturdy lanyards, the gift from SAMS for participating. Not bad for an hour's sweat!

GREAT GALA DRAMA

THE season has begun with a bang with several great galas since the last newsletter.

The scene is set for a sensational season judging from the number of records that have tumbled so far. September's Long Street gala saw club swimmers go record-breaking bonkers. Well done all and particularly these folk:

100m back: Cecilia Stanford 1:13.07 (WP and SA); Tricia Rix, 2:03.24 (WP); Allen Morrison 1:29.62 (WP)

100m IM: Diane Coetzee 1:24.21 (WP), Tricia Rix 2:00.68 (WP)

800m Free: Amanda Picard 9:37.56 (WP and SA); Cecilia Stanford 10:12.59 (WP and SA); Anthony Sneath 12:25.65 (WP);

200m Fly: Tricia Rix 4:31.12 (WP); Anthony Sneath 3:51.73 (WP)

50m Fly: Perry Cadiz 28.69 (WP and SA); Diane Coetzee 32.73 (WP)

50m Free: Rob Manners-Wood 25.65 (WP); Michael Clark 34.94 (WP)

Remember the next gala is November 15 at Oakhurst -fun relays afterwards too

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