Cyprus Training Camp 2012

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We had a tough session this morning, with 4 x 400 IM as the start of main set, some obviously were going to struggle a little but it was all about self challenging. There will be more sets like that over the next few weeks.

We told the kids we were going on a very long run after enforce lunch and that Harry and Jayne had taken the bus to the return point of the run. A map was set up at the meeting and I explained the route and where they were to see Harry. I then took them outside and told them where we were to set off from. As they were about to go (there were a few who looked petrified), I told them we were only joking and they had the morning to chill out before lunch. A huge sigh of relief descended upon the outskirts of Paphos!!

The mini gala with Newbury went well but the fierce wind from the sea, made times difficult to better as the swimmers were so cold. Team Four were the eventual winners with 144 pts followed by Naamateee! (I have no idea do please don't ask) with 129 pts.

We had an addition member to the Special Bedding Society which has now increased to three. Another then we have no idea about but the kids found extremely funny.

Several funny points (please forgive me on this Mrs Babington but I'm aching through laughing) included

It's been fun but there have also been a few downers including the weather, no profiteroles at dinner, aching muscles and injuries carried from previous weeks.

All-in-all, it's not been a bad week. The swimmers have experienced a week of living out of each others pockets.

Last but one day today, weather has been pretty bad but it hasn't stopped us doing two good sessions. Swimmers now getting mentally tired and most are taking well earned rest in the afternoon.

Today we've been celebrating Livvy Neale's birthday, she has told us we can no longer call her little as she's big from today. She had to write it down for me as I'm now virtually deaf in my right ear due to her constant talking.

Pressure swims went well today with Tads Ciecierski-Holmes doing his delayed 400 IM along with Ellie Fields (50 Bk), George Kremer (100 Fly), Immie McCalman (200 Fly) and Tasha Muir (200 Bk). All swam very well but George has come out on top at the moment with his brilliant Fly swim to give him 112.60%. Second is James Harding with 112.15% and third, at the moment, is Bullet Babington with 106.26%.

Only five swimmers left to compete with swims going to: Libby Penny (200Fs), Mitchell Coombes (50 Fs), Lizzie Howling (50 Brst), Katie Boyce (100 Bk) and finally, Livvy Neale (100 Brst). These will be done tomorrow along with the mini gala including Newbury swimmers who are also here with us again.

Tonight we have the second and final round of Harry's thrilling quiz and all the points will be added to Tuesdays scores to determine the overall winning team who will be duly awarded nothing but it's the thought that counts.

Quiz results:

Morgan's team 41
Sian's team 39
Lizzie's team 38
Georgia's team 38
Eva's team 36

Some of the answers were slightly obscure, some even attempted to change the questions to fit their answers but in the end the official adjudicator brought justice to order.

Please can you all read the logbooks when we get back, sign then and return them to me as I need them a short while before giving them back to the swimmers. Some of the things the guys have written have been brilliant, some funny, some extremely truthful, some not fully filled in.

The suitcase comment from one the other day about "tripping over and breaking my flip flop" being a low point made us feel that the camp couldn't be that bad until one of the high points turned out to be the waffles at breakfast!!!!! Oh well, we tried.

We're hoping to bring everyone home and with everything too but to be honest, I think it'll be a miracle as we have a daily search looking for lost wallets, iPods, keys, clothes, tablets, goggles, costumes and just about everything they brought with them. God knows how you guys manage them!

Final swim update tomorrow evening and a final one before we check out on Saturday. At present we are being picked up at 1.30 local time. I'll contact Paul regarding any delays, etc as and when we hear so you should all be fully aware of pick up plans.

Wednesday 15.2.2012-16:30

Best day by far today, two great sessions and the annual Cypriot Open Water Championships where all Reading swimmers (well, nearly all) competed in the gruelling challenge. Morgan Nash was first in and his pre-race preparation of body grease and flat coke saw him through to finish as 2012 Champion. His gallant win earned him a runny nose and a throaty cough.

Pressure swims this morning saw the 400 IM drawn out for Jonny Venner, he was of course delighted. Eva Hamrud (50 Brst), Lucy Douglas (100 Brst) and Bullet Babington (50 Fly) completed this mornings race. This afternoon we had great Pressure swims from Jazz Wills (50 Fly), Morgan Nash (100 Fs) and Sian Fields (200 Brst) were this afternoons 'victims' with Tads Ciecierski-Holmes (400 IM) having his race deferred until tomorrow.

Last nights quiz (bearing in mind it was for the kids) saw Mrs Fields complain that "our team got that question right.........". Er, Mrs Fields, this is a swimmers quiz so where does OUR TEAM come from?????

Results so far of part one of a two part quiz;

Sian's team 19
Eva's team 19
Lizzie's team 18
Georgia's team 15
Morgan's team 15

Part two tomorrow.

If anyone ever has a cup of hot chocolate with Lizzie Howling, make sure you sit several tables away, maybe even in a different room as her cup and saucer balancing tricks are really not very good. I was scalded beyond repair.

We are also suffering a little from ear-ache. Nothing to do with the cold weather or cold water but highly likely down to the sitting positions at the dinner table. Yours truly has the unenviable task of sitting next to the extremely likable Livvy Neale and it just so happens that my right ear is now significantly less efficient than the left one!!! Bless her. She also explained that today is a very sad day. When asked why, she said its her last day as an 11 year old!

Today has been Hannah Stewart's birthday and we are having a little cake at this evenings meal for her shortly. Tomorrow is Livvy's 12th birthday (obviously) and we plan to do the same again. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Valentines Cards: This was extremely well received by the swimmers. They were over the moon, thanks to you all. Brilliant idea.

Tuesday 14.2.2012-16:30

All is still well on the Cypriot coast, looks like the last day of the good weather with storms forecast for the morning. We had similar last year and it may do us a favour and get the pool temperature up a little further.

Very disappointing this morning, the pool is better than yesterday but it seemed too much for several swimmers again today. Not their fault, just one of those things. We had the running again today and Mouse Howling stormed to a great win in a little over 10 minutes.

The afternoon session was a Test Set with long rest and the swimmers were brilliant. Some close to PB pace for the 200's set, one even hitting a good PB on the last as well as being very close throughout. This was by far the best session of the week.

Quiz night tonight with Harry's famous question papers and lots of beer for the winning swimmer - only joking.

Last nights pressure swims were picked as James Harding who drew the 50 Bk, Georgia Doran 200 Bk, Alex B-N 200 Brst and poor Maddie Bell who had the 200 Fly chosen for her. We are picking all the swimmers out of the hat and pairing them off with events of 50, 100 and 200 of each stroke. As there are 25 swimmers, there had to be a bogey swim for someone in the shape of 400 IM!!! I think tonight we'll see that swim come out when drawn by Mrs Fields (now affectionately know as The Grim Reaper as she deals the fate of the pressure swims). It's all her fault. No pressure swim today as it was the Test Set but two lots of four will go tomorrow.

At times, this week has panned out very up and down, thankfully more ups and I'm sure we'll settle down after a good all round session this afternoon.

Monday 13.2.2012-20:30

Not the best of days today as we suffered from a very English problem of pool boiler breakdown. The morning session started well but it wasn't long before a drop in temperature was noticed and some of the swimmers started to show obvious problems in performing. Although a few managed to keep going, we had several who had to get out and warm up and the session was stopped a little before the end.

A short land based exercise session on the warm patio soon raised the spirits and after lunch we got the nod that the boiler was working again and would soon be up to normal temperature. We expected a similar session in the afternoon but the swimmers were in a better frame of mind and all trained much better and seemed a lot happier with themselves. There were still a few that succumbed to the still lower temperature but all-in-all, the session was probably the best so far.

There have been some funnies already: one swimmer (bearing in mind it was freezing this morning and the worst outcome of a session we could've wanted) has written on the 'Low Points' of their logbook; "When I fell over my suitcase, banged my ankle and broke my flip-flop". If this is the worst thing so far, then things aren't all bad. Another member has written comments on their sessions with the type of writing that could earn them a fortune when they leave school, myself and Harry have been in total hysterics, totally brilliant!! More on that when we get home. 

All-in-all, the camp isn't going too bad. They have been tired despite being warned that they need to rest properly as the environment that we are currently in will wear them down very quickly. They've worked well, especially today and we are now slowly turning the screw on the sessions to work them slightly harder.

Many thanks to the team back home for their support in keeping the club running as expected.

Sunday 12.2.2012-20:30

Saturday 11.2.2012-21:00

Smooth flight and transfer via coach to hotel, we arrived in time for breakfast - much to the delight of most of the swimmers. 
  
After a brief chat and look around to familiarise ourselves with the surroundings, we had the unenviable task of waiting nearly five hours for our rooms. On a wet, rainy day this would've caused a few problems but as the weather was glorious, we had drinks by the pool and a nice relaxing time out. This encouraged the Reading Poker Club to fire up the tables on the sun deck. The unimpressed female contingent of the posse just enjoyed the sun. 
  
Food is good, as normal and now the kids are tucked up in bed after the hectic start to the camp. 
  
More details tomorrow, more photos too.

Saturday 11.2.2012-8:00

I'm sorry to have to report the snowy weather here in Cyprus is horrendous.
Kids wrapped up warm, virtually unbearable.

Saturday 11.2.2012-2:45

Landed in Cyprus, 4.45 local time.