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Category: Open Water Swimming

Henley Thames Marathon, by Jennifer Gambrell

11 September 202211 September 2022
Masters Swimming, Open Water Swimming

I was lucky enough to have snagged a spot in Henley Swim’s Thames Marathon on 14 of August 2022. It was a cloudless, gorgeous sunrise as I pulled into Marlow for the race packet pick-up and coach transfer from the event village to the start.

There were over 600 swimmers – including me – participating in the full marathon distance of 13km, and about 200 participating in the half distance of 5.5km which I swam last year.

Wetsuits were, thanks to the heat wave, made optional, but I stayed in mine for buoyancy and sun protection more than anything else!

sunrise over the River Thames
The lovely sunrise at the finish line in Marlow from where we were transported 13km to the start line in Henley-on-Thames

 

The swim stretched along a beautiful part of the Thames from Henley to Marlow. I certainly wasn’t bored while swimming: there were gorgeous homes, grazing livestock, people walking along the river, and houseboats to keep me entertained. With three locks to cross on foot (with amazingly stocked fuel stations at each one!), the swim flew by. I said to some cows as I paddled along, “This might be the best way to spend a warm Sunday in August.”

Spectators were able to join at the final lock, about 1,800m from the finish, and walk alongside the river the rest of the way. It was so festive and a great moral boost.

The finish line was upbeat and full of great food options and the ever-important medal and t-shirt.

swimmer wearing a medal on the river bank
With my finisher’s medal

 

For anyone curious about the swim, both distances sell out early – I booked my spot last year in January. The first wave starts around 7am, so you will need to spend the night in Marlow the night before if you are relying on public transport to get you there.

I did most of my training in the pool mixed in with open water sessions at West Reservoir Centre. My goal was to swim at least the marathon distance in total each week, and this made the actual swim more than doable.

I swam to raise money for Swim Tayka, a charity that holds learn-to-swim and water awareness lessons in disadvantaged communities around the world. 

My results: 4 hours, 6 minutes, including about 30 minutes eating Haribo at various fuel stations.  I was 163/615 overall, and 50/262 in the female category.

Penguins rule the waves

30 August 202230 August 2022
Masters Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Penguin 100 Centenary

On Sunday 17 July 2022 a posse of Penguin masters swimmers returned to Herne Bay for the annual Active Life Pier to Pier swim, this year joined by some of our water polo girls.

In contrast to the grey skies and cold wind that dominated the swim last summer, it was cloudless sunshine all the way this time.

We had swimmers in all three distances – 750m, 1,5k and 3k – and we rounded things off with fish and chips on the beach afterwards. (And we may have snuck in some ice creams too!)

What a fab day!

Herne Bay Pier to Pier swim

Herne Bay Pier to Pier swim
Image 1 of 12

Want to get one of our Penguin 100 t-shirts? Here’s how.

 

Results

750m

Sarah Wren – 16.07 – Super Vet – overall 4th – category 1st – gender 1st

Johnny Wren – 16.38 – Super Vet – overall 7th – category 3rd – gender 4th

Katie Collins – 16.52 Vet – overall 9th – category 1st – gender 4th

 

1.5k

David Fallon – 29.17 – Super Vet – overall 5th – category 2nd – gender 3rd

Emma Shaw – 29.19 – Senior – overall 6th – category 3rd – gender 3rd

David Bassett – 35.27 – Vintage- overall 22nd – category 5th – gender 15th

Suzie Carter – 36.14 – Vet – overall 23 – category 2nd – gender 8th

Ed Tricklebank – 44.09 – Vet – overall 38th – category 7th – gender 6th

 

3km

Jesse Kelly – 43.39 – Super Vet – overall 2nd – category 1st – gender 2nd

Fran Lou – 50.44 – Vet – overall 18th – category 2nd – gender 6th

Ashley Henley – 1.11.54 – Vet – overall 74th – category 11th – gender 32nd

 

Find out more about the Active Life Pier to Pier swim.

 

Making a splash at Divers Cove

30 August 202230 August 2022
Masters Swimming, Open Water Swimming

The bank holiday on Monday 29 August meant there was no pool training so a posse of Penguin masters swimmers headed to Divers Cove in Surrey for an open water swim instead.

This was new venue for all of us, and it’s an impressive set-up with two courses – 650m and 450m – changing rooms, toilets, hot tubs and saunas. It’s also a glorious setting for a swim in the early evening sun.

Divers Cove

Divers Cove
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The Divers Cove website gave the water temperature as 24.6C, the board at reception said 21.6C but in reality it was cooler still. We were mostly without wetsuits and while penguins (the birds) are hardy creatures, Sarah’s lips were turning blue by the time she’d swum two laps!

Everyone else tolerated the chilly water more comfortably and, with laps completed, took advantage of the raised observation deck for some good old-fashioned jumping in. Never too old to make a splash!

https://londonpenguin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Divers-Cove-13video-Aug2022.mp4
https://londonpenguin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Divers-Cove-12video-Aug2022.mp4
https://londonpenguin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Divers-Cove-11video-Aug2022.mp4

 

Find out more about swimming at Divers Cove.

Henley Thames Half Marathon

21 August 202121 August 2021
Masters Swimming, Open Water Swimming

By Penguin masters swimmer, Jennifer Gambrell.

Last weekend, I joined 800 others to swim the Henley Thames Marathon. I swam the ‘half marathon’ distance, which covered 5.5km from Hurley to the Marlow Suspension Bridge. There was also a 10k swim option, which started closer to Henley and then joined in with the half distance route.

Swimmers in the river at the Henley Thames Half Marathon 1
Swimmers in the river.

This was my first open water swim. I signed up in the middle of lockdown as something to look forward to and motivate me to get back in the pool once we were able. The river setting was good for a beginner as sighting was straightforward, there were minimal wakes and currents, and the multiple start-waves created generous spacing between swimmers.

The views while swimming were lovely. We passed by gorgeous residential areas, a grassy, tree-lined towpath, and a church garden where wedding photos were taking place. Spectators could walk the majority of the route, which was a lot of fun. Boat traffic was minimal, and the race had organized plenty of staff in kayaks to keep us safe and to one side of the river. The water temperature was around 18 degrees – most swimmers were in wetsuits, as the organizers required, though they did have a limited number of non-wetsuit slots. I’m far too acclimated to warm, indoor pools, so it was the wetsuit for me!

 

Swimmer climbing out of the river at one of the locks.
Climbing out of the river at one of the locks.

At the end of the race, I made sure to drink a can of Coke, which many fellow Penguins recommended to me as the ultimate cure for any river bacteria I might have come in contact with. This turned out to be sound advice. Now, back to the pool!

Herne Bay Pier to Pier Swim

1 August 202123 January 2022
Masters Swimming, Open Water Swimming

Last weekend some of our masters swimmers – Suzy, Ashley, Sarah. Johnny and Clemence – headed to Herne Bay on the north Kent coast for the Active Life Pier to Pier swim.

They were joined by ex-Penguin Fran, and Ed who cheered them and took lots of photos.

 

Penguin swimmers wearing team hoodies
Penguin swimmers before the start

 

Waiting for the start it was cold, raining and windy and the sea was pretty choppy.  Even though the event was timed to coincide with the slack tide, it promised to be a challenging swim. But the buzz of all the swimmers gathered on the beach made for a great atmosphere.

 
Penguin swimmers on the beach
Clemence, Johnny, Sarah, Ashley and Suzy

 

Fran set off in the first wave for the full 3km distance from Hampton Pier to Herne Bay Pier and back.

 

View across the bay from the start line
The start line looking along the swim course

 

A few minutes later Ashley was on her way in the 1.5k wave, with Johnny, Suzy, Clemence and Sarah to follow in the final wave swimming 750m.

 

Ashley waving from the start line in the sea
Ashley waving as she swam to the start line.

 

Swimmers in the sea
Clemence working out her swim line with Suzy and Johnny in line behind

 

All distances featured an outward swim parallel to the beach, turning at the appointed buoy and heading back to the exit on the beach. 

 
Beach huts with line of swimmers in the seas behind
The race is on

 

Everyone was surprised by how warm the water felt getting in. 

The outward leg was into the wind and made for slow progress but everyone found their rhythm and settled into their stroke to battle through the waves. The way back benefited from the tail wind, although the turning incoming tide made it interesting trying to hold a good line without being push ashore!

 

view of the beach towards the swim start line
The swim exit on the beach.

 

This was a well organised, friendly and well-priced event and there was agreement all round to do it again next year.

Afterwards the skies cleared and Team Penguin made the most of the warm, sunny afternoon with well-deserved fish and chips, and gelato in nearby Whitstable.

 

Penguin swimmers eating fish and chips
Fish and chips in Whitstable

 

Penguin swimmers on the beach
Team Penguin – Fran, Sarah, Ashley, Clemence, Johnny, Suzy and Ed – in the sunshine after the swim

 

Penguin results

750m
Sarah Wren: 5th overall, 3rd female and first in category
Clemence Grochalska: 9th overall and 2nd in category
Johnny Wren: 12th overall
Suzy Carter: 13th overall and 3rd in category

1.5k
Ashley Henley: 26th overall

3k
Fran Lou: 37th overall and 3rd in category

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