I would have included some photos on this page, but there are so many regulations concerning photography at swimming galas now (even masters events) that I decided it simply wasn't worth the hassle of filling in forms, tagging cameras etc.
I travelled down to this long course gala with another member of the City of Newcastle club. So we could both drive my car with fully comp insurance, I added Robin onto my policy. These kind of events usually require a very early start, particularly if they are some distance away, and Ponds Forge was no exception. The route was well planned and the international pool well signposted, but the journey didn't quite go as planned. In fact, I could have called this article "Where is the illusive M18?" as we managed to miss it in both directions. Or rather, we turned onto it eventually. Unfortunately, this was in the wrong direction and it was a few junctions before we realised we were heading for Hull/Doncaster instead of south! Coming back we didn't see any sign of the M18 at all and did the whole journey on the M1/A1M - not a disaster, but not the most efficient route.
The deadline for a swimming gala using the entry/re-entry card system is the closing of the card box. We ended up posting our cards with about 2 minutes to spare - a frantic rush to park wherever we could, damn the expense and a headless chicken race around the complex to locate the card box!
That done, we prepared for the warm up. The water at ASA regulated events is around 26° (ie cold!). We were both in the first event, the 400 free. Events are seeded and all but international competitions are swum in mixed age groups, although results are given for each age category. I enjoy these days, mooching around talking to people and every so often taking part in a race. For this particular gala I'd chosen a fairly tough program - 400/200 free and 400/200 IM (long course at that). You need a fair amount of stamina for days like this, where you alternate sitting around idle with sudden demands to swim flat out for your chosen events.
Medals are awarded for the top three in each age group. I came away with two golds and two silvers, which is not as impressive as it sounds as not many people from my category had competed in the events I'd swum!
Driving home we stopped at Scotch Corner for a very nice meal at the Little Chef. We were starving, as it's not possible to eat more than energy snacks throughout a gala where you have to be prepared to race at intervals throughout the day. We both ordered steak and the waitress asked if we would like anything as a side dish, mushrooms, toast, marmalade? Marmalade?? Even more surprising was Robin's agreement! (You get kinda brain dead after these long days.) I asked for my steak rare, knowing how often this is usually interpreted as medium. What arrived was almost blue! As Robin remarked, it looked like a good vet could get it back on its feet ....
And so to home. I don't know why my family are surprised I spend so much time on the computer. I walked in to the TV room to talk to Derek and was immediately told to shut up by Emily, ratty after the previous night out with friends to celebrate her imminent 17th birthday. (Having stayed over at a friend's, I can only imagine what she got up to, but plans included her borrowing Rosie's driving licence, as ID to prove her "age" in all the bars in town :/) Apparently I was interrupting Casualty.
Ignoring her and starting to tell Derek about my day, I wasn't able to get his interest beyond the petrol I'd bought at Scotch Corner, "waste of money!" Well yes, I agree that the petrol there is not exactly cheap, but when your tank is nearly on the red? And how does this philosophy sit with his visit to a Sunderland casino the previous night?
[sigh] I sometimes think the only activity which would gain the family's approval would be enthusiastically cleaning the house :(
17th January 2004