We did it!!

10k, choppy water, cramps, chaffing, disorientation and the sorest shoulders ever experienced..... The BFTF "5" swam their little nadgers off and all put in amazing  swims.

We all finished and all of us well ahead of our time expectations. Andre went off on in the first wave, followed by Matthew, Ken, Tim and Jasper in the following wave 20 mins later. All of us were waved off (and amazingly supported all weekend by family and friends) from Totnes Rowing Club. We caught high tide and some 10 miles up the Dart valley, the conditions were deceptively benign.

A long spring and summer of early morning and after work training sessions flashed across our minds. Pace yourself, don't panic at the mass start, hit that smooth rhythm..... We knew we'd done the training and whilst this was a first foray into 10k territory for us all, we all set off confident and happy....

The first half of the race, set within the stunning steep wooded valley before the the Dart broadens out into the wide, salt water estuary of the second half, was spectacular and felt  well within our limited parameters of athletic performance. The second half was less friendly - a "fresh" southerly was blowing  the outgoing tide into very bumpy squally waves, the odd white horse and generally very challenging conditions. For 5 kilometres.

Rounding the final headland at Dittisham, unsure that it was the final headland (after 5k's of being knocked about) but seeing the finishing village on  the Ham meadow, was the ultimate relief and final incentive for a last push. Skirting alongside the inlet's yachts and racing boats, the  finish was wonderfully lively and full of spectators...... within 30 mins, all 5 of us had finished. Within 60 mins, a beer was being supped at the  Ferry Boat pub, the "finest in England" according to our pace man and nautical tactician, Matthew.

And throughout, all of us were constantly mindful of Building For The Future, the children and parents and their community centre "Our House". We've all got personal relationships with BFTF and the amazing people that are at the heart of this special charity. From us all involved, thank you enormously for your heartwarming and generous support.

The Dolphins.

Our original plea read:

5 old friends, all the wrong side of 40 and all of whom should know better, undertook one early winter's evening to fundraise for Building For The Future, a charity that has touched us all.

36 years ago, Matthew, Andre, Jasper and Tim were all at primary school together - the Dolphin School in Hurst, Berks. Ken, an old friend of Matthew's was also duly recruited to form the aquatic crack team that is assembled before you..... 

The River Dart 10k is the UK's largest open water swimming event, with over 750 swimmers tackling the stunning section of the Dart between Totnes and Dittisham. 

We are keenly  supported by Kitty, Jasper's daughter,  one of the many disabled children and their families in the Wokingham and Berkshire area that support, use (and are at the heart of) the fantastic and unique facilities that BFTF and its community centre "Our House" provides. It needs continual funding to provide respite, parental and therapeutic care for all that use it.

Please support us with a sponsorship donation for our swimming efforts. Up to 4 hours of appendage-shrivelling endeavour awaits after many months of hard training and commitment from the team of 5 swimmers, who first splashed about in the school pool nearly 40 years ago......