Walks, Sports and Country Pursuits

Open water swimming is now a well-established activity, widely accessible and with many health benefits, including improved mental health, better sleep, increased happiness, and enhanced well-being. If you've always wanted to give open water a try then this pool to pond course is designed to help pool swimmers prepare themselves for their journey to open water, be that for fun or with an event in mind. Beginning your journey on Monday in the magnificent College pool, we will seek to develop your stroke, strength and endurance in the pool, as well as introducing techniques unique to open water. The dry-side programme, following on from your pool swims early in the week, gives you the chance to ask questions and find out about the environment, the equipment, and overcome any fears and phobias. Our open water adventures will take place later in the week at the wonderful Cotswold Water Park (Lake 86), a stream fed ,fresh-water lake with on-site café (and obligatory cake), changing facilities and water safety crew.

Topics for the course include:

·Developing fitness

·Clothing and equipment

·Fears and phobias

·Planning your swim

·Sighting skills

·Buoy turns

The course is for those who can swim 200m confidently but at any speed (this can be breaststroke or front crawl) and who wish to develop their fitness, stroke technique and confidence to take on open water swimming.

Clothing and equipment

Swimming costumes x 2

Goggles

Swim hat

Towel

Flip flops (or similar)

Water bottle

Notebook

Pen or pencil

Warm clothing (to change into post outdoor swim)

Waterproof (if wet)

Sunscreen (hopefully!)

Small rucksack for the above

Other equipment (only if you have it)

Wetsuit (not essential but can assist with warmth and buoyancy)

Towelling robe / changing robe (not essential but useful for changing)

Swimming shoes or wetsuit socks (useful, not essential)

Tow float

To help us plan appropriately for your week's swimming, we would be grateful for the following information. (Please note that all data and information collated over the week will be returned to you at the end of the course. All information given will be strictly confidential).

Pool to Pond - Pre-Course Form

Name:___________________________________________ Date:

Please return this form to: The Summer School Office, Marlborough College, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1PA

Cath Christopher

Marlborough College

About Cath

Catherine is an experienced open water swimmer, who swims outdoors all year round and who has taken part in events across the world, from the cold river waters of the Arctic to the warm seas of Barbados. She holds a Level 2 Open Water Swim Coaching qualification and a Level 2 Swimming Teacher qualification. She is a qualified pool lifeguard and works at Marlborough College swimming pool.

Andy Hicks

Marlborough College

About Andy

Andy started swimming when he was young and swam and played water polo for Wiltshire and the South West, playing at every level of Water Polo in the UK from Division 5 to Division 1 British Water Polo National League.

Andy also played in Australia for a season for Newmarket, winning the Brisbane League.

He currently coaches swimming and water polo at Marlborough College, which he has done for the past 6 years.

Andy also coaches the Wiltshire Junior County side, and is Captain for the Swindon Dolphin team and the Wiltshire Senior team.

Andy is a Level 2 Swimming Teacher, a Water Polo Coach and a National Referee.