100 Mile Charity Swim January 29th -31st 2010

The 100 Mile Swim is unique to Warwick School. It is a 48 hour window in which we use every lane in the pool to raise money for Charity and swim, swim, swim! Sponsor the guys and gals from KHS through our JustGiving page! See how we're getting on and leave a messsage to spur the swimmers -see www.justgiving.com/WarwickSchool100MileSwim

UPDATE Sunday at 2pm - its all over!
A big thank you to all the sponsors and swimmers. We have raised over £2200 so far on the Just Giving site and we have several hundred pounds to add offline through the pledges to our great team of over 70 swimmers. Fantastic guys! The target of £3500 will be beaten - and could even be doubled through your efforts.

80 swimmers took place, swam over 400 miles together and completed 700,000m! The Ironman event was the second fastest the school has done in 43 hours and 3 minutes.

One can compare this with....

In November 2005 we had just one 10 man Ironman team and in total 22 swimmers took part in the different distance challenges. The 10 man Ironman team swam 100 miles in 45 hours 38 minutes.

In 2009 59 swimmers took the challenge with 2 Ironman teams swimming the most difficult event and overall raised £6,000 to provide new local medical support through the British Heart Foundation for patients in Warwick and Leamington Spa. The fastest 10 man team swam the 100 miles in 42 hours 52 minutes. A new record time!

The event is set up to challenge swimmers of all abilities - from the regular swimmers who aim as a team of 10 swimmers to complete the 100 miles in the quickest time possible to those who take on a more age and ability appropriate events. Last time 6 KHS swimmers took part and the only Junior School swimmer was Matt Riley who despite having been ill came in and completed his swim to bring in his charity funds.

In the challenge there is no stopping allowed - in fact the rules for the event state that 'placing a foot on the bottom during the event while swimming the required mile leg disqualifies the whole team'. Every length is counted and in 2006 the swimmers covered an incredible 650,000 metres in under 46 hours - as all the swimming stops when the 100 mile challenge team(s) complete their event.

The event is lifeguarded by the sports centre staff supported by members of staff and pupils who have the appropriate life saving qualifications.

WHO TAKES PART?
This time the whole Foundation swim squads and their school friends are invited to enter. For some reason there is much kuedos amongst the swimmers for actually swimming the midnight to 6am slots. (Sorry Mum's and Dad's.) As you see from the photos tab 100 Mile Swim gallery swimmers sleep anywhere - even on the poolside between swims!

Of course a lot else happens over the 100 Mile Swim weekend - boys have sung in Chapel services between their swims, some have gone to away rugby matches or the Jazz at the Bridge concerts fitting them in around the swim schedule. We even had a whole family birthday party brought to the school so Gran on her 75th could see her grandson swim.

Despite the effort and scale of the challenge there is no time off from homework set or a day off on the next Monday from school(Sorry swimmer's!).

WHEN SHOULD I START TRAINING FOR 2012?
As soon as possible! Come along to morning training or at least weekly swim club and work hard. This is a real team event and it is very tiring. Due to the length of the event it is physically and mentally demanding - so you have to support each other to stay the course. It is great fun (honestly) and it is addictive - as regularly those who took part last time ask when it's on next and can they do it again.

YES YOU CAN!
See Mr Nield to register your interest and discuss which challenge you want to take. It is unlikely swimmers who do not train in the senior school squad and/or who do not train regularly at a swim club will be fit enough for the Ironman 100 Mile Teams. But you could be the exception so ask! There are two other swim options - so pick up a sponsor form pack and medical / parental consent form and get prepared.