Fun & Fundraising

2007  

Braunstone Xmas Gala

Well done to the team for a fantastic first place finish at the Braunstone Xmas Gala on Saturday, 15th December 2007.   The gala was a fun-filled, exciting and adrenalin charged event, full of brilliant swims and plenty of team spirit.  At the end of the gala, the ‘Witney Penguins’,  yet again demonstrated their skills, with their creative fancy dress costumes and some fancy footwork on the dance floor.  A fab end to the competitive season for 2007.   Check out some of the photos below. 

Car Boot Sale

Another fantastic result for the 'early risers'.  Having started Sunday morning at 7.15 am [!!!! :)] on the 7th October, the strong sales team of swimmers from the Club raised a grand total of £111.85.    The award of best sales person went to Yolanda 'the Wallpaper Queen' Speare, followed closely by Jack 'the Natural' Kendall and Harry 'the Bell' Blackford.  Yet again, a fantastic show of team spirit,  with support from Adam Colling, Conor Taylor, Tommy & Alex Foggett, Nathan & Daniel Harkin.  Special thanks to Shaun & Fiona Harkin, Annie Foggett, Roger Taylor and to everyone for their kind generosity with donated items.    The other more 'seasoned' car boot sellers were not a match for the budding entrepreneurs of the Witney & District Swimming Club!!!!

24 Hour Non-Stop Relay - Oxford to Carlisle

What an incredible journey this was.  On Friday, 6th April through to Saturday, 7th April 2007 we held a 24 hour non-stop relay swim at the Carterton Leisure Centre.  This was our major fundraising event for 2007.   Our initial target was to swim the equivalent distance of Oxford to Carlisle non-stop and raise £15,000 for skills development workshops and for Cancer Research UK.   The swim challenge was smashed, by swimming a total distance of 588 kilometres - a truly incredible achievement.  Well done and thank you to everyone who participated.

 Bob Tivey - 2 Miles - Well Done

  Katie Bennett - after the first 30 lengths!!

Swim It's a Knockout

A fantastic time was had by everyone who participated in the inaugural 'Swim It's a Knockout' - the Witney & District Swimming Club's first inter-house gala for 2007.  The Games were held on Saturday, 6th January 2007 at the Windrush Leisure Centre, Witney.  The six participating teams:  Barracudas, Sharks, Dolphins, Penguins, Marlins and Orcas all had to undertake a series of water-based challenges from throwing water-filled balloons from one end of the pool to swapping T shirts, hats, gloves etc before the highly entertaining 'finale'.  The level of creativity demonstrated by each team in their efforts to 'fill their buckets' was truly inspiring!!

Final team placings were:

• 1st       Sharks             395 points            Team Manager - Andrew Colling
• 2nd      Penguins          380 points            Team Manager - Bob Whiteley
• 3rd      Dolphins           360 points            Team Manager - Di Moore
• 4th      Barracudas       350 points            Team Manager - Alan Bark
• 5th      Marlins             330 points            Team Manager - Jacqui Gammage
• 6th      Orcas               320 points            Team Manager - Sue Bardon

Thanks to all to the swimmers, team managers' and friends and family members for making this a successful event, without whom this would not have been possible.

• Special 'Sporting Duck of the Games'   - Peter Hyde
• Special 'Sporting Duck of the Games'   - Emily Buchanan

All participants received a special yellow duck for being such good sports.

Special thanks to Tommy Foggett, Laura Cable, Daph Adair, Sue Cable, Jo Blackford, Neal Hall & Roger Taylor for their help poolside.

The winner of the 'Quick Quiz' competition was Abigail Beszant with 15 correct answers.  Well done Abigail, a bottle of wine is on it's way!  Answers on the Club noticeboard.

Here's to 2008!

2006

The Penguin Draw

On Friday, 15th December 2006, the Penguin Draw was held at the Windrush Leisure Centre.  Many thanks to Sally Barrett, Hannah Barrett, Catherine Kendall and to Daph Adair for their stirling efforts this year in organising this event.  Over £320 was raised.  Many thanks to everyone who kindly donated a 'penguin prize'.  Our special 'golden' ticket square winners were:

1st Prize   -    Nick Hill - a meal for four at ASK Restaurant, Witney

2nd prize  -    Adam Colling aka 'The Parents' - a case of Wychwood Brewery Special Beers

3rd prize   -   Peter Sharpin - a Bottle of Champagne

Special thanks to ASK Restaurant, Wychwood Brewery and to Oxford Instruments for their kind donations.

Car Boot Sale

Thanks to the stirling efforts of Adam Colling, Nathan & Daniel Harkin, Jack Kendall,  Conor Taylor, Scott Webster, and Yolanda Speare for raising a grand total of £191.77 on Sunday, 11th November towards future swim skills workshops planned for 2007.  The team of Witney swimmers proved to be more than a match for the seasoned ‘car boot sellers’ on the day.  Special thanks to Annie Foggett, Shaun & Fiona Harkin and to Roger Taylor for pulling in the willing buyers.

Wild, Wild West - BBQ Bonanza

A fabulous time was had by all on Saturday, 2nd September 2006 at Youlbury Scout Activity Centre in Boars Hill, nr Oxford.  The rain held off whilst ‘chefs’ Whiteley (see below), Taylor & Kendall served a veritable feast of BBQ delights followed by a gooey marshmallow frenzy.   Go-karting, orienteering, drinking, a  great football match all made for a brilliant afternoon’s entertainment. 

World Swim for Malaria

On the 8th January 2006, 20 swimmers from the Club combined their annual Christmas 800 swim with their fundraising efforts for the worthy global cause ‘World Swim for Malaria’.  The team raised over £1050.  Much needed mosquito nets were purchased from the team’s fundraising and distributed to malaria infected areas worldwide.  The nets will help save 17 lives.   Click on the link for more info.    World Swim For Malaria