Looking for the best wetsuit at the best price?

Simply Swim, partner to our Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival, gives guidance on the best value but performance ready wetsuits along with help finding those swim essentials and accessories.

Simply Swim stock some of biggest brands in open water swimming and have the latest selection of wetsuits, goggles, swim caps, training aids, clothing and equipment for you to browse through. You will also find a plethora of fantastic triathlon and open water swimming essentials in their sale department. These products are perfect for everybody, from beginners to hardcore athletes and always from reputable manufacturers like Arena, Zoot, Zone 3, Orca, Blueseventy. This means you don’t have to sacrifice quality or design even when you are looking for a bargain. Here are some of their most popular discounted wetsuits, all still with plenty of sizes left in stock. Just remember you will get an extra 10% off the discounted price when you use your Henley discount: HENLEY19.

Swimming essentials

In addition to the main piece – your wetsuit, they also have a comprehensive range of other open water swimming essentials which you may have overlooked. So, whether you are looking to find some extra performance, or looking to replace some out-of-date kit we are confident you will find what you are after in our open water swimming accessories collection.

Which wetsuit?

The Zoot Mens Wave 2 Triathlon Wetsuit has grooved panels of thin neoprene to increase stretch of the wetsuit for maximum lung expansion, giving you the ultimate experience in comfort and flexibility during your race. The Optimal Kick Design technology works with the anatomy of your legs to increase kick strength and efficiency whilst also reducing muscle fatigue and the strategically placed buoyancy panels also provide lift, giving you the most effective position in the water.

The Huub Mens Aegis III Wetsuit offers high performance and value with its exclusive X-O Skeleton which will provide you with superior body alignment and stroke efficiency. The panel patterns also allow for incredible flexibility and freedom of movement so you can feel at ease during your swim strokes without feeling restriction from the suit. The Breakaway Zipper also will speed up your transition times with effortless wetsuit removal.

The Zoot Mens Wave 1 Triathlon Wetsuit has a hydrodynamic coating on the chest and thighs that reduces friction, allowing you to glide through the water more efficiently. It also has buoyancy panels in the lower core and rear to raise the legs and torso to put the body in the most effective swimming position for a faster and more efficient swim.

The entry level Blueseventy Mens Sprint Wetsuit is designed with comfort in mind, so you can concentrate on your race. The thin neoprene and soft stretch jersey in the arms, shoulders and back will provide fantastic freedom of movement during your swim whilst the thicker neoprene located in the lower body will provide buoyancy for a better body position in the water to give greater confidence in the water.

The Huub Womens Atana Wetsuit offers unique buoyancy levels to allow you to maintain an effective kick and position in the water to maximise flow around the body and improve swim speed by not lifting the body to high out of the water. The suit is specifically designed for the female form, keeping in mind less muscle density and a less tendency to have a sinking leg style

The Zoot Womens Wahine 2 Triathlon Wetsuit has a 2mm neoprene patterned design on the back and shoulders to increase flexibility in the back and shoulders, allowing for full range of motion during the catch and recovery phase which will reduce shoulder fatigue. The grooved panels of thin neoprene increase the stretch of the wetsuit for maximum lung expansion and flexibility and the AQUAlift buoyancy panels lift the legs and torso for maximum power and speed.

The Arena Womens Triathlon Wetsuit is made for triathlons and open water swimming with its external coating which is designed to reduce drag. It features functional cuts to allow for fantastic freedom of movement in the water and it has thicker chest and back panels to provide maximum buoyancy for a faster and more efficient swim.

Don’t forget that with your discount code HENLEY19 all Simply Swim products will be available to you at even lower prices.

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Record numbers swam and enjoyed water based riverside fun on Sunday (14^th July) at the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival. Set in arguably the most beautiful stretch of the Thames, swimmers congregated to compete in multiple distances, including 4 miles, 2 miles, 1 mile, half-mile and 200m, all set amid the backdrop of the first ever Henley Swim Festival (presented over the last 7 years as the Henley Mile).

The festival itself allowed many competitors to make a weekend of the event and offered yoga, live music, entertainment, food and drink, including beer from the local brewery, all overlooking the river alongside the stunning Temple Island backdrop.

Wycombe District Swimming Club stole the club prizes for senior and junior swimming with a pot of prize money for the club. But it wasn’t all about the swimming prizes and accolades as there was also some serious fundraising achieved; The Dorabros Brothers took part in the 4 mile challenge as part of their year of endurance challenges as they are on a mission to raise £100,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust and the spinal injury charity, Aspire, celebrated 10 years of Channel Swimming and £1 million fundraising with 40 swimmers taking part in the mile.

Hundreds of swimmers took to the riverside at 14:00 to mark European River Day with a Big Jump! The event attracted whole families with one family including swimmers from three generations and another with six siblings all getting involved. Juniors had a prize giving with awards for Bronze, Silver and Gold for each distance and age range.

Praise went to many ladies taking part for the first time as outdoor swimming helped them battle with a variety of personal challenges. The winners from the Henley Swim This Girl Can Competition joined a wave of women to complete the mile and come out triumphant and proud.

Entries are now open, offering early bird prices, for the 2020 Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival which will take place on Sunday 12^th July 2020. Book now.

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This weekend (Saturday 20^th July) saw the ever-popular Club to Pub take place. With the weather threatening heavy rain and storms 100’s of swimmers were overjoyed to see a turn around and they set off in idyllic conditions from Henley Rowing Club.

In 5 different waves (Performance, Men, Women, 2 x Mixed) swimmers made their way 400mtrs upstream and then 1100mtrs downstream to the Angel on the Bridge pub where they celebrated with a Two Bells beer which could be opened with the specially designed bottle opening medal.

Tom Kean, co-founder of Henley Swim said “The Club to Pub event had sold out by February, making a place in the 2019 swim a hot ticket. The weather and river temperature made for perfect swimming conditions, but after swimming 1.5km each and every swimmer deserved their Brakspear beer and bottle opening medal, and of course their handshake from the Mayor of Henley”

Joel Winter from Reading Swimming Club finally won Club to Pub in a time of 18 mins, 50 seconds after coming second for the last two years.  Afterwards, Joel said, “This is very sweet for me.  The beer is definitely going to taste sweeter.  Matt McQuillan who came second gave me a right old run for the money in the first half of the race.  He had a better line going up the stream – he hugged the bank and kept out of the stream. Unfortunately, I was in the stream.  When I came around the buoys behind him we had a bit of ding dong battle just around the buoys and then I managed to pull away.”

The team prize was scooped by Paragon ASC with a team of 7, the fastest 4 combined times coming out tops!

We were thrilled to be able to hand over a cheque for £900 to Sue Ryder, our charity partner, which was raised through a percentage of each entry being donated. We expect the amount to rise to an excess of £1500 once other fundraising activities have been taken into account including the car park donation, the charity buckets and the beer sales. A huge thanks to our Club to Pub partner, Brakspear who kindly donated all of the Club to Pub beers.

A complete set of results can be found here.

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This Sunday, over 850 swimmers took over the Henley to Marlow stretch of the Thames in Henley Swim’s final event of the season, the Thames Marathon. Swimmers set off from the prestigious Leander Club in ten waves distinguished by different coloured swim hats between 7am and 7.45am on Sunday morning with the fastest swimmers leading the 14km journey downstream from the front.

The fastest swimmer, Haydn Burke from Surrey, completed the course in 2 hours 48 minutes. The fastest woman, second swimmer in and two-time winner of the Henley Classic, Vicky Cunningham, from Cheshire, was close behind with a time of 2 hours and 51 minutes. The swimmers arrived in to Higginson Park where supporters were cheering them on, enjoying the weather and sampling the food and drinks on offer from various vendors.

The Thames Marathon has been named the Best UK Swimming Event by Racecheck for the past two years, so it is no surprise that swimmers travelled from far and wide to participate in the swim down this beautiful and iconic stretch of river. Competitors came from Australia, Canada, every corner of Europe, USA and Colombia to name but a few. Kirby Drawbaugh travelled from the USA specifically to swim the Thames Marathon on his 82^nd birthday, making him the oldest swimmer in the event. As part of the safety plan, tow floats were essential but swimmers were encouraged to jazz them up and some took this opportunity to fly their home flag.

Swimmers from closer to home included Henley residents, 19-year old Henry Bell, who recently completed a non-wetsuit relay swim of the Channel and Sue Nadin, the first woman to swim the Henley Classic ten times. They completed the course in 3 hours 52 minutes and 5 hours 13 minutes respectively.

A huge variety of causes were supported by swimmers taking part in the Thames Marathon, including charities such as MIND, Coppafeel, Henley Music School, African Outreach, Parkinsons UK, Armed Forces Veteran’s Charity and many many more. Triathlete and competitive swimmer Sophie Etheridge swam the 2018 event to raise money for a racing wheelchair after being involved in a road accident. She now has the chair, partly thanks to the generosity of people at last year’s event, and returned to swim this year, completing the course in under 5 hours, achieving her target and beating her 2018 time.

The day finished around 3pm as the final swimmer, Raj Pol from Nottingham climbed up the steps on to dry land after being in the water for 7 hours and 58 minutes. The Thames Marathon was Raj’s first long distance swim and despite the huge challenge, he didn’t give up. He was greeted on the banks by a huge reception of supporters, volunteers and passers-by stopping to chant his name and cheer him through the final 50 meters. He was presented with a copy of Outdoor Swimmer magazine by Henley Swim co-founder Jeremy Laming.

Watch Raj finish here: https://www.facebook.com/HenleySwim/videos/932275333782597/

Raj’s arrival into Marlow marked the end of the 2019 Thames Marathon and final Henley Swim event of this season, which has seen over 3,500 swimmers enjoying the Thames. Bring on 2020!

Entries for 2020 Thames Marathon will open in the Autumn, for more information www.henleyswim.com

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Teenage Cancer Trust has become an Official Charity Partner for the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival 2020, with the event taking place, 12^th July. The partnership means that swimmers will have the chance to take part in the event for free in return for a fundraising pledge. The charity will also work with the festival to bring its work to life and add to the festival experience on the day.

The Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival will welcome over 1,600 swimmers next year and offers a swim distance for all the family, making it a natural fit for the charity. Swim distances include 200m splash for children aged 8 years plus (with the chance for an adult to accompany them for free), half mile, 1 mile, 2 mile and 4 mile swims. Other water-based activity on offer includes the Free Swim Area where anyone can dip their toe in to the outdoor swimming experience.

Young people with cancer need specialised nursing care and support. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity providing this, but right now they can only help half of the young people diagnosed with cancer. The partnership with the Henley Swim Festival will allow the charity to raise valuable funds, and to work with a family audience at sporting and healthy event. It’s testament to the growth in outdoor swimming that the charity can use the event as a forum to spread the word about early signs of cancer symptoms and ways to help.

Emily McCartney from Teenage Cancer Trust comments on the new partnership: “We’re thrilled to be an Official Charity Partner of the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival 2020. Cancer can throw young people’s lives into chaos. Even for those who recover, it can have a lasting impact on their future. Our partnership with the event will help make sure specialised Teenage Cancer Trust nurses, support teams, and hospital units are there for them, throughout their cancer treatment and beyond. Together, we can reach every young person facing cancer, so join #TeamLegend at the Henley Swim Festival today!”

This year the charity enjoyed a connection with the event through the Dorabros Brothers participation; four friends completing multiple challenges in order to raise £100,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. Ambassadors like this will continue to be important for the charity and encouraging more swimmers to take part and not only accomplish bragging rights for the swim but for the fundraising aswell.

Swimmers can sign up for any of the swim distances on offer and benefit from a FREE PLACE in return for fundraising for Teenage Cancer Trust at the registration form HERE. All swimmers will receive training and support through the year plus a fundraising pack including a branded swim hat and t-shirt.

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The Thames Marathon 2020 registration is now open, the epic 14km swim from Henley to Marlow is expected to sell out in record speed.

Registrations have opened this weekend for the award-winning Thames Marathon, and with a reputation for selling out fast, swimmers are advised to sign up soon to guarantee a place at this event.

The event, set to take place on Sunday 16^th August 2020, has become iconic in the outdoor swimming world attracting a field of 1,000 swimmers, many coming from overseas and a large proportion of whom are returning to the event having swum in previous years.

The marathon is a 14km endurance swim downstream from Henley to Marlow on a beautiful stretch of the Thames. The swim is split into 4 sections where swimmers exit the water at the 3 locks (Hambledon at 4km, Hurley at 10km and Temple at 11.8km) and refuel for the next leg.

Every year it reaches capacity several months before the event, with a long waiting list of swimmers wishing to take part in both the wetsuit and non-wetsuit category. This year the event celebrates its 10th year, and organisers expect it to sell out even sooner. The co-founder of Henley Swim, Tom Kean, explains why; “The event has become a cult ‘must-do’ swim which we put down to the unique course and swimmers’ word of mouth. In its first year we had just 20 swimmers and since then, very quickly, it has hit capacity with a field of 1,000.”

The reputation of the Thames Marathon is further enhanced by its growing list of awards. Review website, Racecheck, has awarded the event with the top-rated swim in the UK for the last two years based on average 4.9/5.0 ratings by swimmers taking part. Swimmers particularly enthuse about the stunning swim course and how well they are supported – read the reviews here. Whether it is a competitive race or personal challenge, swimmers insist it is “an open water swim bucket list event.”

Sign up now for the Thames Marathon on Sunday 16^th August 2020 and guarantee yourself a swim of a lifetime.

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When times can vary so much, we thought it would be interesting to see how the Thames Marathon experience differed for the first swimmer home and the last swimmer home,  so we had a chat with them.

What made you want to take part in the Thames Marathon?

Haydn: I had completed the Dart 10K a few years ago. So when I hit 40 last year I thought I would take up another and bigger challenge, the Thames Marathon was the obvious next step up.

Raj: I started swimming a year now, mainly in the swimming pool. When I came across the Thames Marathon on Facebook 3-4 months ago, I did not even think about registering for it as the distance was too great for me. From April I started to do more and more OWS so I  thought I would give it a try – especially after I completed 4km in Colwick Park in Nottingham as part of BLDSA in May.

How much did you prepare and train to swim the Thames Marathon?

Haydn: I don’t think I was prepared training wise as much as I would have liked for the distance. I had been swimming 2-3 sessions at Rushmoor Royals Masters under the expert coaching of Geoff Stokes, and then doing some longer distance lake swims in my wetsuit at the weekend.  I think more sessions geared towards distance swimming would have helped especially for the final sections. 

Raj:  I did not specifically train. I started swimming a year ago so I could compete in triathlons.  I swam twice weekly at the local swimming pool with my Tri Club. One coached 90-minute session consisting of various swim drills to improve technique followed by aerobic bursts. The other session was 45-minutes practising the techniques I had been taught. However, even though I could complete 4km in a pool, until 3 months prior to the Thames Marathon I could not even do 25 metres in open water due to fear and anxiety. To overcome this, I went to Swimyourswim Club in Rotherham to gain confidence. After completing a 250 mtr loop accompanied by a coach I committed to swimming in the lake for 2 hours every week even though it was a 1 hour drive away. I also scrutinised the Henley Swim Chatter Facebook page daily for tips and watched Martin Strells swim documentaries.

What were the highest and lowest points of the swim?

Haydn: There were plenty of highs and lows throughout the swim. One high was ending up behind the leader and then taking the lead, at that point the pace felt comfortable so it was a real confidence boost. The final two sections and especially going into the final one was definitely a low, my arms seemed to have seized up and mentally I felt like giving up. Luckily I had my wife Zoe and 7 year old son Elliott waiting at the finish so I visualized what their reaction would be seeing me arrive first!!  The event and support along the route as a whole was a definite high and having Katia (race safety lead) on her SUP urging me along waving and shouting in the final sections was amazing. Even better was her brilliant ‘Instant Fan’ Facebook post where I realised she had been calling me Ben for the whole course!!

Raj: Highest point was when I completed the first 4kms and felt fine without tiredness or pain and there were a few fellow swimmers around me, hahaha (obviously from the latter waves). The lowest point was just short of the second fuel station at around 6km. I could not see it and I was scared I had missed it, as I so badly needed energy drink, water and a banana. Ultimately, I reached it and then was very happy as only 2 more smaller distances were remaining.

How did you sustain yourself nutritionally?

Haydn: Not very well at all! I had some breakfast at 3.30am before we drove to the event but that was it. Getting out in the lead at the first stop I looked back and could see swimmers just behind me, so I jogged through as I was determined not to lose the lead. It wasn’t until the final stop I had some energy drink in the hope of a sugar boost on the last section.

Raj: Eating 3 times a day, usually well-balanced Indian food. However, in the morning I usually have 2 sachets of Sainsbury’s porridge. I try to drink plenty of water – 1 litre either in the morning before work or in the evening after work.

How much of a surprise was your positioning in the race?

Haydn: It was a huge surprise! I had calculated that I would finish between 3hrs 15 and 3hrs 30 from a previous 3k swim I had done. I would have been very happy if I achieved 3hrs 15. When I found myself in the lead I still didn’t think I would win and half expected someone to slowly creep up on me, especially in the final sections where I felt I was slowing. Zoe and Elliott were really surprised – so much so it’s inspired them and they have both agreed to take part themselves in the Henley Swim Festival next year!

Raj: Not at all. I was sure to take at least 7 hours based on my speed of approx 30 minutes for 1km. I am very slow, so I made sure I changed my wave to the first mixed ability wave so you wouldn’t have had to even longer at the end!

What’s your favourite stroke?

Haydn: Its definitely front crawl, although with breaststroke I would have seen more sights along the river. Maybe next time!!

Raj: Front crawl only. But I can also do backstroke, breast-stroke and butterfly. I now need to improve on technique and therefore speed.

Sign up now for the Thames Marathon on Sunday 16^th August 2020 and

guarantee yourself a swim of a lifetime.

The post Meet the Thames Marathon Swimmers – Haydn and Raj appeared first on Henley Swim - Inspirational Swim Events - Open Water Swimming.

Teenage Cancer Trust are a charity partner of the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival this year offering free places for all distances in return for a fundraising pledge. 

 We spoke to Emily McCartney, Challenge Events Manager at Teenage Cancer Trust this week who explains how empowering teenagers with knowledge can play a significant role in catching symptoms early, and how swimming is a good time to be attuned to your body, and carry out the appropriate checks. 

Q: Tell us more about the work Teenage Cancer Trust carries out? 

A: Every day, seven young people aged 13-24 hear the words “you have cancer”. Even with family and healthcare professionals around them, young people facing cancer may find themselves isolated, scared and lacking control. Relationships, exams, careers, life plans – cancer can throw everything into chaos. And even for those who recover, that huge disruption at such a crucial time can have a lasting impact on their future. Teenage Cancer Trust’s world-leading care and support puts young people in the best possible place, physically, mentally and emotionally, for their cancer treatment and beyond. Without our expert nurses, support teams, and hospital units, young people might find themselves being treated alongside children or older people. They might never meet another person their age who knows what they’re going through. And they might not get the clear communication, sense of control and sensitive, individual support every young person needs throughout a potentially life-threatening illness. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to providing this specialised nursing care and support.

Q: Do you have any advice to teenagers and parents about checking for early signs? 

A: Of course. Early diagnosis can be vital in improving young people’s chances of successful treatment which is why we’ve been working hard to empower young people to understand what cancer is, know what the different signs and symptoms are and feel confident talking to their doctors. You might spot a lump, bump or swelling when getting changed, or you may feel consistent pain or get out of breath more easily than normal when swimming. There are many signs and symptoms of cancer (you can see these and other information on our website) but having any of them doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer. You should get checked out by a doctor if your symptoms last for a while and you can’t explain them.

 Q: Why did you choose to link with swimming events/Henley Swim Festival?

A: Some of our amazing supporters decided to take part in the Henley Swim Festival as part of a year-long challenge they had set themselves. We were invited along to the day and just fell in love with the event! It’s so inclusive and has such a great family feel – our work with young people meant it was a great fit for us. Plus we know open water swimming is becoming more and more popular with our supporters so it’s great to be able to offer them places in this event!

Q: Tell us about a memorable fundraiser who has taken on a challenge for the charity? 

A: Oh my goodness this is a difficult one. There have just been so many amazing fundraisers! I guess for me it’s the ones who have become part of the Teenage Cancer Trust family who are most memorable. We build great relationships with our supporters and I’ve now known some of them for years – one of them even managed to convince my husband and I to register for the Brighton Marathon! I suppose I’ll never forget the lady who did a naked horse trek… 

The Dorabros raised money for Teenage Cancer Trust this year at the Henley Swim Festival

Q: How can swimmers get involved in supporting Teenage Cancer Trust and taking on their own challenge?

A: We’d always encourage people to take part in an event we’re involved in, such as the Henley Swim Festival but it’s ok if they want to do something different. We make it really easy for people to support Teenage Cancer Trust and we’ll help people with their fundraising no matter what challenge they choose to do. Once they know what they’re doing, they just need to get in touch with us to let us know and then we’ll send them a Teenage Cancer Trust top, welcome pack and any fundraising materials they request. 

Q: How much do you hope to raise from swimmers at the Henley Swim Festival and how will that help?

A: Young people with cancer need specialised nursing and support and Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity meeting this critical need. But right now, we cannot reach every young person with cancer. We’d love to raise £40,000 through our partnership with the Henley Swim Festival. It costs us around this amount to fund a Teenage Cancer Trust Lead Nurse for a year. They’re responsible for leading the specialist nursing care for all the young people on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit and beyond. Together, we can reach every young person with cancer.

You can sign up HERE for a FREE PLACE at the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival 2020 by pledging to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust.

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A group of five Henley women, who regularly swim or volunteer at our events, will swim the English Channel next year in support of Henley Music School. The Henley Mermaids, members of the Henley Open Water Swimming Club, and with an average age of 50, will embark on the challenge in June 2020.

Laura Reineke, the team’s captain, told us: “I love long distance open water swimming and we find it increasingly difficult to raise the £60,000 a year needed to fund the Henley Music School. I thought swimming the Channel could be a great way of combining the two.”

Another “mermaid”, Jo Robb, 42, and a Green Councillor with South Oxfordshire District Council, explains the size of this challenge; “More people have climbed Everest than have swum the English Channel. It is the pinnacle of human endurance achievement. It will be easier for us as we’re swimming as a relay but we will have to train and adapt to the cold water and prepare for jelly fish and choppy conditions.”

Mother-of-three Laura founded the Henley Music School in 2010 to provide music tuition for anyone regardless of age, ability, background and means.  However, the most need is in schools where funding is lacking.

A virtuoso violin, viola and piano player, Laura knows well the importance of musical education for all children. “Due to an appalling lack of funding, schools are forced to drop subjects in order to make ends meet, resulting in children never having contact with wonderful, life-fulfilling education such as music.  Henley Music School aims to fill the gap, in the hope of offering music education to everyone, at a heavily subsidised cost, and in many cases free.  The result is well-rounded, happy children.”

Joan Fennelly, 53 and originally from Ireland, a sales and marketing manager for Oracle, has been swimming in the Thames for years. One of eight children, Joan grew up swimming in the river Oweness, in the Irish midlands. On swimming the Channel, she said: “I’m doing it because I can. It’s an iconic swim that’s on my bucket list.”

Mother-of-four Fiona Print, of St Mark’s Road, is a Registered Nurse at the Rapid Access Care Unit at Townlands Hospital has been swimming in the river for 3 years and loves it. She welcomes the challenge of the Channel swim 

Susan Barry, a French teacher and mother of three, said “I want to get out of my comfort zone. My children are proud of me, but they think it’s bonkers!”

The team will relay for an hour each in rotation, which will take between 15-20 hours and to ensure they are ready will mean they need to train for many hours in the pool, river and sea. It will be dedication for not only training hours but cost of time away from work & family.

They have booked a boat that is being piloted by Eddie Spelling who was recently in the press for supporting Sarah Thomas who recently swam the channel 4 ways, and was in the water for 52 hours!

HENLEY MUSIC SCHOOL

Henley Music School is a charity set up to provide music education to anyone, regardless of age, ability, background or means.  Originally set up as a simple club, it has grown to such an extent that over £60,000 is needed annually for it to run.  It offers inclusive music education in all its forms; from individual lessons, small group ensembles, school curriculum lessons, specialist autism piano lessons, HMS Sunday school, and Youthful Orchestra (an inclusive adult orchestra for the rusty older musician!).  It has over 500 children and 100 adults taking part in all its various musical activities, and this is increasing monthly. 

The school teaches over 14 autistic children free of charge, and offers curriculum music lessons to three of the four primary schools in Henley, and individual and small group lessons to all four primaries.  It also supports the secondary school with their music provision.  HMS has over 20 music tutors, all of whom are specialists in their field, professional musicians in their own right, and all fully checked & insured.

HMS perform regularly in the area around eight times a year – from the Living Advent Calendar, to Rotherfield Greys Village Fete, and have a wonderful Gala concert at Phyllis Court Club in June. 

Henley Music School has an ethos of inclusiveness and fairness. Everyone is welcome, regardless of means or ability. Our aim is to promote commitment, confidence, fun and a life-long love of music. 

The Mermaids are looking for sponsorship to help them with the cost of the Boat, pilot and crew to join Orchard House (IFAs) Ltd – Helen Fraser and Hallmark Care Homes who have already pledged their support. In order that all money raised through their GoFundMe – Henley Mermaids page can go directly to HMS, and their school music provision.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/laura039s-campaign-for-henley-music-school

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Hiral Deugi (22) was 21 when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. She was helped by Teenage Cancer Trust at UCLH. 

 She said: “I was working as a room leader at a nursery last year so when I started being sick, had a high temperature and rashes, I thought I had picked something up from the children I was looking after. I was really tired as well and my migraines were worse than usual. 

 “After a delay in my diagnosis, I was told that I had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in July 2018. I started laughing and said: ‘That sounds like cancer or something’, and they told me it was blood cancer. I said: ‘Are you sure?’ I was in shock. 

 “I was asked if I wanted to be treated by Teenage Cancer Trust at UCLH with other young adults. I jumped at the chance as I knew I’d prefer being with people my age. 

 “I started chemo almost straight away and suffered adverse side effects. I had internal haemorrhaging in my eyes, I was nauseous, and I struggled to walk at times. I was told that I’d need to be in hospital over Christmas. I was upset as I wanted to be home and constantly asked the nurses if they could make me well enough to be discharged.

 “I always get excited for Christmas as my big extended family comes together. People fly in from Portugal to celebrate with us. We decorate the house and the tree, watch Christmas films like Home Alone, have a lovely dinner and spend quality time together. My family had missed out on so much while I was in hospital, like Diwali and my cousin’s wedding, so I felt guilty that I might ruin Christmas too.

 “The nurses tried their best and managed to get me home just before Christmas. I like getting people thoughtful gifts, so I was running around like a headless chicken trying to get everyone presents that they’d like.

 “Being home was so special. I loved watching everyone open their presents and enjoyed hanging out with my family and dogs. Christmas is also a time for reflection on how your year has gone. When you’re going through treatment you do wonder whether you will make it to Christmas, and I felt grateful that I had.

 “People think that when you have finished the intense period of treatment and are on maintenance chemo that everything should be fine, but for me, this is when I became the most ill. I had a really bad infection at the start of August, and I ended up in ICU in my local hospital. I pushed to be moved to UCLH so I could be on the Teenage Cancer Trust unit as they knew me there and knew my history.

 “In addition to having a range of medicines, I had to be fed through a picc line, had a catheter, and be on oxygen. I went downhill quickly. I knew my body and I knew that something was seriously wrong.

 “I told my parents that I might not make it through and that they should prepare themselves for the worse. They were really upset and angry at the situation. I prepared myself for the fact that I may die too. I came to peace with it and I was happy for what I had achieved in my life to that point.

 “Teenage Cancer Trust’s Youth Support Coordinator Marlies has been there for a lot of my journey and become almost like a friend. She knew me so well and she said later that she saw the light go out in my eyes and knew that I was thinking I wouldn’t make it through. She was there for me then more than ever to encourage me to keep going and keep fighting. It kept me motivated to hang in there and I started to get better. She kept me busy with different activities on the ward to boost my mood and seven weeks later I was finally well enough to go home.

 “This Christmas will be even more special as my family and I didn’t know if I would be here for it. I will be helping Marlies set up a Christmas party at the unit so that all the young people can come together and celebrate and make the most of the good times. I’m starting to buy my presents soon and I am putting up my decorations in the middle of November. My little sister is at uni, and my big sister is often busy with studying and work, so it will be nice for us all to have some quality time together this Christmas.”

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Our gift to you on the 3rd day of ’12 Days of Christmas Treats’

The definitive guide from our friends at Outdoor Swimmer magazine on taking your swimming outdoors.

Download your free digital copy here: Escape the Pool

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We are absolutely thrilled to announce that for the first time, all four of our events have been recognised in the annual Racecheck awards.

The Thames Marathon has been awarded ‘TOP RATED UK SWIM’ for the third consecutive year while the Selkie Henley Classic, Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival and Club to Pub have been awarded Gold, following exceptionally high athlete ratings on race review website Racecheck.

Of the many thousands of events hosted across the country in the last year, less than 20 reached the standard of 4.8 / 5 needed to receive a gold award, and 4 of them were Henley Swims! We were the only organisation to receive gold for all of our events.

Once again this is thanks to the Henley Swim Community. We couldn’t put on our events without all of you, and now your reviews have made us award winners. 

We are really grateful to all of you that took the trouble to review your Henley Swim experience, and rate us so highly. We are now looking forward to continuing to build our community and to further improve our events in 2020 – aiming for 5/5 all round! 

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We are excited to announce that leading online swim shop, Simply Swim, is diving into a partnership again with the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival! Simply Swim have discounts for you and lots of insightful advice and tips helping you get the best products at the best prices.

You can see their full range at www.simplyswim.com and enjoy a 10% discount on all products using HENLEY20 at the check-out. 

While you are shopping, check out their Halocline swimwear range, you can get 20% off all of this range using code HALOCLINESWIM20.

So, what are the trends for 2020? What products are going to help enhance your swim and be on the essential kit list? Simply Swim has shared their predictions with us.

Swim Bag

Open water swimming can mean lots of gear, so you will need a decent bag to help you get everything you need to and from the water. The more high-end swim bags are crammed with pockets and features to make your training and competition days easier.

Open Water Goggles

A decent pair of open water goggles are so important to get the most out of your swim. Recent styles from big brands like TYR, Arena and Swans have useful features, like anti-fog lenses, wide peripheral range of sight and even photochromatic lenses which adapt to changing light conditions.

Anti-Chafe Balm

This will definitely make your swim sessions in a wetsuit a lot more comfortable and carefree. Apply before putting on your kit to help provide an invisible natural barrier against rubbing and skin irritation. This will revolutionise your open water swim and recovery.

Dryrobe

Outdoor swimming can mean a lot of waiting around before and after being in the water. A Dryrobe is the perfect solution providing a waterproof and windproof changing robe which helps to keep you warm and dry whilst waiting to get in the water and it will help your body acclimatize when you’ve finished.

Sliders

Nobody wants to squeeze wet feet back into trainers after a swim or walk across pebbly paths or slippery decking, thankfully Sliders provide the perfect solution. Often built to be lightweight and comfortable they are a fantastic all-rounder!

Happy swim gear shopping and don’t forget to take advantage of the discounts!

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The 2020 Selkie Henley Classic has partnered with Starlight Children’s Foundation to raise funds to help preserve childhood for seriously ill children. The upstream 2.1km open water swim is held on the famous Henley Royal Regatta course on 28th June, the weekend before the regatta starts. Most notably, the event begins at dawn as the first waves set off shortly after 4am.

This year swimmers will be encouraged to combine their swim challenge with a fundraising one. The partnership will see the offer of free charity places for this bucket list event, and other support and inspiration for swimmers from the charity.

Starlight is the national children’s charity that exists to preserve childhood throughout serious illness. This is done through hospital play and distraction services, wish granting and Starlight Escapes. Access to play during serious illness is especially important as a contributor to successful treatment and healthy development. It enables children to grow and to experience childhood as it should be. Granting wishes of a lifetime give children a choice at a time many of their other choices have been taken away.

 Swimmers who take on this charity challenge will be helping Starlight to reach thousands of children in and out of hospital, allowing them and their families to escape the routine and reality of treatment. Sam Butler, Head of Public Fundraising, Starlight Children’s Foundation explains: “We are extremely excited to be partnering with the Selkie Henley Classic swim. There is something really magical about arriving under starlight, getting into the Thames as the sun rises, swimming and raising money for Starlight! This event offers fundraisers and athletes a different and exciting challenge, while supporting work that has a huge and positive impact on the families’ we work with”

Bucket List Challenge

Open water swimming events in the Thames at Henley date back to 1892 . This tradition has been kept alive as swimmers of this world-renowned race follow in the footsteps of generations of swimmers. Nowadays swimmers swarm from across the world to take part in this iconic event that promises lifelong memories and ticks off a bucket list challenge. One swimmer enthused: “There is something quite exciting and a little bit naughty about getting in the Thames at 4am in torch light knowing thousands have done this before throughout the century.”

Sign up for a FREE charity place here or visit the website www.henleyswim.com. Read more about the iconic swim which will take place on Sunday 28^th June 2020 here.

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If you are relatively new to open water racing or yet to test the water fully then this is the perfect guide for you. As with any sport, remember that training is the key and careful preparation should never be far from your mind. Great swims like the Henley Mile at the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival have helped boost the popularity of the sport in recent years and these top tips from Simply Swim will hopefully go some way to making your open water race a stress-free experience.

Build Up Your Experience

There is no substitute for experience. Swimming in open water in race conditions will be both mentally and physically draining and when this is happening you will rely on your previous experience to deal with these problems and keep going. Practicing getting in and out of the water will also help as this can be difficult in some locations. For absolute novices we would recommend starting in high summer when the temperatures of the water are at their warmest.

Alternate Conditions

As previously mentioned, it will be easier to start out in warmer and calmer conditions for those new to open water swimming. However, it is also worth training in different conditions so you have more experience come race day when the weather may not be on your side. Also consider swimming in tidal conditions and currents, if it is safe to do so. Check with an expert if you have any doubts that it may not be safe to swim.

Get Used to Sighting

In choppy water, or when you are surrounded by competitors and splash, it can be difficult to know if you are heading in the right direction. Make sure you get used to raising your head so you can get a good sighting of your destination through your goggles when you are taking a breath. If things get really bad just remember it is more time efficient to stop and have a look around, then keep on swimming in the wrong direction.

When to Sight?

The general recommendation is to try sighting once every fourth breath and see if that suits you. Every swimmer is different in this regard so it will take some time and practice to work out what feels natural and works best for you. In the sea remember to take sightings from the top of a wave so you will get a better field of vision.

Swimming in Colder Conditions

A common mistake among novice open water swimmers is making sure you stay warm during the race. Don’t just assume that the physical nature of the swim will be enough to keep you warm, it will be vital to be sufficiently insulated to perform at your best. Our tips would be to double up on your swim cap and wear ear plugs to provide extra warmth. However, the best thing you can do is invest in a good quality wet suit.

Warm Up

Preparation for the race starts well before you get in the water. Before the race begins you should make sure your body is warm. A light jog or cycle will help to get your heart going and prepare it for the more strenuous activity to come. You can also get the body warm by starting off at a faster race pace before settling down into your usual speed once you are feeling more comfortable. Make sure you do not overdo it as these suggestions are only to get the blood circulating and not to tire yourself out too early.

Navigation Skills

If you get the chance it is worth checking out the race course before the start and get a good look of where the water markers are. This will also give you some time to think about which landmarks you can use during the race to orientate yourself. A technique many athletes use is to visualise yourself passing through the course and markers the evening before the race so that it feels like second nature on the day.

Carbo Load

Your food intake is hugely important in day-to-day life and even more so when preparing for an endurance event like open water swimming. It is vital to take on plenty of fuel before your race. This preparation starts a few days before the race when you should start loading up with extra carbohydrates like pasta, rice and potatoes. Your last meal should be taken on board with enough time to digest it before the race and you must also make sure that you have plenty of fluids.

Draft

A good way to preserve energy is to swim in the wake of the swimmers ahead. This will help you to judge race pace and stay in a strong position with less physical effort. There are downsides to this tactic as it is often competitive for this position and there may be some jostling especially in the beginning and can be crowded.

Breathe on The Other Side

You may prefer to breathe on one side but if you can develop your breathing technique on both sides then this can be advantageous during a race as you can avoid the splashes of a competitor. A mouthful of water can really slow you down so if you can master breathing on both sides this should help you to have a faster race.

We hope that these key tips help all of the novices out there. If you have any other tips you think are good for newcomers to open water swimming, then please comment below.

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The post An Update From Henley Swim Re. COVID 19 appeared first on Henley Swim - Inspirational Swim Events - Open Water Swimming.

23rd March 2020 – UPDATE

At the moment there is no change to our position, and planning for our 2020 events continues. Our first event on 28^th June is after the 12 weeks period the government has identified, and while we recognise that there is still a possibility of disruption, we do not want to rush any decisions at this time.

We are continuing to closely monitor the developments around the world and guidance from the World Health Organisation and the UK Government. We are making plans and contingency, including possible postponement dates, which we will share with you when and if we have to make changes.

We thank you for your patience and support through this, we are looking forward to the day when the Henley Swim community is once again able to take to the water.

16^th March 2020

With a constantly evolving situation, we are continuing to closely monitor the developments around the world and guidance from the World Health Organisation and the UK Government. 

Right now, government advice is to carry on as normal, and we are therefore working hard to deliver all four of our events this summer. Many of you will have seen some mass participation sports events have taken the decision to cancel. Clearly, we are doing everything in our power to avoid this unless it is enforced upon us or we feel there is a health risk to our swimmers, crew and volunteers. 

With our first event not taking place until 28^th June we are unsure what the status will be at that time and will continue to update you on our plans. Regardless, we are already working with suppliers and authorities on measures that best protect our swimmers, to ensure happy healthy events.

We know you want to be out there, and we want to help support you in enjoying your swims with us in a safe outdoor environment.

Thanks for your support at this uncertain time.

Henley Swim  

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The Phelps swim brand is really making waves and investing in the UK market and its exciting that they have just announced GB and Welsh swimmer Georgia Davies is joining the team as an official brand ambassador.  Davies has competed at two Olympic Games and three World Championships and most notably she swam the backstroke leg for the British team that claimed bronze in the mixed 4x100m medley relay at the Gwangju, World Championships in July 2019, an event that also saw her just miss out on an individual podium, finishing fourth in the 50m backstroke. 

The Phelps brand offers best-in-class, innovative swim products that are suitable for a broad range of pool and open water swimmers. Combining Aqua Sphere’s proven curved lens technology with Michael Phelps’ and his Coach Bob Bowman’s experiences at the highest levels of swim performance, the Phelps brand has developed a range of swim products and we love its XCEED goggle for its stylish good looks and excellent performance capability.   Its curved lenses deliver 180 degree vision which is ideal for sighting to the sides and the latex-free hypoallergenic seal feels super comfortable against the skin without pinching.    This head-turning mirrored XCEED is worth £34.99 and you can win one by simply entering the Thames Marathon 2021, the Selkie Henley Classic 2021 or the Brass Monkeys Challenge between 6th – 13th November 2020.

For more information on this great brand, visit www.michaelphelps.com.

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The team from Henley Swim have added the Brass Monkeys Challenge to their portfolio, a series of virtual cold water swimming challenges that can be achieved anywhere in the world, where the water temperature is below 14°C.

2020 has seen a huge uptake in open water swimming, with many open water venues choosing to remain open for the winter for the first time. The Brass Monkeys Challenge gives swimmers the incentive to keep going with their winter swimming, while offering advice and guidance to ensure that this extreme sport is carried out safely and sensibly.

Henley Swim commented:

“The closure of swimming pools in 2020, and rules surrounding social distancing has led to a huge increase in the number of people swimming outside. People are trying it out of necessity, and finding they love it. We are delighted to see this increase in open water swimming, but we are most passionate about ensuring that people are safe. This is an extreme sport and should be carried out with safety at the forefront at all times.

Brass Monkeys Challenge allows us to give people an incentive to try open water swimming, and to be able to impart safety information and reminders to the swimmers. In association with our media partner Outdoor Swimmer magazine, we are able to give swimmers help and advice to allow them to recognise the dangers and act accordingly, while enjoying this invigorating sport”.

Based on water temperature and distance, there are 5 Brass Monkey levels for the 2020/21 season:

PLUCKY – BRAZEN – BOLD – DARING – INTREPID

Those that complete their challenges will receive up to 5 woven badges, downloadable progress charts and certificates, entry into the private Brass Monkeys Facebook group, and advice and guidance from Outdoor Swimmer Magazine. 

The challenges can be personalised according to experience and preferences, for example there are no stipulations as to clothing – anything from a birthday suit to a full neoprene get-up is acceptable. There are a number of ways of reaching each level, and swimmers can decide if they wish to do them all, or just one. The Brass Monkeys Challenge is for every type of swimmer from experienced to first time winter swimmer.

The swims can take place in any unheated water – the sea, the river, lakes or lidos, even tethered in a paddling pool. The only stipulation is that the water temperature must be under 14°C.

The health benefits of cold water swimming, both mental and physical, are well documented.

Swimmers need to confirm that they have read the Safety Advice before registering for the challenge, this includes advice particularly relating to Cold Water Shock, Hypothermia and the after-drop. The key advice is never to swim alone, start with short swims and build up, and most importantly always come out of the water feeling as if you could have stayed in longer.

For general advice about swimming in the colder months, Outdoor Swimmer magazine has a section dedicated to cold water swimming https://outdoorswimmer.com/blogs/cold-water-swimming 

Swimmers have until the end of April to complete their challenges.

For more information and to enter go to

https://henleyswim.niftyentries.com/Brass-Monkeys-Challenge

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