| BRADFORD-ON-AVON SWIM PICNIC The Tithe Barns, Barton Farm, BA15 1LF Bradford on Avon. 8th June 2024 1.6km Social River Swim and Picnic Entry £20.00 (£15.00 under 16s) The picnic's FREE (bring your own picnic), bring cake to share! | ||||||
| The
Bradford-on-Avon Swim and Picnic isn't a race. It's a social swim and a
picnic at the medaeval Tithe Barns, in the historic town of
Bradford-on-Avon. The only difference is to earn your picnic you
have to swim along the idyllic River Avon a distance of 1.6km. The Bradford-on-Avon Swim and Picnic is part of the Slow Swimming campaign, aimed at encouraging swimmers to take their time and enjoy the opportunity to be out fully immersed in nature. There are no timing chips or results sheets. Everyone who takes part is a winner equally. We are very keen to get children used to, and enjoying, swimming outdoors. This will improve their safety in and around water and should encourage them to be lifelong outdoor swimmers. There isn't an age restriction as such, but obviously we would be depending on your adequate supervision of anyone under 16. I would very much recommend that they wear a wettie, as children lose heat quicker than adults when in water, and unless they are very good swimmers a form of buoyancy aid. To give everyone an enjoyable swim the event is split into waves. Each wave will go off at intervals from 10.30am, but exact start times will not be known until nearer the time as some waves may be split into two to stop overcrowding in the river: Wave one: Seriously Need More Cake (Known as Serious), start at 10.30am. Choose this wave if you would like to actually race, but be prepared for a bit of a scrum in the narrow sections. Wave two: Relaxed 'cause we know where the cake is hidden (Known as Relaxed). Steady pace - no rush. Wave three: Enjoying the Journey (Known as Enjoying it). Sculling along, maybe with a bit of paddling, smiling and chatting. Wave four: Pooh Sticks. Basically it's for people who want to really enjoy the scenery using floaty things (nothing bigger than a lilo please) and paddle along with hands or feet. It could be as little as arm bands or a rubber ring. You can decide how much of the course you would like to complete - from 150m up to the full 1.6km. BUT - please make sure it's both safe (won't go down and drown you. If you are a weak swimmer and using your floaty thing as boyancy ensure that you are securely fixed to it. If you cannot swim - please don't enter the event) and won't damage the river or river banks. We are here to help look after the river! Start times subject to change nearer the day. |
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 Brave dippers have swum in
the Avon at Bradford since earliest times. They were brave as
the river was also used as a general all-purpose water channel
for both water into houses and businesses and to take away the
outpoorings both domestic and industrial! In 1897, for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the building of a brand new Memorial Baths was started on land next to the town bridge, with the laying of a foundation stone by the wife of local benefactor John Moulton, who together with Lord Fitzmaurice paid for the building works. The aim was to provide somewhere for poorer local residents to be able to have a bath, rather than to swim, as many people did not have a bath in their own homes. The new swimming pool, again built right by the river, replaced the Memorial Baths during the 1960's. There have been recent threats of closure due to running costs and restricted council budgets but local support and proposals of the creation of a community trust should ensure it's continued to be enjoyed by residents of Bradford. Now that the River Avon has been cleaned and preened, outdoor 'wild' swimming is making a comeback. The Wiltshire Wild Swimmers regularly swim at Bradford-on-Avon and nearby Avoncliff. |
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 The idea of a social swim
and picnic started on the River Stour in Dedham on the
Suffolk-Essex border in 2013. A bunch of friends getting
together and just deciding to do it. So out came the wetties (it
was September) and sandwiches were made, bottles of ginger beer
were packed and it happened. The official 'start list' only had
six starters and luckily an equal number of finishers. |
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| The
swim is along the idyllic River Avon from The Medaeval Tithe
Barns, starting by the packhorse bridge, downstream through
Barton Farm country park, turning at just under a kilometre and
back upstream to finish at the picnic field in front of the
Tithe Barns again. We encourage the 'Pooh Sticks' Wave to leave the river at the turn around point and walk back along the footpath as it can be difficult to paddle back against the slight current. Registration and start is in the picnic field at the Tithe Barns. |
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 Click on the blue button and go through to Entry Central. Don't forget to order your event towel or robe patch at the same time! | ||||||
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Please try to car share, use public transport, cycle or walk to the registration point at the Tithe Barns if possible. If you want to arrange to car share click through to the event Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradfordswim
Parking
If you are arriving by car, park at the station car park (zone B) BA15 1DQ, which has 135 spaces including electric vehicle charging spaces. There is a 250m, level (one ramp), walk to the registration and start.
Registration opens at 9.30am. The start point is a very short stroll from the registration tent. Make sure you are registered in time to hear the safety briefing before your wave start time.
Swim start
There will then be an opportunity to get in the
river and acclimatise before each wave goes off.
If you are used to swimming outdoors you are
welcome to swim in just a swimming-cosie. Most people will be using a
wetsuit, either a purpose made swimming wetsuit or a surfers wettie.
The Swim
The swim starts out from the picnic field by the
packhorse bridge at the Tithe Barns and heads downstream through Barton
Farm country park, turning at just under a kilometre and back upstream
to finish at the picnic field in front of the Tithe Barns again.
We encourage the 'Pooh Sticks' Wave to leave the river at the turn
around point and walk back along the footpath as it can be difficult to
paddle back against the slight current.
One last bit of admin – sign out of the river at
the registration table. We need to know that you have completed the swim
so we don’t start looking for you in the river.
The Picnic.
First go and wash your hands and face. This is
not just for general hygiene but also a wise precaution after having
swum in an open river or lake as a guard against ‘Weil’s disease’
Weil’s disease
Cover any open wound with a waterproof plaster.
Wash your hands and face after swimming and before eating. If you get
flu or jaundice-like symptoms three to fourteen days after swimming ask
your doctor for a Leptospirosis test. It is simply treated with
antibiotics.
Now eat cake, drink pop and bask in the glory of
your achievement.
Contact: Stuart Hamilton: 07957844512, SlowSwimming@aol.com
Join the event Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradfordswim/