The Cross Mersey Swim

The Cross Mersey Swim – the very definition of a team effort from our swimmers!

11 of our Swim Squad (plus Jan’s mum!) crossed the Mersey on Saturday in our Triathlon Swim Squad Pod.

The Team

Jo, Siobhan, Sallie, Sara, Lisa, Jon, Gary, Kate, Julia, Nick, Peter & Barbara.

They took on the challenge as a team, from registration to celebration. During the swim they made sure they all stayed together, supporting each other across and enjoying the team camaraderie and experience.

Perfect!

Although ‘only’ about 2k, the water moves fast and needs swimmers to be both strong and vigilant. Take the wrong line across and you’re in for a very difficult afternoon. Open water swim skills definitely required.

There were lots of instructions being shouted throughout the swim from the more experienced swimmers to help the rest of the team across. And it made for a brilliant experience and one the swimmers are unlikely to forget.

Swimmer Experiences

Here are some of the comments from the swimmers.

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“I don’t even remember this picture being taken I was so nervous. Once we got in the water, it was great. Then it got a bit in my head but great teamwork took over.”

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“Someone shouted “waterpolo drill” and that was a great prompt. Then one of the gang kept shouting my name and to get left. I don’t feel like I got into a rhythm – but then got a great spot on the far wall and just paddled / whooshed down. I think it was Siobhan doing her best lifeguard voice”

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“It was brilliant! Great day out and such a lovely bunch of people 🙂 also I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do that so really made up :)”

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“Still can’t believe we did it. Couldn’t swim more than 25m two years ago. #swimsquad”

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“Super proud of us and grateful to be a part of this squad :)”

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“An amazing day swimming across the River Mersey – made that bit more special swimming it with the Squad. Thank you all for your support & words of encouragement throughout ! A special, special day.”

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“Wonderful event made all the better with amazing team mates. Executed almost perfectly thanks to some ‘rounding up and pointing in the right direction’”

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“It was great, a proper team effort! Loved that everyone got across and had a great experience, that’s what it’s all about!”

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“Boss day, boss people. Super proud of this bunch, and the effort to get across together as a squad, what a team.”

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“Everyone using their OW Swim Squad skills to perfection – lots of sighting and water polo was needed. The amount of people swimming to the right and getting caught in the current at the end was mad. We seemed to all sail the current into the slip way – was pretty fun!”

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More Reflections

We’ll finish the post with two messages I received the day after the Cross Mersey Swim. They are amazing.

Swimmer 1

“Hi Bryan!

I’ve been wanting to drop you a message since yesterday, just to say what an experience it was. You’d have been so proud of the bunch. Everybody stuck together and looked out for one another, and we truly swam it as a pod. It was incredible. I still can’t believe I’ve swam across the Mersey, and there was a moment part way through where I just stopped and thought, “What the hell am I doing in here?! This is off it’s head!”.

We had Lisa at the rear, Jo to the front, Sallie to the right and Siobhan to the left on overwatch. It was unbelievable. What an experience, and what an extraordinary group of people. A group of people you have brought together.

You created a post a few days back about community; this was it in it’s absolute essence.

So wholesome. We all waited on the ramp for people to come in at the end, and everybody was cheering and hugging when we made it. Just spectacular.

I said to Jo, it’s funny with swimming, because it’s such an individual sport – even when you’re swimming a relay, you’re usually alone doing your part. Yesterday everybody was responsible for one another, swimming it together. It was really special, and you said it right in your post – a day I’m unlikely to forget.

I even exchanged a mid-stroke high five with Nick in the middle of the Mersey – I don’t know if that’s been done before. We were next to one another, and clearly thought the same thing at the same time.

Next year get your name down! It would be great to have you swim it with us.”

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Swimmer 2

Bryan

What a weekend !

So, so pleased with the River Mersey Swim.

Such an iconic Swim setting & managed, all be it in perfect weather, with the odd wave & strong currents – who’d have thought !

I’m amazed at my time of 27 mins – helped with current of course !

I can’t thank you enough for the swim confidence you have helped me with – I would not have even considered the Mersey swim possible without my time in swim squad.

What topped the swim off was to do it with our squad team – awesome people !

The day will sit with me forever, amazing experience.

Thank you for making it possible.”

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So much positivity and so many good experiences!

Now, hands up, who is doing the Cross Mersey Swim 2024?!