When Paul first walked onto the beach, dressed as a wookie, I knew that we were going to get along just fine. Paul definitely won the award for joining in with the themes, often very creatively. I think he may also have been one of the most regular swimmers in the group. With this dedication came massive improvements in confidence and ability. The person who left the beach at the end of the 2019 season was a different person to the one who started the season. Attitude and application and lots of drills are a recipe for success.

I, for one, will be glued to the tracker when Paul eventually swims. No doubt I’ll be shouting at it too!

Rookie Wookie’s Season One Memoirs of Dover Channel Training

I had been thinking about swimming the Channel since about August 2016 when I first created a folder ‘Channel Swim’ within my email account. Don’t ask me why I suddenly wanted to do this, that’s another discussion for another day!

Although big into sports and endurance events since the age of 17, this was completely new to me.
Yes I had been forced to attend Saturday morning swim classes by my Mum and yes I loved any activity to do with water or being in it but I never classed myself as an exceptional competitive swimmer or even a strong swimmer. I could swim up and down a pool for hours on end in a fashion, but outdoor open water was different!

Before embarking on Dover Channel Training, I had done the obligatory holiday sea swimming, I had done a little bit of swimming with the Brighton Arch Sea Swimmer’s club and I had had some one to one coaching in Rottingdean. All these experiences were very positive and added to my mindset that I really wanted to do this. So the swim was booked for September 2020.

I remember it clearly, Friday night, the 4th January 2019. Christmas festivities were fading, I was stagnating, my waistline was increasing and comms with my previous coach had fizzled out and I had to do something soon. It was quite late; my wife was working, and I was on the sofa enjoying a rather large brandy.

Anyone embarking on the Channel knows about Dover Channel Training, everyone talks about it, it is up there with the classics, Bowie, the Summer of 76, Live Aid….. Frieda Streeter MBE.

So, I started to Google… after another brandy I was well and truly embedded into the Dover Channel Training (DCT) website. Wow this was serious stuff, these people had the sole aim of getting people across that stretch of water between England and France, specialists in their craft. Then I clicked on it ‘2019 Dover Training Seminars’….. A two-day seminar on how to swim the Channel. I could not believe it; this was what I had been waiting for. But it was next week, yes, the 12th and 13th January! One more brandy and I would have probably missed this link and would never have attended what was a life changing couple of days which culminated in me signing up for Dover Channel Training 2019!

Even before the first session, it was clear that this was a unique group of people. I managed to join the Facebook group a couple of weeks before. It was scary, messages were flying in an out of this social messaging vehicle like I had never seen before. Very soon Emma had buddied me up with someone with experience of both training at DCT and the Channel. At that point I had no idea how much knowledge and experience this lady had, her name was Melanie Holland.

Mel was amazing and from scratch was regularly messaging me, reassuring me. The Facebook group was intense but incredibly motivational and welcoming. I moved the Facebook icon to my main home screen on my phone, to allow me to keep up, something I vowed would never happen.

Driving down to Dover on Friday night, 3rd May 2019 I remember feeling incredibly apprehensive of what lay ahead over the next couple days. I had met the key team, I had met the leader, Emma France but I truly was the ‘Rookie’ and soon the whole world would see that.

I left the Premier Inn (a place I would learn to love over that Summer) and walked along the sea front toward the sea food shack where the DCT clan would congregate. I kind of imagined that there would be a smallish group of people there, it would be simple to quickly say hello and get stuck in. But as I approached, this was clearly not the case. The beach was full of people with brightly coloured heads!

Now at this point, I must point out that I was walking along Dover harbour dressed in a Wookie dressing gown with matching mask and even a book that played Wookie sounds… it was May the 4th and the theme of the weekend was of course Star Wars. So, I thought if I could hide behind this mask no one would know how nervous I was.

I was directed toward Emma France who seemed impressed that I had made the effort. There were a few others in similar costumes, and this helped break the ice.

I was given a swim number on the back of my hand and the first briefing began!

There were a lot of people, red hats for solo swimmers, yellow for relays. There was a lot of laughing and hugging (something which I would learn to love with this group).

So, 20 minutes swim to start with. No dramas I could do that, I had practiced a short swim the week before in the sea at Brighton.

In we went. Or should I say in they went, I was stood on the beach faffing in typical Rookie fashion, wrestling to put away my dressing gown into my bin bag which already ripped. Everyone was already getting into the water; I was still faffing. I ran(ish) down the beach with my crocs on and realised I was still wearing my glasses. Claire Russell one of the volunteers kindly took them off me and reassured me all would be OK; it was clear I was already out of my depth and I was still on dry land!

Tip toeing in it was oh so very cold. My feet physically hurt as I stumbled forward. It then gets worse as you move forwards and the salty icy water covers your ‘bits’. You feel short of breath and unsure what the hell is going on with your body. Then in I went fully immersed. Your head starts to yell internally at you, ‘what the hell are you doing to me’. Breastroke for a little, crawl for a little, head up for a little… Where was I going? What direction was I going in…? All I knew is that the 50 or 60 people around me on the beach had disappeared. Where had they gone? But I was indeed swimming. I had done it, I was in! Then the amazing what can only be explained as electrical tingling of warmth started to grow around me as my incredible body was starting to adapt to this ridiculous situation I had put it in. This warmth is the most amazing experience that only comes with open water swimming at these temperatures (11.1 in the water that day).

I continued swimming not completely sure where I was going and still wondering where everyone had gone. Then I checked my watch, 20 minutes had lapsed, and I was still a way from the beach. OK time to get back quickly. But the sea had one more trick and decided it would not make the final dash home easy. I fought against nature and lost. It took at while and about 10 minutes later I landed. I looked up and Emma was looking at me disapprovingly… I stumbled awkwardly to get out of the water. ‘We are going to have to do something with that stroke’ , Emma exclaimed, but then smiled. Again, I faffed around at the waters edge, taking in what had just happed. ‘Get yourself moving and get changed quickly’ Emma yelled. I had no idea how important this advice was, but would realise within the next 5 minutes.

I stumbled up the beach and found my ripped bin bag. Infact on leaving my kit, I had left most of it out of the bag as I struggled to catch the pack. It had rained, hailed, I think even thundered during those first 30 minutes. Someone had very kindly put my kit away, ensuring I had something dry to get into. An act of kindness which was so amazing but something I would learn epitomises the values of this group! Getting dressed was something else. I could not move; everything was difficult, and I was beginning to shiver ferociously. I had never felt like this before and I was beginning to panic. Was I starting to go into some type of shock, would I need medical attention? People around me were also shivering a lot. Some had chairs and were smiling and chatting, but I was really struggling.

Then Sophie Williamson appeared. I had met Sophie at the seminars back in January. Sophie is a sports therapist and I had had a session with her prior to this to prepare. Sophie saw I was in a bit of a mess and talked me down and helped me get my head together. Hot coffee and my Wookie Dressing gown help me slowly regain some normality. I was really grateful to Sophie that morning.

Just as I had about got my head together and my body had stopped yelling at me to stop. It was time to do it all over again. Yes ‘double dipping’ was a key feature to the start of the season, and I would learn to love/hate it. Oh my God, it had taken me an hour to recover, now I would go in again.

But in I went, no faffing, glasses off, all kit in my ripped bin bag. ‘Just 30 this time please’ Emma reassuringly confirmed to me with a smile.

Yes, it still hurt, yes people disappeared, yes my body wanted to know what was going on, but I did it.

I got out, on time and this time ran straight up the beach to get changed. This time Emma just smiled. I really believe she understood how big a deal this has been to me.

I battled to get changed and yes shivered uncontrollably but this time I knew what was happening, and I knew it would pass. I was sat on the beach next to Drew George, a gentle giant I had also met at the seminars. We both laughed as we battled to get changed. But I had one last challenge of that day, my socks. I was struggling to put on my socks, I had bought the smallest tightest socks ever and they were not going to give up easily. Enter Jevon to the rescue. Again, another very much appreciated act of help.

At that point I was then sat on the beach in my Wookie dressing gown, with mixed emotions. I had achieved so much in that few hours BUT I would have to return tomorrow and do it again and again and again for the next 5 months!

Then I felt a supportive arm around my shoulders. The kind smile of Louise Marshall and the words ‘Are you OK?’ suddenly everything felt a little better. Louise and Tony, her husband, quickly took the Rookie under their wing during that season and helped me get my self together and prepare for the remaining 21 weeks! The first thing was to ditch the Wookie dressing gown and buy a Dry Robe. Then get a proper dry bag without the rip and finally bring a chair.
I remember proudly strolling down the beach the following week with my new attire!

After the first morning I returned to the Premier Inn still confused about what had occurred that morning. One thing was clear, I was indeed a Rookie, maybe the Rookie of the group. I messaged Mel on Facebook and explained how the whole experience had unfolded! Mel was fantastic and throughout that afternoon continued to send supportive, positive messages allowing me to prepare and leave the Premier Inn once again and walk back to DCT on the Sunday morning (again in my Wookie costume).

Day 2 was oh so different. People cheered as I turned up. I was this time part of the ceremonial hugging and laughing. Emma took a picture of all the Star Wars characters on the beach.

I met Mel in person, someone who I felt I had known for ever by now.

Louise and Tony greeted me and yes still laughed at my ripped bin bag.

Day 2 was a repeat of day one, with the swims being a bit longer but I was in a different place. I felt now I was part of a support structure. As I exited the water (twice) people genuinely cheered and celebrated my achievements.

It was strange, as I prepared to drive back to Crawley that Sunday afternoon, there was a slight feeling of sadness in leaving the sea and my new comrades. I had at that moment no idea of how this feeling would develop and what amazing friendships I would forge over the next 21 weeks.

In particular it would never cease to amaze me how Emma France would become way more than just the leader of DCT. The hours Emma and Paul put into that season both within each weekend and in-between was truly amazing and humbling.

On Saturday 22nd June 2019, I achieved my 6-hour qualifier. This is probably to date one of the most amazing things I have ever done. I will never ever forget this moment, in a way when my Channel adventure does come to fruition in August 2021, I doubt it will be as amazing as the feeling on that day. As well as the feeling of self-achievement, it was again the support of Emma, Paul and my new friends that had helped me reach this point. Again, everyone helped me celebrate in true DCT style, they all completely understood what this had meant to me.

Still a Rookie but a Rookie with his channel qualifier badge on his dry robe.

As the season continued with more challenges, different themes, the strength of the group grew and so did the friendships.

As well as my own challenges it also became about supporting others through theirs. Watching others achieve their 6 hours or 10 or their 7 and 6 weekends was amazing. Even when my swims had finished for the weekend, it was important to stay on the beach and watch the last swimmers meet their goals.

As I sat on the beach on weekend 22, for our end of season BBQ, it didn’t matter that I had not swum the channel that year, or a relay or any other swim. The important thing was I had survived my season 1 and had shared with others as they achieved their dreams.

One last comment from the Rookie Wookie….. something that really sums up this incredible group is captured by the Eagles, ‘you can check out at any time, but you can never leave’.

Guest Blog: Paul Cross