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Barnt Green Sailing Club - B.R.A.T.S. Page # 1 (MAP page # 2)  Archive here    |

Water temperature    in degrees celsius

16/Apr. 9°. 28/Apr. 11°.  4/May. 12°. 7/May. 15°

28 swimmers took to the water on the 8th May, a good first turnout.  Tauny commented afterwards, "The hot showers are fantastic, gets the burning sensation out of the eyes!"

Alvechurch weather site here  Good Practice Guidelines for Upper Bittell Reservoir / BGSC  here. To view images of the inaugural 2007 session click   here   and   here. Directions to BGSC here  Swim area map here

May 1st and 28 BRATs came along to the Chilli evening to start the 2008 season at Bittell, no swimming unfortunately as it was too cold, however the supper was excellent and everyone seemd to enjoy it. Thanks go to Lisa and Fred for catering.

2008 season kicks off with a SWIM CHILLY - EAT CHILLI night on Thursday May 1st. Lisa and Fred will cater and I guess from the title that there might be Chilli con whatever on the menu (no pork pie though!)  Please note : There will be hot showers this season, every week (barring breakdown) following special negotiation between the sub committees. More details on here later and of course, from your usual Brats emails etc.

Scroll down to read Tauny's report to the BGSC newsletter following the 2007 season

20th September.  Chris, Brian and Robin for BGSC attended the closing event of the season at Upper Bittell on behalf of the sailing club, manning the bar for the BRATs social after the final open water swim at the lake this year. Eight BRATs braved the rather chilly conditions and were rewarded by the announcement that the showers were HOT!  Lisa and Fred supplied the catering in the form a buffet which went down very well with the 35 or so BRATs who came along. (They promise not to put on pork pie next time!) The event seemed popular and the bar trio worked very hard for a while, running out of a variety of drinks that seemed to be in great demand. (Must stock up with more for next time!)  RB.

“BRATs at Bittell!”  Tauny's piece for the sailing club autumn newsletter aka "Bittell Banter"

 

After swift and efficient negotiations with Robin Brown, Chris Pack, Stuart Howe (and a “watertight” contract courtesy of Tim Jobson), some 20 intrepid members of the Birmingham Running and Triathlon Club (the “BRATs”)  took to the still waters of Bittell Reservoir on Thursday 10th May 2007.  We had a great time – slightly chilly, but with the anticipation of hot showers, it was all worth it.  And the showers were great, hot, clean…but, as it turned out, a “once-a-season” offer (interestingly, the lack of hot water didn’t deter some of the more hardy triathletes from taking a “refreshing” shower at the club after each swim for the rest of the season).

 

Following the successful trial, and with the blessing of not only Barnt Green Sailing Club but also Nigel Gough (from the fishing club) and Natural England (who issued a licence for swimming), more and more BRATs took to the waters every week.  Previously we had spent our summers swimming training at “Swampy” (also known as Swan Pool in Sandwell Valley Park), changing in the car park and wiping the goose muck from our eyes after swimming, so Bittell Reservoir seemed like paradise – marvellously scenic, clean and private – and with club facilities thrown in!  We initially relied heavily on a few “ready – made” lifeguards and power boat operators (thanks to Megan Davies and her brother Huw, Jorge Mascaro, and John Johnson), but then Caroline Whitehouse trained up a few more BRATs (Dave Garner, Stu Westwood, Mark Attwood and Geoff Mann) and we managed to cover all the safety aspects of using Bittell Reservoir for our open water swimming training.

 

As the season blossomed, the numbers swimming at Bittell grew and the race results started to come rolling in.  What a season it was!!  Many BRATs put in superb performances, including Bittell regulars like Jon and Ellen Tune (first ironman triathlons finished at Zurich), Megan Shields and Robin Biles (interesting and excellent performances at Alpe d Huez triathlon and Hellvellyn triathlon), Steve Titmarsh, Steve Faulkner and Paddy Allaway (at the Bala triathlon).  BRAT teams also did well at the National Club Relays, winning the open women’s event and coming second in the male super vets category.  There were 3 BRATs who were crowned national age group champions (Tim Easter, Loretta Sollars and Ann-Marie Bathmaker) and 13 BRATs who represented GB at the World Age Group Championships at Hamburg.  Mark Hirsch, another Bittell regular, not only was second in his age group at the World Champs, but also won the national British Triathlon Federation award for the best male age group triathlete of the year 2007.  Duncan Hough was voted national BTF Official of the Year”, the BRATclub was awarded Regional Triathlon Club of the year, and regular Bittell swimming BRAT members were also awarded regional Volunteer of the year (Geoff Mann) and Coach of the year (Andy Teagle), Of course, the BRAT performance of the season undoubtedly went to Chrissie Wellington, who, in her first season as a professional triathlete, became the first Brit to win the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii!!

 

Many thanks go to Megan Shields for organising the BRATs and all at Barnt Green Sailing Club who supported the BRATs during the season.  Special mention goes to Fred and Lisa Rollins for their organisation and cooking at the wonderful end of season party in the clubhouse, and, of course, their somersaulting dog.  Finally, we will definitely get Chris Pack swimming in Bittell next year – rather than sailing on it!

 

Tauny Southwood

"The “last swimmer of 2007” photo is of Asker Jeukendrup, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Birmingham and Ironman triathlete extraordinaire."  (Quote by Tauny Southwood)

 

 

Left picture : Megan and Robin getting cuddly while watching the swimmers, it's very easy just watching!

Next picture down : Some of the swim group on the final evening, 20th September.  Chris Pack took the photo's which explains why he isn't in them. I thought one was taken of him, as the main instigator of BRATs at BGSC it's a shame not to show him. R.

The last picture shows the group listening avidly to Chairman, Tauny Southwood, saying a few words about what a good season the BRATs have had at Upper Bittell and expaining that talks will soon take place between BRATs and BGSC to organise next seasons swim nights, again to be on Thursday evenings and hopefully with a few improvements.  Robin responded for the sailing club thanking everyone for attending the evening and for the way the BRAT club members had fitted in so well at B.G.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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