Swimming lessons – and swimming baths – have changed dramatically since this photograph of Bristol North Baths was taken. Image by Paul Townsend (Creative Commons License: Attribution-Some Rights Reserved).

Swimming is both an important life skill and an enjoyable sporting activity. We at Swim and Leisure Supplies cannot fail to be inspired by swimmers who devote their time to the sport professionally or semi-professionally. Especially those who pick up medals from the Commonwealth Games and the modern Olympic Games. They would think nothing of swimming 25 metres.

In England, a recent study by Swim England found that almost one in three 11-year-olds cannot swim up to 25 metres. According to the National Curriculum, all primary school pupils should be expected to swim 25 metres as a bare minimum. It was found that only 36% of primary schools reached this target.

For several years, swimming has been a core part of any school child’s curriculum. If they take swimming up as a competitive sport or a recreational hobby, friendships can be made with fellow swimmers. They might join a local swimming club and, if they reach their full potential, could be a future Olympic Gold Medallist.

Steve Parry, from Swim England said: “Water safety is the only part of the national curriculum that will save children’s lives, it can’t be treated as an optional extra.” Alarmingly, in the same survey, it was said by 63% of parents that their child cannot save themselves in the water, when they come to grief.

A contributory factor to these findings is the closure of swimming baths, thanks to cuts in local government funding. This has seen fewer, yet larger leisure centres in some towns for the whole borough, in place of a public baths in each town. Over the last forty years in England and Wales, local authorities have had to cede direct control of their facilities to arms-length companies or trusts. Some have been privatised, sold off for housing developments, or converted into non-swimming based leisure centres.

Swim and Leisure Supplies, 27 July 2017.

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Cast your mind back to your formative years. Remember when you started school swimming lessons. There’s every chance you made your first strokes with a rubber ring, armbands, or a float (cork or polystyrene). At some swimming pools, you may have held onto the swimming instructor’s long wooden stick to complete your length.

For many people, a pair of armbands remind them of a first trip to the public baths. The earliest examples were made in 1907 by Dean and Son., better known for publishing hardback books on building toys and handicrafts. They were shaped like butterfly wings (which could be the likely source of the phrase ‘water wings’) and known as the Swimeesy Buoy. They were a popular form of floatation device till the arrival of inflatable equivalents.

1931 saw the arrival of inflatable armbands – or least some more akin to today’s variety. They were made with rubber and comprised of two parts, designed for the upper arms. They were tested on a Los Angeles beach.

The biggest change came in 1956, thanks to the inventor’s daughter nearly drowning in his goldfish pond. Thanks to a lottery win, Bernhard Markwitz used the winnings (253,000 DM) as startup capital. In 1964, his design was fully realised and the company he formed was BEMA. The company name forms the first two letters of his first name and his surname.

Today, his basic design form the part of many armbands. Other companies like Floaties and Speedo owe a debt to BEMA’s innovative design.

Swim and Leisure Supplies, 21 June 2017.

Image Credit: the swimming design classic of a pair of dayglo orange inflatable armbands. Image by ConstantinosZ (via Shutterstock).

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For daring swimmers, swimming the English Channel is the pinnacle of many people’s achievements. It is all the more challenging, being one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The 33 kilometres is nothing on the 500 km that cover the length of Ireland.

Alan Corcoran aims to do just that, for charitable endeavour. For his future swim, he will start at Giant’s Causeway then finish at Dunmore East, his home town. The Marathon Man, as he has dubbed himself on his website, is no stranger to equally challenging feats. In 2012, he ran 35 marathons in 35 consecutive days.

His 500 km feat will be done in 30 stages. In other words, 16.67 kilometres per day. He aims to raise €50,000 for his endeavours, with the money going to the Irish Cancer Society and the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin.

Alan’s father was Milo Corcoran, formerly the chairman of Waterford United football club. He held the FAI presidency in 2001. In 2011, the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin rehabilitated his father following a stroke. Last August he passed away, after battling cancer.

If he’s not swimming, Alan works as a town planner. He is looking for sponsors, a trailer, and a campervan. His challenge begins on the 13 May this year. We at Swim and Leisure Supplies wish him the very best of luck and hope he succeeds by the middle of June.

Swim and Leisure Supplies, 28 February 2017.

Giant’s Causeway image by Remizov (via Shutterstock).

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Please note: all of the wild swimming venues covered in this article are more suitable for strong swimmers. If swimming in the sea, always take heed of the warning signs and the lifeguard’s instructions. Thank you.

If you go on the Outdoor Swimming Ireland website, there is a number of established wild swimming venues that are popular with tourists and local swimmers alike. Some of which have been regular spots for several years.

Grand Canal, Milltown

On the Outdoor Swimming website, this is the first and only entry from County Kildare. The site waxes lyrical over its pastoral setting near The Curragh racecourse. At this point is the Grand Canal’s feeder canal into Milltown. It is hard to imagine how this quiet canal reaches the vibrant capital city.

Seapoint, Dublin

For countless Dubliners, Seapoint has been a traditional swimming venue with holidaymakers flocking to the resort. It is one of the most accessible wild swimming venues with regular bus and DART services from Dublin city centre. Of late the water quality has been hit and miss so check before you go.

The 40 Foot, Dun Laoghaire

Arguably the most famous bathing spot in the Republic of Ireland, The 40 Foot is a short distance from our previous venue. Previously a male only bathing venue, it was immortalised in James Joyce’s Ulysses. As well as being one of Dublin’s most popular wild swimming venues, some hardy swimmers congregate for an annual plunge on Christmas Day.

Like Seapoint, it has excellent DART and bus links, and private car parking nearby. After your dip, you might fancy a trip to the James Joyce Tower and Museum, situated in a nearby Martello Tower.

Swim and Leisure Supplies, 14 February 2017.

Wild swimming in Ireland image by Andreas Lippenberger (via Shutterstock).

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If you’re of a certain age, swimming lessons conjure up images of being whisked away from school to a municipal pool on a double decker bus. It also creates images of cold changing rooms, picking up bricks from the bottom of the deep end, and bossy swimming instructors. Also that of woollen swimming costumes and holding onto a stick as you learn to kick your way along 25 metres of pool.

Today, swimming lessons have moved on from this era. The woollen trunks have gone the same way as the cold changing cubicles. In many places sadly, swimming pools themselves have disappeared.

Perfecting your swimming strokes isn’t just for seven-year-olds with a rolled-up towel and soggy costumes. For adults, it’s an alternative to the gymnasium. Instead of being taught alongside twenty-nine or thirty-four others, one-to-one tuition is the norm. You can also learn to swim in a five-star hotel’s health spa as well as the public baths.

Adult swimming lessons

Throughout the Republic of Ireland, adult swimming lessons are available on a pay-as-you-go basis, or as part of a membership package. In our locality (County Kildare) for example, K Leisure operate three facilities with swimming pools in Naas and Athy. K Leisure’s pay-as-you-go rate is (at this time of writing) €6.50, with access to the sauna and steam rooms as well as the pools.

Swimming tones your body and improves your breathing. It strengthens your heart muscle and increases the amount of oxygen it gets. As well as the physical benefits, it also has a positive effect on mental health. It soothes your mind, allowing you to get away from the stresses and strains of work for at least half an hour or more. You can also meet up with fellow swimmers and make friends with one another. If you wish to hone your newly gained skills, you could join a local swimming club or water polo team.

Furthermore, the local baths is also a passport to other water-based leisure activities as well as swimming. That of scuba diving and snorkeling. Or wild swimming in freshwater pools. As well as being a fun way to keep fit, those first few swimming lessons could turn your fitness regime into a lifelong passion. It is our passion for all things of a swimming nature that led to our company’s formation almost 25 years ago.

Swim and Leisure Supplies, 09 January 2016.

Image by Thaninee Chuensomchit (via Shutterstock).

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Firstly, we at Swim and Leisure Supplies would like to wish all our customers, old and new, absolute beginner or seasoned pro, a Happy New Year. As the daily grind returns to the fore, we would like to present a selection of video clips to keep you amused.

The Backwards Butterfly Stroke

The Butterfly is deemed by many as the hardest swimming stroke to perform. In the first of our video clips (courtesy of the Daily Mail), our Norwegian swimmer is seen performing the Butterfly stroke, in reverse.

The Incredible Swimming Chihuahua

This clip shows an underwater view of a swimming Chihuahua. The diminutive dog was fitted with a waterproof video camera which gives the viewer a unique angle of a swimming dog.

Swimming With Jellyfish

Before you run for cover, the third of our curated video clips does not involve the Portuguese Man O’War Siphonophorae. These are the Moon Jellyfish which are pretty tame.

Swimming Cats

Swimming and cats seldom appear in the same sentence of any written works. Especially in cooler countries like our where they would lose body heat. In this compilation, we see several cats taking a dip.

Swim and Leisure Supplies, 06 January 2017.

Image by Razihusin (via Shutterstock).

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At this moment in time, 38-year-old Ben Hooper from Cheltenham is in the midst of a swim across the Atlantic Ocean. Over the last three years, he has sought sponsors and media partners for his challenge. Yesterday, he began the first strokes of his epic swim from Dakar harbour, Senegal. He aims to finish his swim by March 2017, at Natal, Brazil.

Supporting him on his Atlantic Ocean swim are two support vessels. On board, his crews will include a medic, a body therapist, and an official observer. The official observer will also be in contact with Guinness, where Ben’s progress will be charted. Should he reach his destination in March 2017, his swim could be verified by The Guinness Book of World Records as a bona fide World Record.

Prior to Ben’s epic swim, he swam 7,456 miles in ocean and pool settings. For his biggest swim, he will be swimming 12 hours a day. To build up enough energy for his record attempt, he is eating 12,000 calories a day. His swim fulfils a lifelong ambition to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

There has been previous attempts to swim the Atlantic Ocean. None of them have been validated as a World Record.

Swim the Big Blue

His campaign, Swim the Big Blue, began in 2013 with Sir Ranulph Fiennes his patron. It has attracted sponsorship from local and nationwide companies and eight schools in Cheltenham. The four charities covered are:

• County Community Projects (http://www.ccprojects.org.uk);
• SOS Children’s Villages (http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk);
• Maggie’s Cheltenham (http://www.maggiescentres.org);
• Help 4 Henry (http://www.help4henry.org).

His first of the charities, County Community Projects, aims to tackle social exclusion. They work with homeless people and families in times of need. SOS Children’s Villages offer respite for orphaned children, who have lost their parents through natural disasters, wars, extreme poverty, and pandemics.

His fourth charity of choice, Maggie’s Cheltenham, is close to his heart. At an early age, he lost his aunty and a stepmother to cancer. His sponsorship will be enough to let Maggie’s Cheltenham continue their free support. The fourth and final charity is Help 4 Henry, which focuses on a young boy known as Henry. He suffers from Hemolytic-uremic syndrome which affects your kidneys, stomach and brain, after contracting e-coli.

As well as being his lifelong ambition, Ben aims to raise a million pounds for the four charities. We wish him the very best of luck in his endeavours.

To follow his epic swim, go to Swim the Big Blue’s Track Ben page.

Swim and Leisure Supplies, 15 November 2016.

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That said, when is it truly the correct time for the armbands to be removed? It is one of those questions which is highly debatable. Many people argue the fact that it is down to when the person who is learning to swim is at their most comfortable in the water whilst others disagree.

History on the armband

Back in 1907, swimming was introduced as part of the school curriculum and this caused parents and guardians to become concerned over the safety of their children. The response from these concerns came from a London based company called Dean’s Rag Book Company who came up with a design which they labeled the Swimeesy Buoy. The original design of inflatable armbands was shaped like a pair of butterfly wings with distinct colours.

The advances of the armband came into play in 1956 when Bernhard Markwitz from Germany invented inflatable armbands for swimmers. The idea came to him when his three year old daughter fell into a pond and almost drowned. He felt that swimming rings were a safer options than the current butterfly winged shape armbands, hence the now more circular design which we see today.

Safety Standards & Tips

Although the swimming armband is commonly referred to as a life saving device, it is in fact a training aid. Wearing armbands help people float to increase their confidence in the water. When purchasing a set of armbands, it is vital that you ensure they are the correct size. Due to the rubbery material they are made from, when this material comes into contact with the water it develops a slippery surface causing the armbands to slip off which could lead to drowning.

There are many safety standards put in place in today’s modern world. All inflatable armbands must pass a range of assessments such as puncture resistance and the level of buoyancy retained after a certain time beyond the valve being opened and left open. This test is used to prevent inflatable swimming armbands from suddenly deflating if the valve accidently opens.

Labelling on the armbands state that they are not life saving devices and that people who are using the armbands are subject to consistent supervision. The label on an armband also states that the supervisor must constantly be in arms reach length of the person who is wearing the inflatable.

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If you’ve caught up with the swimming events in the Rio Summer Olympic Games (and the Paralympics that we mentioned last week), one thing you will have noticed is how striking each team’s swimwear was. Firstly, the Great Britain and Ireland Olympics teams employ top designers for their sports kit. Even if you lack the budget of any of the national teams, looking good on a realistic budget is still possible.

Quality Matters

Before you start adding your badges, lettering, or other graphics on your swimwear, quality matters. This is something we have mentioned before, as a substandard and uncomfortable kit would be detrimental to your team’s performance. Plus, if you buy cheaply, you end up buying the same item twice over, compared with more expensive (yet better quality) kit.

Swim and Leisure Supplies source the finest materials every time. As swimming enthusiasts and swimmers ourselves, we understand the importance of sound design and quality materials. Of looking good as well as feeling good in the water.

Why Choose Us?

We at Swim and Leisure Supplies have been in business for the last five decades. Within the Republic of Ireland, we have manufactured and customised swimwear for swimming teams throughout the country. Whatever your logo or style of lettering, we can easily accommodate that in no time. Whether printed or embroidered designs, we shall do our utmost to deliver excellent service at realistic prices.

Swimwear isn’t the only thing we can customise for you. We can also add your team’s graphics and badges to arm bands, floats, towels, and swimming caps. The image of your team is everything – not only in the pool but also en route to swimming galas. Also as a fundraising initiative for swimming club – as promotional merchandise and souvenirs.

Several clubs have turned to us in the past and have become satisfied customers. Some have become regular customers over the last five decades. For excellent service and a free no-obligation quote, why not talk to us on 0598 626 192, or send us an email to swimandleisure@eircom.net. We shall respond to your queries as soon as possible.

Swim and Leisure Supplies, 19 September 2016.

Image by Vazzen (via Shutterstock).

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The Rio Olympic Games was a memorable one with Team GB beating its 2012 medals record. This year’s Paralympics, billed by one channel (somewhat patronisingly) as a multi-event competition for ‘superhumans’, aims to be another memorable one. So far, it is likely to be another success.

The Paralympic Games in its present day form were initiated in 1960. It has its roots in the International Wheelchair Games founded in 1948 by Dr. Ludwig Guttman, a Jewish-German practitioner at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire. Initially, you needed to be a war veteran to enter. By 1960, people with physical, visual, and learning disabilities could join in too. From 1976 onwards, Paralympians have used the same venues as the Olympic Summer Games.

The swimming event at the Paralympics has been part of the games since 1960. There are heats leading to finals. Historically, there has been Short Course (25m pool) and Long Course (50m pool) events. At this year’s games in Rio, all events are taking place in the 50m pool. The swimming events for male and female competitors are as follows:

• Freestyle: 50, 100, 200, and 400 metres;
• Backstroke: 100 and 200 metres;
• Breaststroke: 50, 10, and 200 metres;
• Butterfly: 50 and 100 metres;
• Individual Medley: 150, 200, and 400 metres.

Freestyle swimming is self-explanatory: it’s a swimming style of your own choice. An Individual Medley is a combination of, for example, Breaststroke, Backstroke, and Butterfly.

Who’s Who in Rio 2016? This Year’s Paralympics Swimming Teams

The Republic of Ireland

Alibhe Kelly’s greatest strengths are in Backstroke (100m) and Freestyle (100m and 400m) swimming. James Scully is the main man for the 50, 100, and 200 metres Freestyle swimming. For Butterfly (50m), Breaststroke (100m), and Freestyle (50m, 100m, and 400m) swimming, Nicole Turner is the one to watch. She is the youngest member of Team Ireland. For the 100 metres Backstroke, Butterfly and Breaststroke competitions, this is Ellen Keane’s forte. She is also a competitor for the 200m Individual Medley.

Great Britain

The youngest member of the British Paralympics swimming team is Abby Kane. Hailed as one to watch is Ellie Simmonds who has an incredible record and won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2008 (after the Beijing Paralympics). Oliver Hynd has followed in the footsteps of his fellow Paralympian swimmer, Sam Hynd and with the same success. Bethany Firth will once again prove her worth in the 200m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke.

Classifications

Since the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, the Paralympics has had three classifications. Shown in brackets are the classifications most relevant to the swimming events:

• S1 to S10: physical disabilities (S10, SB9, and SM10);
• S11 to S13: visual impairments (S11, S12, and S13);
• S14: intellectual disabilities.

S1 to S10 is the largest classification. This focuses on competitors with:

• Impaired Muscle Power;
• Impaired passive range of movement;
• Loss of limb or limb deficiency;
• Leg-length difference;
• Short stature;
• Hypertonia;
• Ataxia;
• Athetosis.

Prior to the 1980s, classifications were based on ‘the medical model’ – the competitors’ impairment was a decisive factor. Sporting achievement is a major decisive factor which is consistent with modern-day thinking on people with disabilities.

Catching up with the Paralympics

The official Paralympics website has an in-depth look at the results with live feeds. There is comprehensive coverage on RTÉ’s website, its live streaming services (RTÉ Player and News Now), plus radio and television stations (Radio 1 and 2FM). There is also live updates on Channel Four.

Swim and Leisure, 12 September 2016.

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