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Open Water Swimming

Our Online Booking System is now available – Please click here to book

Lenches Lakes – Summer Swimming 2022

The Lenches Lakes Summer Open Water Swimming is open to all swimmers. Our regular swimmers comprise of a mixture of recreational swimmers enjoying the benefits of open water swimming/immersion and swimmers practising for events such as triathlons, plus river and sea swims. Our minimum requirement is that a swimmer should be able to swim 50m and be happy in water out of their depth. Wet suited and non-wet suited swimmers are welcome throughout the Summer Season.

Each session has a full safety team both Land and Water based which enables swimmers a choice of circuits . The Summer circuits comprise of  400m (approx.) 200m, 100m and 50m options. Après swim includes the availability of a warm room to reheat, hot beverages, cakes, and breakfast sandwiches .

The numbers of swimmers in each session are restricted to 45 maximum, allowing each the space  to swim how they wish without pressure, intimidation, and  judgement. Although the water is warmer during this season, it can still feel cold and therefore it can be useful to understand the physiological responses that your body undergoes whilst immersed in cold water. This will equip you with good practice to employ before, during and after swims.

For those who fancy a ‘refresh’ or are new to Open Water Swimming we run our ‘Open Water Swimming Introduction Sessions’

These are an hour long and cover safe practices, what to do before, during and after swims, to understand what is happening to your body whilst in open water. Being fully informed can help to reduce any anxiety, panic, stress and give you more confidence to swim. In addition to this we have our online  ‘Revision Certificate’ on Cold Water Swimming which is a fun quiz to do whilst learning (or refreshing) yourself on the fundamentals of swimming in cold/open water. https://lencheslakes.co.uk/cold-water-swimming-revision-certificate/

Advance online booking is essential for swim sessions  and all swimmers are required  to complete the online Swimmers Responsibility Statement 2021– 22  before your first swim. This form only needs to be completed once.

Online Bookings and Payment in advance only – . Please do not arrive on site without pre booking and paying, there is no facility for refunds for missed or late arrivals.

In addition to the above, all swimmers intending to swim through the Summer Season will need to purchase a ‘Beyond Swim Wristband’. Please click here

The wristbands act as a ‘safety tracker’ whilst you are in the water but also act as your own personal ‘medical ID band’. The bonus being that the wristband can be worn away from the lake and easily ‘unlocked/locked’ by you ….so for example if you are out running, cycling, paddleboarding/swimming etc. There is a ‘one-off’ cost for the wristband, but no annual subscription or membership fees– the band is yours and will only need replacing if it is lost or damaged. We will have ‘guest wristbands’ available for those people coming to visit the lake and swim, however there will be a small charge for this. 

Rescheduling, Cancellation and Refunds

Swim Sessions are:-

• Monday evening 5.00 – 6.00 pm, 6.00 – 7.00 pm and 7.00 – 8.00 pm
• Thursday morning 7.00 – 8.00 am, 8.00 – 9.00 am, 9.00 – 10.00 am and 10.00 am – 11.00 am
• Thursday evening 5.00 – 6.00 pm, 6.00 – 7.00 pm and 7.00 – 8.00 pm
• Saturday morning 7.00 – 8.00 am, 8.00 – 9.00 am, 9.00 – 10.00 am and 10.00 am – 11.00 am
• The viability of these sessions will be revised at the beginning of November 2021 and maybe adjusted.

Occasional Guests

We welcome guests and realise the practicality of attending a Winter Swimming Information Session  prior to their visit is difficult. We ask all guests to be experienced open water swimmers who have been We welcome ‘guest swimmers’ to Lenches Lakes and all we ask is that they can swim at least 50 metres with minimal difficulty and can also ‘tread water’ when needed, as they will be out of their depth at times around the lake. Guests will not need to purchase a ‘swim wristband’ as ‘guest wristbands’ will be available, however there will be a small charge for this.

Car Parking

Summer car parking is on the field. Please follow the signs to the field, you can then walk through wood to the lake.

Bikes – we do not have racks, we have trees! Please bring security chain with you.

Changing

Changing to take place lakeside, tented changing area or in warm room (limited space) if bad weather.  

We do not have separate changing areas for male and female

Please bear in mind we do not have lockers, please do not bring valuable items, or use a tow float with dry bag incorporated for phones/keys/wallets, or lock valuables in car.

Toilets and showers – are available. Showers cost £1 which provides you with hot water for up to 4 minutes.

Swimmers

All swimmers must wear a bright hat and  if not wearing a wetsuit, a Tow Float must be worn . Tow Floats can be hired for £2.50 per person per swim session.

Pre / Post Swim

ADVICE	REASON
Pre Swim Cover open wounds Do not swim if feeling unwell	To prevent microbial access to the body If the immune system is suppressed by illness you are more susceptible to infection
Advised not to swim wearing contact lenses	Risk in ANY water including tap water of Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Post Swim Wash hands before eating or drinking (or use sterilising wipes/gels)	To reduce the risk of ingesting pathogenic microbes
Shower in fresh water at the earliest opportunity	To remove all microbes, many of which are able to survive on the skin surface for long periods
Rinse and wash all kit in fresh water before drying thoroughly – including wetsuit, goggles, swimming costume	To remove all microbes and potentially prevent toxin concentration in/on the item that can cause skin irritations and eye infections
Seek medical advice if you feel ill or develop symptoms including rashes for up to 3 weeks following your swim – highlighting that you have been swimming in open water (and where)	It can take up to 3 weeks for the symptoms of Weil’s Disease to develop.
Sharing information can help identify the source and nature of the problem and the most effective treatment. It can also help identify problems with particular bodies of water

Junior Policy

Swimmers under 18 years of age

Lenches Lakes supports the provision of open water swimming opportunities for children who wish to participate from the age they are confident and competent swimmers.

 Under 12 years

12 – 16 years

Participation is subject to:

• Parent/legal guardian permission, Swimmer Responsibility Registration document signed and completed by parent/guardian
• A competency test1 by Session Leader on duty.
• The swimmer being accompanied on site by a responsible adult aged 18 or over

16 – 18 years

Participation is subject to:

• Parent/legal guardian permission, Swimmer Responsibility Registration document signed and completed by parent/guardian
• A competency test1 by Session Leader on duty.

All Juniors are required to;          

Lifeguards or Land Based safety team will politely ask weak swimmers to leave the session or restrict swimmer to acclimatisation area if swimmer safety is comprised.

Disability Swimming

The course design will not require change for swimmers with walking difficulties. Access via regular entry