Post by Dave on Dec 26, 2010 14:14:55 GMT
Paignton 12pm 26th December 2010.
I have seen this event shown on the TV many times before, but have never witnessed it live and with the Torquay United game being called off, I decided to go and watch this event instead.
There was another reason for wanting to watch it as two of Carol’s four sons, were going to do it for the very fist time. Talking with Steve (Carol’s youngest son now 24) afterwards on the way home in the car, he does not think he will be doing it again in a hurry.
As Steve was at home and going down to the seafront from here, I got a lift with him in his car, what we did not know, was the left hand side of the seafront had been reserved for those taking part to park their cars.
As two of Carols boys own and run a very successful electrical contractors firm and have an office at the rear of Hyde Road( close to the end of Victoria Park, the Torbay Road end) we parked the car there.
I’m glad we did in the end as I was able to get some great shots of a very frozen Victoria Pond, as we walked through the park heading for the seafront. Some young lads were seeing how close they could get too the fountain in the middle that was still spouting water out. On our return through the park another two boys were nearly in the middle of the pond, but I couldn’t be asked to get my camera out of the case again.
We arrived on the seafront around 11.20am and not a lot was going on and there did not look that many people around. That changed as the time got nearer to 12pm. The numbers of those brave or stupid enough to walk into the sea on such a bitter cold day were down on last year I was told.
I could see the pier starting to fill up with spectators and made my way onto it to ensure I had a great vantage point and a good place to take my photos. I had a half hour wait before it was going to start, but soon found some nice ladies to talk with to pass the time away.
Many of those taking part were in fancy dress and a competition was held to find the best one in costume. I did not find out who won so I can’t provide that information. Carols two boys were just in their swimming trunks and looked mighty cold standing there waiting for the off.
The man on the PA let us all know how many minutes were left before the start and the last fifteen seconds were counted down and then the signal was given. Off they all set running down what beach was left due to the incoming tide.
It did not take Carols second oldest son Simon, to be doing a full length dive in the sea and he went right under the water for a good 10 seconds. He then must have got it into his head that he wanted to go out the furthest of everybody else taking part.
Not too sure young Steve wanted him to do that as it meant going out much further than he wanted too, Simon got as far as the lifeboat before being called back to shore. Simon sure suffered for the extra time he spent in the water and once out headed for his car complaining his feet were very very cold.
On the way home Steve said when the cold water hit him, it felt like he had been hit with a bat, well done the boys for joining in with a local event, even if it might now look like it could be just a one off.
