Ian Down

From Openwaterpedia

Ian Down is a 54-year-old British open water swimmer from London who achieved the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.

Open Water Swimming Career

Honours

He received the Pierre Van Vooren Memorial Trophy for the Swim in the most Arduous Conditions from the Channel Swimming Association.

Pierre Van Vooren Memorial Trophy Recipients

2017: Maxence Paindavoine (France) in 14 hours 12 minutes
2016: Howard James (England) in 13 hours 13 minutes
2015: Monica Bender (USA) in 13 hours 41 minutes
2014: Meghan Chisholm (Canada) in 14 hours 39 minutes
2013: Tracy Clark (New Zealand) in 12 hours 46 minutes
2013: Carl Plasschaert (Belgium) in 12 hours 6 minutes
2012: Catherine Smith (Great Britain) in 16 hours 32 minutes
2011: Mark Seal (Great Britain) in 12 hours 48 minutes
2010: Ian Down (Great Britain) in 15 hours 47 minutes
2009: Liane Llewellyn (England) in 27 hours 35 minutes
2008: Mark Ransom (Great Britain) in 12 hours 23 minutes
2007: Anne Marie Ward (Ireland) in 20 hours 4 minutes
2006: Sønnøve Cirotski (Norway) in 14 hours 43 minutes
2005: Jane McCormick (Scotland) in 15 hours 12 minutes
2004: Gilles Rondy (France) in 7 hours 54 minutes
2003: Karteek Alec Clarke (Scotland) in 16 hours 5 minutes
2002: Jacques Tuset (France) in 12 hours 40 minutes
2000: Jackie MacDonald (England) in 21 hours 19 minutes breaststroke

Video

Poetry

Victoria Wood wrote the lyrics and music to the song called The Ballad of Barry and Freda, popularly known as Let's Do It. Down wrote a song and named it The Channel General Song as a parody of the Victoria Wood's song, intending the lyrics to be sung to her music

The Channel General sat one day
Surveying her swimmers in the bay
The wind was soft. The sun was up
Freda drained the tea from her cup

Barry was up, and maxim-making
His shingle stompers to the swimmers taking
She stubbed her fag. She felt sublime
Her red caps were coming in to feed on time

[But one got out and said:]

Can’t do it
Let me quit
My shoulder's bad I need to moan
I’m hypothermic
Feeling sea sick
I’m tired and I want to go home
Feel horrid
And squalid
I need to get out and eat something solid
Can’t do it I’ve had enough

[So Freda said:]

Stop chatting
Get back-to-backing
Or you’ll get an extra hour or so
Quit bleating
My heart’s a-bleeding
If you’re asking to get out, it’s ‘no’
No more yak
Just go back
I’m not fooled by your plan of attack
Get in and start to swim

[But still she heard:]

Don’t want to
I’ve turned blue
I can’t feel my hands no more
Must stop now
Can’t see how
I can swim when I’m so sore
It’s no fun
When you’re stung
By a jellyfish the size of the sun
Can’t do it I’m getting out

[So Freda replied:]

Get to it.
Swim through it.
Do 5 hours and you’ll be through
Listen mate
Nothing great
Is easy in life it’s true
Don’t blubber
Or ask for mama
Just move one hand and then the other
I’ve heard it all before

[no chatting at the walls]

I’ve heard it all before
[come in on time for your feeds]
I’ve heard it all before

[stay close to the shore]
I’ve heard it all before

etc.

External links

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