London University Swimming Team

Oxford is only a few days away, its a really fun event so make sure you come! We’re taking two teams so there should be lots of opportunity to race.

Arrangements are:
Meet outside W.H.Smiths in Victoria Station at 13.00.
Get the Oxford Tube bus to Oxford.
Competition starts at 16.30
Swim.
Go out.
Come home on Oxford Tube Bus which runs all through the night and arrives at Victoria.

Races available:
Free 50/100
Fly 50/100
Back 50/100
Breast 50/100
IM 200
Relays
We’ll sort the team out on the bus there.

The competition is free but take money for drinks and food. The return bus trip is £13 with student ID.

Theme is Army so bring Army stuff to wear for the night out. Check Aruns message for details.

If you don’t want to come but are at a loose end on Saturday there is also a sponsered swim at 52 Club on Gower Street 12-4pm. Its raising money for Malaria and 100% of the money raised goes to by bed nets that are treated with insecticide. Its a great cause and the swim, money raising will literally save lives. To sign up click on this link and follow instructions:

Think that’s it, email swimlust@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Welcome to a new year for the London University Swimming Team! Below is some useful information (I’ve tried to keep it brief) to start things off.

CONTACT INFO
There are several ways to keep updated with LUST goings on, firstly, this site which will be updated with details on dates, news, events and photos. We also have a facebook group which can be found by searching for L.U.S.T. or London Swimming. Also please direct any email queries to lustswimming@gmail.com. Between those you should always know whats going on.

TRAINING
Our training sessions are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 7-8pm for competitive and non-competitive swimmers and also Wednesday 2.30-4pm and Saturday 4-5pm for competitive swimmers. The sessions are running from this week starting 5th October and you can try a couple of swimming sessions out before committing to the membership. Each session is a structured training session aimed at improving some aspect of your swimming ability and fitness. The sessions will be very busy in the next couple of weeks but things will calm down so don’t be put off by this.

MEMBERSHIP
Membership for the year is £50 which covers your entrance to the pool and coaching for the sessions. The committee will be available in the Energybase reception after each session to sort out the membership and answer any questions you may have. Membership forms are available here http://www.ulu.co.uk/content/index.php?page=83 or from a member of the committee. To complete the form you will have to have a valid ULU student or associate card for the 09-10 year.

SOCIALS
There are a couple of socials to kick things off this week, we will be heading up the the Duck and Dive bar after training throughout the week so you can get to know others in the team. Also, on thursday we will be heading out after training to get a curry somewhere close by to the pool. Arun and Louise have been busy planning lots of socials for the rest of the term and information will follow on these from him shortly.

OXFORD
On 24th October we are off to Oxford for a friendly gala with 50/100m races. The gala is very relaxed and is a good opportunity to get some up to date times. If you are not interested in competing then don’t worry - after we get the swimming out of the way we head out into Oxford with the other swimming teams for a social which has yet to disappoint. If you are interested in attending there will be a sign up sheet appearing at the pool this week. This is not a commitment, its just so we can have an idea of numbers and who is interested.

BUCS SHORT COURSE
The BUCS (previously BUSA) Short Course entry deadline is rapidly approaching. It will be held at Ponds Forge on 13th-15th November with teams from almost all the Universities in the country competing. Not only is it an excellent competition its also a really fun weekend. So, could anyone who thinks they may want to compete in this event speak to the men and women captain (James and Cathy).

LUST is a swimming team for competitve and non-competitive students at Universitys affiliated with
University of London (See here for list http://www.ulu.co.uk/content/index.php?page=1337). If you are a graduate or staff from University of London then you are also able to join. We do not teach swimming, but provide swimming training for already capable swimmers.

To join, we will have a stall at the ULU Threshers Fayre which is held in the ULU Building (See map on website) where you can sign up and we can answer any question you may have. We will also try to have a presence at some of the individual College Fayres. It you can not wait until then, or miss us at one of the Fayres, please just come to the pool for one of our training sessions (times  also on site). Ask for one of the captains or presidents - you can swim a couple of times to try out the club before we ask you to join.

The cost of membership is 50 pounds for the year which covers entry to the pool and coaching for the five sessions as well as our coach.

So the final arrangements for the friendly gala on Saturday, we’ll meet outside costa coffee opposite platform 12 at Waterloo staion 13.30 then head to Southampton. The warm up for the gala starts at 16.30 and the swimming should be over by 19.00. Then the Southampton team have organised some food and a social for after the event.
As for getting back…..the most sensible option is the last train which leaves Southampton at 23.00 and gets back into london around half twelve. If anyone is feeling like staying out the whole night then the first coach to leave Southampton is just after 3 in the morning and the first train around 7 ish. The event is free, however, the cost of a young persons return ticket to Southampton is ₤20.00 and the food will be also be extra (but pretty cheap).
As this is a friendly its very relaxed with no pressure and is a really good chance for competitive swimmers to get some times ahead of BUCS and for the less competitive swimmers to have a go at racing. If you intend to come please let me know and also an indication of what you would like to swim. The events and the order are attached.
If you have any other questions please let me know.

At the end of the month Southampton University are hosting a friendly gala. For those of you swiming BUCS this is a really good chance to get some times a couple of weeks before the event and for those of you who are not its a great pressure free chance for some racing!
As its friendly anyone wishing to go will have to pay for their own travel (probably about 20 quid return with young persons) and food.
Most importantly theres a social in Southampton afterwards so for those interested we could arrange somewhere to stay for the night - otherwise we’ll have to get the last train back which is around 11.
The following races are available:
Freestyle 50/100
Backstroke 50/100
Breaststroke 50/100
IM 100
Relays Freestyle/IM
Canon
This is open to everyone and please let me know if you wish to swim so that I can make sure we have a full team going - If we have enough we can take two teams.

ICE SKATING AT SOMERSET HOUSE

Some of us will be meeting at the ULU bar duck and dive from 6pm where we will then move onto the Ice rink at Somerset House for 8pm. After the skating we will probably head over to Porterhouse in Covent Garden for some food and drinks.

It’s best to book the skating on the internet to avoid disappointment on the day. Here is the link for you to follow to do this.

If this doesn’t work type in Somerset house into Google and follow the links to the ice rink and tickets.

We’re booking for 20.00-21.00 on Friday 9th Jan 2009
The cost is £12.50

It’s easier to book yourself or if you can organise a group of you to book together then do so as I think it will prove difficult for me to book for everyone by the time you all come back.

ULU PIRATE NIGHT

As I guessed some of you will be away for the first social coming back from Xmas and all your New Year fun I have hopefully organised a fitting Welcome back social for the term.

I have organised a Pirate Night to be held at ULU from 6pm onwards!!!

One major difference is that I will be inviting other sports teams in ULU to attend so hopefully it will be a mass event!
If any one knows any other teams that you reckon would join let me know!

-Refresh night @ULU bar. 2-4-1 between 6pm-8pm. 8pm onwards mixers £1.50

This does mean dressing up as something like Captain Jack Sparrow or whatever pirate you like.

Dear Friends,
Lets all get dressed up and posh for the number one social event of the year, the London University Swimming team Xmas meal. A time to reflect, socialize and be merry set inside the beautiful Anchor Pub.

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year folks

Team L.U.S.T.

The meal will only cost £20 which includes wine as we have generously subsidized the cost. A formal invitation is being handed out at training from tonight. Anyone wishing to receive an invite via post please contact Arun (Social Sec) via facebook with your address or reply to swimlust@googlemail.com

If you would like to attend Arun we will be collecting the money and an answer to which starter, main meal and dessert you would like. If you have any other dietery requirements please let us know before.

Dress Code: Spiffingly smart! (Arun Smart)
Date: Thurs 11th December
Place: Anchor Pub, London Bridge

Starters
-Red Onion & Goats Cheese Tart (v)
A savoury tarlet filled with sweet red onion and goats cheese.
-Smoked Salmon & Kiln Roasted Salmon Mousse
Garnished with watercress and rocket
Soup of the day
Served with baked baguette and butter.
-Rannachs Smoked Duck Pate
Creamy smoked duck pate served with toasted baguette and Bramley apple chutney.

Mains
-Grilled Wild Alaskan Salmon
With champagne sauce and chopped chives
-Roast Lincolnshire Turkey
Served with all the traditional trimmings
-Roasted Topside of Beef
Served with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings.
-Winter Vegetable Roulade (v)
A root vegetable roulade served with a tomoato and basil sauce.
-Pork Chop & Tewkesbury Sauce
Double thick pork chop with a Tewkesbury mustard and chedder cheese.

All main courses are served with roast and mashed potatoes, carrots, broccoli and buttered sprouts.

Desserts
-Christmas Pudding
Served with your choice of rich Brandy sauce, extra thick Channel Island cream, Callestick Farm ice cream or custard.
-Belgian Chocolate Cheesecake
With extra thick Channel Island cream.
-Cheese Plate
A selection of British cheeses served with Bramley apple chutney. grapes and cheese biscuits.
-Ice Cream
A selection of Ice cream from Callestick Farm.

As I’ve mentioned before, this Saturday 25th October its the annual Oxford Friendly Gala. We will be taking two teams, one team is primarily for BUCS people and is a great chance to get some times ahead of the competition. I really recommend anyone swimming BUCS to come along to see how your times are in a proper race. The other team is for people who may have just missed out on BUCS or for those who just want to get some times in a race. I’ve also been told by Oxford there will be a spare lane or two for additional people who would like to time trial so theres plenty of oppurtunity for a swim. As its a friendly gala its very relaxed with little pressure so theres no need to be worried about your performance. The trip isn’t all about the swimming, after we get it out of the way we grab some food with the Oxford teams and then head out into Oxford in the evening for a night which in previous years has been awesome. So for those of you who don’t want to do any competitive swimming it would be really great if you would still come, support us in the pool and then come out with us after the swimming.

I’ve attached a programme of the swimming events, we will be meeting at Victoria at 12:30 and leaving at 13:00 on the Saturday and getting the Oxford tube bus up. The warm up starts at 16:00 with the races starting at 16:30. After the swimming and the night out we will be getting the Oxford tube bus back to London Victoria, which runs all the way through the night. We have also put in a kit order for Oxford which should arrive this week, so if you would like some kit please speak to James.

Its a really fun day/night and we like to get as many people up to Oxford as we possibly can so please all give it some thought! If you would like to come along please speak to Arun who will take your details, or any other member of the committee.

Its finally here…
The Welcome Social of L.U.S.T.!

Saturday from 7pm - Meet at the Duck n Dive, ULU, Malet street.

We welcome you all to one of the biggest social events of the year. We have reserved the gallery for the entire night so although we mite be at the duck and dive initially, if you arrive late check the other ulu bar. If any of you are worried about the Drinking Please don’t Be! We’re a friendly team as I’m sure you’ve noticed We will have loads of games and stuff to do for the whole night, expect it to
be immense!!! I give it a guess that for the whole night you won’t need to spend more than £20!
I look forward to seeing AS Many of you swimmers there as possible!

The last week has been very popular and its great to see so many new members. However, tonight (tuesday) will be the last free trial session and so if you have already tried one of our training sessions we will need you to pay your membership if you want to continue. The membership forms are available here: http://www.ulu.co.uk/content/index.php?page=83 and the membership is ₤45 for year. We will be available in the Energybase Reception before and after the training sessions to short out your memberships.

It looks like we’ve got some great new additions for the team and with a new academic year and BUCS looming around the corner we’ll really be raising the standard in the training sessions. Theres also the Welcome Social this Saturday (18th) with details to follow from Arun shortly. Should be an excellent year!