16th Braník Ice — 7th Ladislav Nicek Memorial, 3 February 2018

Braník Ice is one of the competitions organised by our club. Although it receives rather less publicity than the better-known Christmas Alfred Nikodem Memorial, it is at least as demanding as a sporting challenge.

This year’s mild winter gave us a pleasant day with occasional sunshine. To the slight disappointment of those hoping to earn a performance grade and enjoy truly icy water, its temperature rose to 4.4°C — four tenths of a degree above the winter swimming rules’ threshold for ice water. The air was a comfortable 4.3°C, with no sign of snow or ice. Long-term statistics suggest that this happens at Braník Ice no more than twice a decade.

The fairly comfortable water temperature, by cold-water swimmers’ standards, and a current of 20 metres per minute at least enabled many people to choose a longer course and really enjoy their swim. The longest of the five distances, 1,000 metres, was the most popular: 62 men and 22 women entered, more than a third of the field. Overall, 239 swimmers took part — 163 men and 76 women. Times and placing-based points were recorded over 1,000 and 750 metres and, thanks to junior participation, over 500 metres too. The 250- and 100-metre swims were untimed, with points awarded simply for completing the distance.

This year’s international turnout was smaller than in recent years, when overseas Kryathlon participants had joined us. Previously, Kryathlon had always taken place in Prague the day after Braník Ice. This year it moves to Brno, a week later. Nevertheless, Braník still welcomed swimmers from abroad. Among them, for the first time, was a six-person group from Trnava, Slovakia, who came to try the Vltava outside the competition.

The opening assembly began at 12:30. Participants were welcomed by race director and I. PKO chairman Tomáš Prokop and chief referee Luboš Imryšek. As the event is also the Ladislav Nicek Memorial, the winter swimming pioneer’s son, Ladislav Nicek Jr, came to greet the swimmers. His father’s hometown, Roudnice nad Labem, is shortly to unveil a commemorative plaque. Mayor Vladimír Urban, a longstanding friend of Laďa, attended to explain the plans and invite swimmers to the unveiling. After a mighty “Three cheers for Braník Ice!”, everyone headed to the starts of their respective courses. All finished beside the Sparta boathouse. The current carried swimmers along so quickly that by around 13:30 everyone was back in the gym, awaiting the results.

The men’s 1,000-metre podium:

1. Michal Slanina (Fides)

2. Radek Táborský (I.PKO)

3. Jakub Valníček (I.PKO).

The women’s 1,000-metre podium:

1. Renata Nováková (SCPAP)

2. Zuzana Procházková (I.PKO)

3. Magda Okurková (Fides).

The 500-metre podium also deserves a mention. Swimmers who had not yet earned the performance grades required for longer courses competed for the trophies here. The first three finishers, irrespective of gender, were the excellent Pavlína Nováková, Nikola Kopecká and Jakub Běžel, all of I. PKO.

Even without actual ice, this year’s Braník Ice was a successful race and a relaxed gathering of winter swimmers. We hope all our guests enjoyed it and that we did a good job as organisers and hosts.