The final race of the winter swimming season was a celebration. Our hosts, Karavana otužilců Nová Paka, were marking their twentieth anniversary, so alongside the races they organised a ball and helped visiting swimmers find accommodation so that they could stay until Sunday. Saturday afternoon also brought the presentation of the final results of the 2016/2017 Czech Winter Swimming Cup.
I. PKO members travelled to Nová Paka knowing happily that there would be something to celebrate. Our lead in the club competition was so large that victory was already assured. The final race could only change the individual standings in some categories. Before racing began, an initiative by our member Jakub Valníček recognised several swimmers, particularly for attending competitions regularly and supporting others: valuable contributions that are not necessarily reflected in results.
This time we swam in a pond with the rather unflattering name Bahňák — roughly, “the muddy one”. Fortunately, it only lives up to its name at first glance: the water is coloured by the reddish-brown soil typical of the foothills of the Krkonoše. It is essentially “clean dirt”, and our fears of emerging covered in mud were exaggerated. Water at 8.8°C and air at 11°C suggested that the winter swimming season really was behind us, and sunshine occasionally peeped onto the surface during the race.
The race director was Václav Pačesný and the chief referee Zdeněk Augusta. Racing began at 13:15 with the first men’s 750-metre heat. Entries for that distance were particularly strong: next came the women’s heat, joined by a few men, and then a third, entirely male heat. In total, 82 men and 33 women started over 750 metres. The subsequent 500, 250 and 100-metre heats were much smaller, with a combined 17 men and 18 women. Placings were recorded over 750 and 500 metres. Petr Šlajs of I. PKO won the men’s 750 metres and Magda Okurková of Fides Brno the women’s. See the full race results, including times and points.
After the races, everyone moved to Hotel Centrál on Nová Paka’s main square. First we queued for excellent goulash; then the social occasion and celebrations really began. The winners and medallists in each category of the 2016/2017 winter swimming season were announced, followed by our unmistakable highlight: the Czech Winter Swimming Cup club standings. After fourteen years of Fides Brno victories, I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha won the cup, followed by Fides Brno in second and TJ Haná Prostějov in third. Cheers, applause, handshakes and endless photographs with and without the trophy: everything the occasion called for. Full season results are available at http://bodovani.zimni-plavani.info/. They show that each club’s strength lies in something slightly different. Fides Brno relies above all on outstanding swimmers with excellent technique; I. PKO also draws on enthusiasm, activity and strong participation from swimmers beyond the very best. Every swimmer’s effort and performance matter to us, regardless of placing or points.
Saturday culminated in Karavana otužilců’s ball, attended by members of other clubs who were able to stay. Besides dancing, the programme featured a ballet interpretation of aquatic sports by Karavana members, games and competitions. The biggest attraction was undoubtedly the diving contest held at midnight in the fountain on the main square. It is hard to imagine a more fitting celebration of the season’s end and Karavana’s anniversary.
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Pavel Vilím’s photo gallery – 8 April 2017, Nová Paka
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Ivan Landa’s photo gallery:
