RASCALS LIFESAVERS FIRST NATIONAL OPEN MEET

This year, our club RASCALS, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and what better way to mark the occasion than by launching our first ever RASCALS Lifesaving National Open Meet.

Taking place on the 27th/28th May at the Liverpool Aquatics Centre 50m pool, we would like to report that the event was a huge success! Differing from other UK competitions, our Meet replicated the format at international events where races are run in heats, followed by finals – great experience for our younger athletes honing their competitive skills. The meet was tremendously well supported by our athletes and parents alike with our very own club chairman compering the event. We were very fortunate to have representation from the 2023 Lifesaving Commonwealth Teams England and Wales - quite the experience for our younger athletes to be racing against some of the UKs finest competitive lifesavers in their heats!! We are sure that next year will be even bigger and better and become a regular feature in the National Lifesaving Sport calendar.

Now, speaking of UK Commonwealth teams, the announcement came in April that five of our RASCALS lifesavers have been selected for the Lifesaving Commonwealth Games in Canada, September 2023. Congratulations to Heather Watson (Team England), Luke Waterfall (Team England), Freddie Postlethwaite (Team England), Jacob Screeton (Team Wales) and Abi Kerr (Team Scotland). What an incredible achievement and testament not only to the years of hard work by these athletes, but the dedication of the entire coaching team. We look forward to seeing them showcasing their skills in Ontario!

Summer will see our Lifesavers taking part in the very enjoyable Beach Training sessions at Bridlington. These sessions prepare our Lifesavers for upcoming Beach Competitions – always a favourite in the lifesaving competition calendar. If you feel like trying something different, have a look at our website or contact our Lifesaving Team Manager, Dawn Lockwood and book yourself a trial session.

If you would like to expand your swimming activities or try something new, please contact us. contact@ripleyrascals.org.uk | www.ripleyrascals.org.uk

All Around the Shire

Memories Of Ice Cream

What could be nicer on a hot day than a cone of delicious, creamy ice cream, especially topped off with a flake? This would make it a “99”. Although ice cream, in some form, has been around since the 4th century BC, the modern cone was invented in 1904.

If you happen to come from Belper, you may remember Mazza’s. Mr Corrado was an Italian POW and settled in Belper after the second world war manufacturing the most delicious ice cream. The recipe was, and still is, a secret and people who grew up with the unique flavour still hanker for the taste.

At the tiny shop on Long Row, you could buy a cone for 3d or 6d or take a bowl and Mrs Corrado would fill it for you. If you only had a penny, she would give you a small portion on the end of a broken-off cone.

A day trip to the seaside would always include an ice cream treat to be enjoyed while walking down the promenade, maybe with nuts and strawberry sauce drizzled on top. Nowadays, a trip to the ice cream van might set you back the best part of £5! Of course, it doesn’t taste the same. The recipe very rarely contains dairy in any form let alone cream.

When I was growing up, fridges and freezers were rare in homes, so the tinkling sound of the “oakey” van was an exciting event.

From my childhood, I remember slices of a brick of ice cream between two wafers, Arctic Roll and oyster wafers with marshmallow, chocolate and coconut. Thankfully, all of these are still available today. Has this musing conjured up any memories of childhood flavours and experiences for you? Did you use a special word for ice cream?