Grotesque cheating during distance swim

[Quattrocento]

We were at a distance swim today. I don't know if you've suffered these, but what basically happens is that there is a man at one end of the pool, ticking off the number of lengths they do.

The rules are, you have to touch the sides at both ends of the pool and feet are not allowed to touch the bottom. The children trudge up and down the lengths until they get tired, whereupon they get certificates depending on how far they have got.

However no marker was at the other end of the pool and two girls were flagrantly cheating by stopping three or so metres short, walking four or five steps (thereby getting much needed breather) then setting off again. If you multiply 3x2x30 that's 180 metres saved off a mile swim. Quite a chunk.

Do you think I am utterly bonkers to get worked up about this? The whole distance swim certificate thing was just totally faked by several children, whose parents were clearly condoning it. Shouldn't these things actually mean something? Should children be so obviously allowed to cheat like this?

Don't listen to BGD I'm not so easily offended...

BGD are you a wasps supporter or Quins I can;t remember. We're in the quinns pool for heinken.

I would give those cheating kids the evil eyes (and my eye is particularly evil) at every opportunity.
Whenever I saw their parents I would wrinkle my nose as if I could smell dog shit and do that really disdainful slow head head shake that says "you and your cheating scummy family are Un.Be.Lievable."

I would sieze every opportunity to undermine these children and possibly try to trip them up too. In fact I'd definitely try to trip them up. Definitely.

Wasps - Scum [spits] Tiiiggggeeerrrss!!!!

Jermy - and if I were the parents I would wink at you every time and keep a smug little grin on - I think your blood would boil then!!!

I'd kick you in the nuts.

INteresting new draw process though - have you seen the pools?

wasps man.

great news about the blog Kew, it is a lovely story and you are fantastic for having the dedication and perseverance for what you have gone through. (Shame about the Welsh bit though)

Hmmm interesting draw Kew. I think it will work out better for the English clubs being seeded. I'll miss the group of death that used to pop up occasionally. I think the Welsh clubs might find it tough, Llanelli Scarlets have an okay draw as do the Ospreys (They played well last year and should have done better in the cup) Pool 5+6 look tough though, no real stand outers there.
Tigers Flash? You best days are gone I think!!!

aw shucks

yes I think we've done reasonably OK - hope we do better than last year though.

best days gone never - they said the same when johnson left - and I think we were in the final??? And we have Flood now - and perhaps playing him at 10!

Jermemy - what type of example will that set?

That no good comes from cheating

well there is that