Ham Lake

There is no doubt that open water swimming can be a daunting experience to anyone doing it for the first time, whether you are a confident swimmer or not. The water is usually cold (especially in the UK), often very dark, you are wearing a tight rubber suit and there are lots of people of all different abilities around you probably thinking everything you are.

Well worry no more! RG Active are very please to offer everyone the opportunity to gain valuable open water training before your races with organised, coached open water swim sessions at a fantastic venue. These sessions have been running for a number of years now and have grown in popularity with people coming back week after week seeing their confidence grow and their swimming improve.

You can learn the basics of open water swimming from our experienced coaches, train with other people who have exactly the same worries and concerns as you do. Whether it is your first time in a wetsuit, your first time in open water, or you want to learn how to swim front crawl, we can offer you any advice you need, answer any questions you have, demonstrate and explain anything you want to make your fears and worries go away.

For more experienced swimmers we do offer a second group at every session that provides a coached swim session working on technique and fitness to help improve your speed in the water and get you out of the water faster.

NEW FOR 2011: This summer we are excited to offer a ‘Just Swim’ option between 6:00am and 7:30am on every Tuesday when the tide is high and swimming is possible. This option os those of you looking to ‘Just swim’ and get in some valuable distance in the open water, in your wetsuit. The RG Active staff will be on hand for registration and to ensure the safety of everyone in the water but this session will NOT be coached.

The Ham Lake address – TYM, Ham Fields, Richmond, TW10 7RX, UK

To see a more detailed map for this venue please CLICK HERE

The Ham lake swim sessions take place regularly throughout the summer season. The list below displays the dates of sessions up to 3 months in advance. We will also use this page to notify you of any cancellations or changes to the scheduled sessions. To see all of the years sessions or search for sessions within a specific month CLICK HERE.

Saturday 3rd September 2011 – 07:30am to 08:30am ‘Coached’

Wednesday 14th September 2011 – 18:30pm to 19:30pm ‘Coached’

Saturday 1st October 2011 – 08:00am to 09:00am ‘Coached’

For a full list of the available dates and times for these sessions please visit our new search engine where you can narrow your search to specific months to help you plan your training – CLICK HERE

Payment for each session is taken at the session, so we ask that people arrive 15-20 minutes prior to the start of the session to register and pay the staff before getting changed and starting the session.

The price for the ‘Coached’ sessions is £10.00 per session

The price for the ‘Just swim’ sessions is £5.00 per session (Tuesday morning sessions ONLY)

Payments types accepted include: CASH, CREDIT CARD, DEBIT CARD, CHEQUES.

To find out more information about the Ham Lake Swim Sessions please EMAIL US or feel free to call us on 07834483989.

The equipment you will require to participate in the session is:

- WETSUIT
Ideally a swimming specific wetsuit. All the RG Active coaches will be on hand to offer wetsuit advice.

- GOGGLES
We do have a selection of goggles available to purchase at every session from our partners SPEEDO and all of the RG Active coaches are on hand to offer valuable goggle buying and fitting advice.

- LUBRICANT
A non-petroleum based lubricant which will not damage your wetsuit and to prevent chaffing (especially around your neck).
We do have a sports specific lubricant available to purchase at every session.

- SWIM COSTUME, TRI-SUIT etc.
Something that you can under your wetsuit. This is very important for those of you wanting to practise getting your wetsuit off after the session!

- Coloured SWIM CAP
We specifically ask for a coloured swim hat to enable our coaches to see all of the swimmers easily when in the water.
We do have a selection of swim caps available to purchase at every session.

- CLOTHES and TOWEL
There are changing facilities at the venue and changing rooms so you can dry yourself and warm up after the sessions.

- FOOD and DRINK
The sessions are one hour in duration and we always recommend having something to eat and drink after the session to refuel yourselves.
We do have a selection of energy products available to purchase at every session from our partners MULE BAR.