Anton Roux nam om 10.45 zijn eerste duik nabij Uithoorn, om vanochtend zijn eerste lap in de Amstel te zwemmen. Drie kwartier later dan de bedoeling was, door de late aankomst van het oh zo trage volgbootje -waarover later meer- met 't 4 pk motortje. Kou (buitentemperatuur toen 12 graden!) en stortregen begeleidden Anton's Amazing Amstel Swim. Zijn eerste woorden in het water waren dan ook: ''It's cold.'' Hij werd aangemoedigd door enkele supporters, vooral van een licht bezorgde De Bruin-family, maar vooral natuurlijk door de bemanning van het oeroude volgbootje, met aan boord kapitein Steven, en verder Olly, Graeme ('it's much better now, thanks, now my broken rib must get better') en de sympathieke -maar dat zijn al die Zuid-Afrikanen- nieuwkomer Francois de Clus, vervanger van Heino Kuhn. Die Anton herhaaldelijk moesten toeroepen dat-ie beslist niet precies in het midden van de Amstel moest zwemmen, hoewel dat natuurlijk wel, toegegeven, de snelste weg was. Gelukkig viel het scheepvaarverkeer mee vanochtend. Je moet er toch niet aan denken, al die crickettalenten bij elkaar op het water ...

Laatste nieuws: Anton is veilig het water uit, ong. een halve km voor etabliss. De Zwarte Kat nabij Nes a/d Amstel. Woensdag lap 2, tot Ouderkerk. Donderdag laatste lap; de totale zwemtocht is ong. 13 km lang, heeft Anton berekend. En die eindigt 1 september bij etabliss. 't Kalfje om ong. 19.00 uur. Allwaar we -welkom dus allemaal, ACCers!- een borrel drinken, om later naar ACC te verhuizen voor een Indiase maaltijd. Om gepast afscheid te kunnen nemen van Graeme the Great, wiens verblijf in Amsterdam zo triest eindigde. Zie verder het artikel van Head Coach Anton Roux voor meer details over donderdag a.s.!

MvO en JO (beeld).

Meer foto's, klik hier

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By: Anton Roux - Head Coach - Amsterdamsche Cricket Club
I've always been an admirer of the Amstel River, and this year when I arrived in Holland, I told a few people that I would swim it one day. Looking back, people must have thought I was crazy. Maybe I am. Well finally that time has come, and finally I have a reason for it. A meaning so to speak. For me, once I find a meaning for something I want to do, I will find a way to do it no matter what.

X
X Amstel River Swim
X  

About 10km to 12km open water swim; 3 legs, over 3 days. Starting Tuesday 30th, between 09.30 and 10.15 hours at the Cindu factory in Uithoorn. 
The swim ends at Klein Kalfje on Thursday the 1st of September at 19:00 where all Members and friends are welcome to join myself and the 1st Team squad for a celebratory drink. From there we will all go to the Club for a good Indian meal, and some more drinks. Please email Dit e-mailadres is beschermd tegen spambots. U heeft Javascript nodig om het te kunnen zien. .travel if you plan to attend the dinner as he needs to know numbers for all people attending: Hasrat Bagkari 

The dinner will also serve as a farewell for Graeme van Buuren, as I'm sure a lot of us would like say goodbye to him.


The reason for the swim is simple. This season in Amsterdam has been such a special one, not only for me, but for the Club and everyone involved in my life. This swim just caps the season off. Each leg of the swim is represented with an 'X' (of the Amsterdam flag), and will be dedicated to someone, or something that has made a difference in my life this year. I am also doing it for the 1st Team. I want to (hopefully) try and prove to them that anything is possible if you put the right energy into it, and that if you want to do something, you will find a way to do it. BUT you must REALLY want to do it. My long term goal one day is to swim the entire Amstel for some sort of charity or awareness. Also, by doing this swim, I will hopefully ignite a spark in someone/anyone, in a way that maybe you too will decide to do something "wild" like this in the future. It makes you feel alive, and you find out a lot of things about yourself that you thought were never there. So many people in the world fail to realize what they have inside of them, the power to make a change and BE the change. I too, am still learning and searching for that power that will unlock my potential. This is so applicable to the 1st Team. My message to them is to find that spark that will ignite the fire within you, and enable you to soar like eagles.

Another thing I want ACC to realize is that, no matter what the outcome is of this season in the final, we are already champions! As human beings we have all grown, and to that, no medal or trophy can do justice to the change and growth I have seen in all of you. What we have achieved as a team and a Club this season is special and I will never forget it. Never. People from different cultures, different backgrounds, different ages, and different countries all pulling together and becoming life long friends and aqaintences. In other words, becoming a "family". That on its own is a special achievement, considering that it is the first time in 54 years that we as a Club are playing in the final for the Championship. We have all grown as cricketers and as humans. Never forget it, and use it moving forward.  We never know what the future holds for us, as we not in control of that. Three things that we are in control of however is what we THINK, what we FEEL, and what we SAY. Our energy and attitude will always affect those 3 controllables and this season was a good example of it. Thank you ACC, Amsterdam, and Holland for what you have done for my soul. The XXX will forever be with me on my back as a reminder...

Meaning behind the Swim:

(1) X - to ACC, Amsterdam, and Holland. ACC - to what we have achieved as a Club and Team this season. Amsterdam - the Amstel River (inspiration). Holland - for giving me the lifeline I needed to re-energize myself, and to all the people that I have met and had the pleasure to cross paths with.

(2) X - to Heino Kuhn. My friend and my Pro. The way you went about your business at ACC was legendary. They will be talking about you for a long time to come. For your call up to the Proteas camp, and hopefully watching you represent your country one day. For listening and being there for me, on and off the field. You are a rare breed and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of this amazing experience.

(3) X - to Graeme van Buuren. My boytjie. You have this amazing ability to interact with people and to leave a lasting impression on them. I am no different, you have left an amazing impression on me on how to treat people. Apart from your obvious cricketing ability, you have special human qualities. Never forget that. What happened this year to you in Amsterdam has saddened me to such an extent that I dedicate this swim and last X to you. I'm sorry for how it ended. Hopefully ACC will see you again in the future.

This swim means a lot to me and hopefully the message is clear enough for you to understand the reasoning behind it. Our own Steven de Bruin and Graeme van Buuren will be with me all the way, either on a boat, a kayak, or on the scooter watching over me, occasionally giving me some food(if needed), and just some good old fashioned moral support. Thank you both for your help in getting this off the ground.

Thank you all once again, and I hope to share a drink or two with you at the completion of my swim.

Anton Roux
Head Coach
Amsterdam Cricket Club
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