FEATURES

In-depth features that celebrate the vibrant outdoor swimming community, spotlighting extraordinary individuals and their stories.

Southend to All Hallows to Leigh on Sea

It started one spring day in Leigh on Sea as an idle bet over a pint with a couple of…
Seeking out the more challenging open water swims

I have been around swimming for a long time but sadly did not compete as a young lad. I have…
Festive and New Year Dips

December25 Peter Pan Cup (100yd), Hyde Park, serpentineswimmingclub.com25 Christmas Day Dip, Felixstowe,stelizabethhospice.org.uk25 Christmas Day Harbour Swim, Weymouth,weymouthlionsclub.co.uk25 Exmouth Christmas Day…
John Wheaton’s failure to sight properly at the Emerald City open water swim

“Where’s the turn buoy?” one of my fellow swimmers asked. We were treading water, waiting for the start gun at…
David Coleman – two-way Windermere

This was a swim that was not meant to happen this year. I had planned to swim from Jersey to…
Matt Baker – Henley to Marlow solo

Two months after the official Henley Swim Bridge to Bridge event, I swam the same 14.1km course between the landmark…
Chris Smith – Escaping Alcatraz

Chris Smith only learnt to swim at the age of 46, at a time where a spinal injury prevented him…
A 10km Dart Adventure by Simon James

A couple of years ago I joined the Outdoor Swimming Society after reading a book called Wild Swim by Kate…
Beth French: Redefining parameters

Beth French is no stranger to overcoming incredible challenges. In 1993, ME left her wheelchair bound, but after after almost…
The Ice Queen Cometh

Jackie Cobell is tight lipped about her next challenge. “It is down south,” is all she will say, “and very,…
Profile: John Lunt

John Lunt has always loved endurance sport. He did his first triathlon in 1984 and raced Iron distance triathlon in…
I loved every single stroke – Part 2 (The Swim – Windermere two-way)

For Part 1 (training) – see here.On 6 August 2013, the day before my swim, I met my guide for the…
I loved every single stroke – Part 1

Back in November 2012 I started doing some additional training for an 800m time trial, which I managed to do…
How I became a Scilly girl

Lou Walker took part in the first-ever 15k Scilly Swim Challenge in September 2014 – and she’d whole-heartedly recommend it,…
Train for the worst and hope for the best – it might happen

Garry Seghers took part in an English Channel relay this summer for Diabetes UK. He shares his experience here. A…
Beating the tide, just. Janine Serell reports on her Manhattan to Sandy Hook swim

Janine Serell was the twelfth and final person to finish this year’s 17.5 mile swim from Manhattan to Sandy Hook,…
Annual German Open Water Championships

On 3 July, Adam Warner (24) travelled to Hamburg in Germany to take part in the German open water championships.…
Sabrina Wiedmer swims the North Channel

Fergal Sommerville, who completed a fantastic early season North Channel swim in 2013, was delighted to have the opportunity to…
A gentle swim across Europe’s largest volcanic lake

On Saturday, 14 June 2014, Kristy McIntyre, Mark Fabik and John Tierney of London’s Serpentine Swimming Club took a leisurely swim…
Fit to fat to fit again – Ed Williams recounts his swimming journey to the North Channel

Ed Williams is a swimming teacher based in Cambridge and an extreme marathon swimmer. He’s aiming to take on one…
A dog ate my clothes, Officer

Dogs eating books has been a standard excuse for students ever since homework was invented, but how about dogs eating…
How Rhona McGregor overcame her fears and fell in love with open water

‘Open water swimming! Are you mad?’ Well, that’s what people say when you tell them you spend your Sunday mornings…
From beginner to Robben Island swimmer in four months

Neither John Gunn nor John Paul Matthews (JP) had much open water experience. In fact, four months ago they were…
Cliona Saidlear: The Bonus Swim

Cliona Saidlear is taken on a delightful and inspiring swim by two SwimTrek guides – on their day off! Even…
Jim Doty: A swimmer who made a difference, and a swim in his memory

Some swimmers do more than just swim – they make a difference to their communities and other people’s lives. On…