CRAWL OF THE WILD; NEW CRAZE AS THOUSANDS BRAVE SCOTLAND'S ICY RIVERS AND LOCHS.Byline: Fiona Russell THOUSANDS of intrepid Scots are diving into the country's chilliest waters to make a splash in a fast-growing sport. Across Scotland, madcap open-water swimmers are taking the plunge in lochs and rivers. Now a new mass-participation open-water swim event aims to entice even more daring swimmers. Tomorrow, more than 1000 people are expected to swim a mile in Strathclyde Loch, near Motherwell, during the first Great Scottish Swim. Kate Rew, founder of the Outdoor Swimming Society, believes Scotland is witnessing a new craze for the open-water sport. Their website currently has 4500 hits a week from swimmers keen to find out where and how to swim How to Swim is a cartoon made by the Walt Disney Company in 1942. In this cartoon, Goofy provides an educational treatise on swimming and diving with questionable results. outdoors. Kate said: "There is a huge boom in outdoors swimming - and especially so in Scotland where the lochs are very popular. "It's the latest back-to-nature trend with so many more people making the move from doing lengths in an indoor pool to the amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. freedom of swimming in open water." It is also claimed that the new open-water swim events launched at the last Olympic Games Olympic games, premier athletic meeting of ancient Greece, and, in modern times, series of international sports contests. The Olympics of Ancient Greece Although records cannot verify games earlier than 776 B.C. have contributed to a surge in the sport's popularity. Last year, several British swimmers competed in nailbiting finishes during the 10k swims at the Beijing Olympics . Since then, Scotland's only open-water swimming club, Ye Amphibious Ancient Bathing Association, based at Broughty Ferry Coordinates: Broughty Ferry (Brochtie in Scots) is a suburb on the eastern edge of the City of Dundee, situated on the shore of the Firth of Tay in eastern Scotland. , Dundee, has had an unprecedented leap in membership. President Joyce McIntosh said: "In the last year, the number of senior members has increased by 85 per cent. "Many of these people say they became interested after seeing the new open-water Olympic races." Added to this, organisers of the Great Swim series, which includes the Great Scottish Swim, report a huge rise in entries. Project director Colin Hill said:"We started the series with the Great North Swim last year on Lake Windermere. "That event attracted 2200 participants but this year we have more than 6000. "Now we are also seeing unexpected demand for the three new Great Swims this year, including almost 1000 participants for the Great Scottish Swim." But for many people the idea of dipping even their toes into a cold loch or river seems mad. IndeedYe Amphibious Ancient Bathing Association are adamant that members wear only their normal swimsuits for their regular outdoors training sessions and events. But most of today's open-water swimmers take comfort in modern wetsuits. The accessibility of a widening range of cheaper, yet highly insulating, wetsuits has undoubtedly added to the appeal of the UK's cooler waters. Many swimmers also wear neoprene neoprene: see rubber. neoprene Any of a class of elastomers (rubberlike synthetic organic compounds of high molecular weight) made by polymerization of the monomer 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene and vulcanized (cross-linked, like rubber), by sulfur, boots or socks and hoods for extra warmth. Even so, novice open-water swimmer Philippa Ascough, of Glasgow, was still worried about the chilling temperatures of Scotland's lochs. Philippa, who has signed up to the Great Scottish Swim, said: "When I told my mum what I planned to do, she was astounded a·stound tr.v. a·stound·ed, a·stound·ing, a·stounds To astonish and bewilder. See Synonyms at surprise. [From Middle English astoned, past participle of astonen, because I'm always complaining about being cold. "But friends assured me I'd be fine in a wetsuit wet·suit also wet suit n. A tight-fitting permeable suit worn in cold water, as by skin divers, to retain body heat. wetsuit wet n → combinaison f de plongée and the action of doing the swim would keep me warm." The 30-year-old science researcher has been training for the event in an indoor pool but last week she felt brave enough to take her first few strokes in the open water. She said:"I had a chance to swim in Strathclyde Loch and, although I was nervous, it was actually a lot warmer than I'd expected. "The wetsuit also made me feel buoyant, so the swimming was easier than I'd imagined. "It was still quite scary not being able to see the bottom of the loch but I'm now feeling much more confident about the event itself." Another Great Scottish Swim entrant is 32-year-old Ewan McKerracher. Already an keen open-water swimmer, he is looking forward to making a splash at a new outdoor location. Ewan, who is director of Cloud Nine Skincare Clinic in Glasgow, said: "I first got into open-water swimming in England while visiting my brother. "He had suggested that we give the sport a go at Heron Lake Heron Lake can refer to: Cities, towns, townships, etc
v. Past participle of swim. swum Verb the past participle of swim swum swim at all kinds of fantastic locations. "The event at Strathclyde Park Strathclyde Country Park is a country park located in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire and Motherwell, Scotland. The park covers some 4 km², centred on the artificial Strathclyde Loch. It is located next to the River Clyde between Hamilton and Motherwell. will be a great new experience." Ewan saysthat regular swims with Glasgow Triathlon triathlon, athletic event made up of three contests. Since the 1970s the term has come to mean especially a race combining swimming, bicycling, and running. A notable example is Hawaii's Ironman Triathlon, held since 1978, which features a 2. Club at Loch Lomond Loch Lomond (IPA pronunciation: ['lomənd]), (Scottish Gaelic Loch Laomainn) is a Scottish loch, located in both the western lowlands of Central Scotland and the southern Highlands. keep him in good shape. He said: "Swimming is a great workout anyway but swimming outdoors makes for an even better challenge physically. "When the water is choppy, for example, you use up so much more energy. "I swim a couple of times a week with the triathlon club and I feel much fitter for it." In fact, Ewan is hoping that the Great Scottish Swim will be the ideal training for another event. He plans to take part in a half-ironman triathlon event in America in September, which includes a 1.2-mile river swim. Philippa also hopes that her first open-water event will be a springboard for more outdoor swimming. She said: "I'd always thought how wonderful it would be to swim in the lochs and rivers. "Thanks to the Great Scottish Swim event, I have been inspired to give it a go. "Now my goal is to explore other places to swim outdoors - and perhaps to find other events to take part in." MAKE IT SAFE If you plan to swim in open water then you should take some basic precautions. Always swim with somebody - either in thewater or watching from the banks. Never swim in reservoirs. Beware of diving in when you do not know thewater depth. Wear a wetsuit unless you are confident of stayingwarm. Always swim within your capacity. Remember that the surface temperature is warmer than below. Always pay attention to hazards signs. Join a swim coaching session or holiday such as withwww.swim trek.com. Or join a triathlon club orScotland's only open water swimming club, see www.yeaaba.btik.com Also check out www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com THE PLUNGE TAKING THE GREAT Scottish Swim offers the have the compete ideal springboard for novice openwater swimmers. The mile-long event takes place in the safe Olympic 10k Ann Patten in the Patten in the last enjoyed environment of Strathclyde Loch. Project director Colin Hill said: "The Great Swims are similar to a mass-participation running event, so they are ideal for first-timers. "It is important that all especially forward people train for the distance but it is not necessary to have swum open water before. "There will be a lot of support for the less experienced at the Great Scottish Swim." Swimmers will also the chance to again worldclass athletes. Olympic open-water medal winners Keri-Payne and Cassie Patten will be taking part in the race tomorrow. Patten said: "I took part in the Great North Swim last year and really enjoyed it. "This year I plan to do all four events and I'm especially looking forward to coming to Scotland to compete." To find out more about the event and for training information see www.greatswim.org/ GSS/ CAPTION(S): CONFIDENCE: Philippa INVIGORATING: Ewan and a friend take the plunge in the waters of Loch Lomond |
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