According to race organiser Glen Walker the ice had only just melted but that didn’t deter 50 swimmers from attempting the 100m open water dash at the Princes Club on 27 Dec. In only its second year the event massively expanded on the 16 entrants from last year, despite traces of the previous week’s big freeze still visible and a water temperature of only 2.5 degrees.

Pre-race briefing

“It’s cold, but I’m sure you’ll all enjoy yourselves!”

Pre-race nerves

 “We’re freezing, and we haven’t been in the water yet…”

Walking the plank

“Look at those wimps in wetsuits.”

Maybe I'll do butterfly

“It can’t be that cold… can it?”

And they're off

“3, 2, 1, Go!”

In deep

“It’s just to those bouys and back.”

It's all over

“Where’s my bike?”

Thank goodness for wetsuits

“The showers had better be hot.”

The smiles are frozen on

“On second thoughts, it was absolutely bleeping freezing.”

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