Splash in the sun for over 230 outdoor swimmers at Kessock Ferry Swim
Outdoor swimmers and spectators turned out in their hundreds to enjoy glorious sunshine for the Kessock Ferry Swim this afternoon.
The fundraising event, organised by outdoor education charity Àban, welcomed over 230 swimmers at the Old Ticket Office at South Kessock pier as they set about making their way to North Kessock, before returning back again.
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Now in its third year, the charity reintroduced the swim to the local calendar in 2022, paying homage to the swim’s historic tradition, which dates back to 1946.
Local resident Donald Macfadyen, who took part in his first ever swim back in 1947, had the honour of sounding the horn to begin the event.
The 1200 metre endeavour featured a mix of timed and untimed swimmers of wide ranging experience, ability and age.
The youngest swimmer to take part was just 12 years old.
Johannes Petersen, chief executive for Àban, hailed the event as a big success.
He said: “There are only so many windows in the year when the tide is right, on a weekend, in summer, and at a reasonable time of today. The wind is the biggest thing. But so far we have been very fortunate.
“We’ve had people from the Netherlands, Belfast, Shetland, Orkney, Bristol, all over. But the main thing is that the people that live on Kessock Road, in South Kessock, are right behind it.
“Two swimmers chose to retire at North Kessock, where we have professional medical event cover. One swimmer was treated for hypothermia but has made a full recovery.
“We always encourage swimmers to retire if they are having a bad day, and each year one or two do make the decision to retire.”
Inverness-based charity Àban provides weekly outdoor youth groups for biking, mountaineering, open-water swimming and the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Open Award.
The charity hailed the event as an inspiration for inclusivity in swimming.
Mr Petersen added: “There was a local gentleman taking part who has one leg amputated below the knee. He has competed in all three years and has helped us to realise that the event is uniquely accessible because of the parking and ability to roll down the pier.
“There are improvements we need to make, such as disabled changing, but it’s something we are looking to build on for the future, adaptive swimming.”
14-year-old Soren Young, a swimmer from Strathallan School, Stirling Swimming Club and Highland Swim Team, was the first to re-emerge on dry land, recording an impressive time of 19 minutes and one second.
Soren, who is originally from Inverness but now lives in Auchterarder, improved on a fourth place finish last year.
Speaking after finishing his swim, he said: “It feels very good. I’ve been training very hard and it’s a big accomplishment.
“I normally swim every day, so I compete quite a lot, but this was only my second outdoor swim. My first was last year’s event.
“I have quite sore arms after that. You get very cold, so can get quite numb but you’ve just got to push through it.”
