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Despite it being a grey and wet morning 15 brave swimmers threw themselves into the water at the Holy Isle jetty last Saturday to take part in the annual Lamlash Splash.
The splash is a 1.3 mile swim from the Holy Isle to Lamlash Pier.
The first three to finish were: Glen Sloss (Sannox) in 39 minutes, Ian Hunter (Lamlash) in 41 minutes and David McCusker (Bridge of Weir) in 42 minutes.
Other locals taking part included Sally Hunter, Alan Johnson, Neil Gillies and Richard Small.
The Ali Bodie Memorial Prize for the person showing the most character was given to Alan Johnson of Brodick.
One of the event’s organisers Neil Gillies said: ‘Alan’s training for the event was, to say the least, unorthodox. He only started training for the event two weeks ago and had only previously swam once in the sea. Not to be recommended, but hats off to Alan for quite literally jumping in at the deep end.’
The award was donated by the family of Alison Bodie a remarkably brave woman who swam the race twice despite having cancer .
The event always takes place around the same time each year and participants who have not done the swim before must attend a short trial swim the evening before.
Neil Gillies explained: ‘It is always a trade off between water temperature and jellyfish.
‘Experience has shown that in mid to late September the sea is quite warm but the jellies have gone.’
The swimmers must be able to complete the course in no more than 70 minutes and they must wear wetsuits to dramatically slow the cooling effect of the sea.
Some entrants can be in the water for over an hour and wearing a wetsuit and thermal cap means that everyone can finish the event and still feel comfortable.
The temperature of the sea was about 13 degrees centigrade.
Organisers said you do not have to be extremely fit to take part.
Neil said: ‘Obviously, you need to have a fairly efficient swimming stroke and have a moderate level of fitness but it is well within the compass of most healthy people.’
Next year a new training programme is being introduced for those interested in taking part.
He said: ‘We are hoping to encourage more locals to take part. We will start off training in the pool during the winter then around May we’ll progress to the sea, starting with brief group swims, gradually becoming longer.’
The organisers said a big thankyou to Arran Yacht Club, RNLI and the kayakers who helped to make the event safe and pleasurable.
Alan Johnston from Brodick raised more than Ł800 for the charity Children with Leukaemia by taking part.
Alan said: ‘I have to thank all those who supported and sponsored me even although they told me I was ‘aff ma heid’. All the money raised was donated to the Arran Junior Sailing Club.
