Despite the chilly weather, swimmers across the UK didn’t make excuses and donned festive costumes for outdoor swims to celebrate Christmas Day. Whether it was bathers taking a dip in the sea off Dorset, Devon, or Norfolk or participating in the Peter Pan Cup race at London’s Hyde Park in the Serpentine lake, swimmers were in the holiday spirit.
According to the Met Office, the sea surface temperatures across the country were recorded between 8C and 11C. The contest in London is thought to be the world’s oldest continuously run swimming event, having taken place since 1864. The competition has been associated with JM Barrie since 1903 when the Peter Pan Cup was donated.
Swimmer Luke Belfield, who is developing the first arthritis person to swim the English Channel, disclosed that the swimming community was kind-spirited, vibrant and friendly. He added that it was “mild” today but admitted to beginning to shiver a little. Meanwhile, Katy Irving, who was participating for the third time, revealed that managing in the cold situation got simpler the more times you do it since “your body becomes used to it.”
Different kinds of costumed swimmers could be spotted in the sea, including turkeys, knights of old and an oven. Despite the weather, it was a buzz of excitement seen across the swimmers participating in different activities
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