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Editor’s Letter

View From The Water

Connecting with nature through swimming can add enjoyable rituals to your life, says Simon Griffiths

Adaptive Swimmer:

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING After all my successful summer

ENVIRONMENT

SUSANNE MASTERS

People Power

ISSUE Diesel spill in River Test From October

The Rivers Trust: Appreciating nature in the wintertime

On a chilly morning last December, I apprehensively

Sarah Thomas: Marathon Swimmer

So let’s be real: When it comes to

MAGIC IN THE WATER

Rowan Clarke goes beyond reason to find the magic in natural waters.

IT’S A KIND OF MAGIC

Ella Foote meets High Priestess Rebecca Beattie to learn more about the Wheel of the Year and the turning seasons

“TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES!”

Jonathan Cowie meets Colin Hill, Vice President of the International Winter Swimming Association, to find out why you should enter a cold water swimming contest this winter

ICE MILE EXTREME

After a three-year delay Becca Harvey conquered an ice mile swim in Loch Insh, Scotland. A film has documented her difficult journey to success and premiered at Kendal Mountain Festival. In her own words, Becca shares her story.

ICE SWIM IN MOROCCO

Jonathan Cowie speaks to Hassan Baraka, organiser of Morocco’s only ice swimming competition

Solo Swimmer

There are benefits to having a birthday perilously

SWIMMING A LONG WAY TOGETHER

Dublin-based visual artist and long-distance swimmer Vanessa Daws is part-way through an international, multi-sited three-year arts project inspired by swimming. Ella Foote meets Vanessa to find out more

SHOOTING THE FALLS

From serious swimmers and daredevils to a hapless crocodile, the venturesome call of Niagara Falls has lured them all

Ballyhoo at Niagara

Born Cora McFarland in 1869, Cora Rosenthal, who

Outdoor Swimmer Beginner: Minreet Kaur

Swimming has been the best thing for me in 2022

A tiresome task

Just keeping your mouth closed isn’t enough. By Jonathan Cowie

Celebration

Caroline and swim pals training for 2023 CAROLINE

NEW RECORD IN UNDERWATER ICE SWIMMING

WORLD RECORD Image: Patricia Richardson Underwater ice-swimming record

HEALTH

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER • MENTAL HEALTH SWIMS RECIPE • CANDLELIGHT MEDITATION

‘Wild Swimming – A Public Health Measure?’

Photo credit: Anna Deacon Founder and Managing Director

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

BANISH WINTER BLUES The winter blues are real.

RECIPE

FRANGIPANE MINCE PIES

BODY CARE: WARMING GELS AND CREAMS

Cold weather can cause muscle strains and tightness, especially when we don’t warm up properly before swimming. Lots of heads-up breaststroke and hunched over hot drinks can lead to stiffness in shoulders and neck. Here are some warming gels and creams that can help

COACH

YOU ASK, WE ANSWER • ISURVIVED MOVE OF THE MONTH • BREATHING

TRAINING Swimming at Night

“Look at the stars! Look, look up at the skies! O look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air! The bright boroughs, the circle-citadels there!” Gerard Manley Hopkins

MOVE OF THE MONTH: LATERAL SQUATS

VIVIENNE RICKMAN – PERSONAL TRAINING

Pool Swimming: a Christmas training ritual

Approaching Christmas, some coaches think it’s a good

Breathing: Nose versus mouth?

The mental and physical health benefits of cold

You Ask, We Answer!

QUESTION: I am going to be swimming at

I survived a fancy dress swim

Mad Hatter Sports Events host a Christmas Santa

GEAR

FLASKS

FLASKS

★★★★★ Stanley Classic Trigger Action Travel Mug 350ml,

CHALLENGE

AQUAMASTERS EVENT REVIEW • EVENT LISTINGS

PARADISE CROSSING

Simon Griffiths took place in the finale of the 2022 International Arena Aquamasters Swimming Championships in Göcek, Turkey

LET’S SWIM!

UK AND INTERNATIONAL EVENT LISTINGS

EXPLORE

SWIM GUIDE • IRELAND • GALWAY

SWIMMING GUIDE

Salty Sea Sisters: O’ Sullivan’s Cascade. Kerry, Ireland.

THE ART OF WILD SWIMMING IRELAND

Anna Deacon and Vicky Allan have another beautiful book about wild swimming and this time they have captured Ireland. Here they share the journey.

DAWNS AND DUSKS IN CONAMARA

Susanne Masters explores castles, craic and bogs. Travelling on her bike and across islands in the Conamara region, Ireland.

SWIM LIFE

PHOTO COMPETITION • SWIMTERPRIZE • WATCH, READ, LISTEN PATRONS •LETTERS • MY SWIM STORY

READER PHOTO CONTEST

Enter our monthly reader photo competition for a

IN MEMORIAM: JODY JONES

On Monday, 7 November, swimmer Jody Jones died from bowel cancer. Friend and swimmer, Mark Johansen honours his dear friend.

Win a Selkie Swim Robe and £50 Gift Voucher with the Outdoor Swimmer Shop

. COMPETITION . COMPETITION . COMPETITION . COMPETITION . COMPETITION . COMPETITION . COMPETITION .

CRAFTY CRACKERS

Jonathan Cowie meets Christmas cracker crafter Liz Hebbron of Eco Magpie

YOUR LETTERS

What has inspired you about outdoor swimming this

Patrons

Thank you to the following individuals who hav ejoined the OS Mag as Patrons & Super Patrons

MAGICAL READS

Twelve Moons: A year under a shared sky

Watch Read Listen

SWIMMING SCREENTIME Kendal Mountain Festival Unable to attend

My Swim Story...

My dad taught me to swim in the