The Alternative Great North Swim

Unfortunately, the British Gas Great North Swim, due to be held September 4th and 5th 2010 at Lake Windermere, was cancelled by the organisers due to prevalence of blue-green algae and the impact that this may have had on safety.

Together Trust supporters love a challenge and are a resourceful bunch. Determined not to let the charity down or to let all their training go to waste, some swimmers have been entering other open water swims and even staging their own swims independently!

One such swimmer was Carine Bishop who told us:

“I was already on the way to the Lakes when the news came through that the Swim had been postponed. I decided to not disappoint my sponsors and undertake an ‘Alternative Great North Swim’ on Saturday 4th September in Lake Coniston."

"I appointed an official time keeper, adjudicator and rescue canoeist. I swam with another swimmer who had also come for the swim and completed one mile in 39 minutes 52 seconds."  

"I since discovered that the official swim was cancelled altogether. I am really pleased that I did the Alternative swim and raised a substantial amount for the Together Trust.”

Carine documented the event for posterity in these photos. Well done Carine and thanks to all of our swimmers who have been very understanding despite their disappointment and have either made alternative arrangements or will wait until next year to complete their swimming challenge.