NF01 November/December 2023

Cleveland Pools 55
“Last year I didn’t swim in a wetsuit.
I was more into the freezing-cold
skin-burn and not being able to think
about anything else. But I thought with
proper swimming and longer distances,
I probably couldn’t hack that.”
Warleigh Weir, Farleigh Hungerford, the Irish
Sea. Georgie Bassford prefers to be in the water
and, for the most part, for it to be skin-prickly
c-o-o-l-l-l-d. That’s why she’s pulling on her hat
and gloves for Surfers Against Sewage’s Dip
a Day in October fundraiser.
“I don’t mind swimming in rivers, even when
they’re dirty – I just don’t put my head under.
But this is a great option. You’ve got a bit of
both. In the middle of winter when the rivers
are in flood and I can’t get to the sea because
it’s too far away, this is great for a cold dip.”
“I feel the
same about
indoor pools
as I do about
supermarkets
– they make me
feel cooped up”
“It’s easy to say now in October, but the plan is
to go right through. Last year I did a few cold
dips, and I have cold
showers, too. I’m keen,
but it’s not easy. I’m
a bit of a wimp, really.
Anyone who does coldwater
swimming, no one
finds it easy do they?
People who don’t do it
are always like, ‘How do
you do it? I’d find it so
cold.’ I’m like, ‘But I find
it cold!’”
To book a cold-water
swim at Cleveland Pools,
download the Fusion
Lifestyle app
thenearfield.com
NF01