SEALS enjoy first birthday splash
Members of Oban Sea and Loch Swimmers (SEALS) celebrated the group’s first birthday at the weekend with a dip in the sea at Ganavan followed by cake. This Sunday March 8, swimmers, toe-dippers and towel guardians are all welcome to join a sunrise dip on Seil beach opposite the village school at Ellenabeich in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Oban SEALS has celebrated its first birthday at Ganavan with a dip in the sea followed by cake, writes Kathie Griffiths.
Oban Sea and Loch Swimmers meet every Saturday throughout the year at Ganavan car park at 8.45am.
Everyone is welcome to come along and join in, whether it is for a distance work-out, a bracing plunge or just a paddle.
Hardy members have kept the weekly swims up during the winter months’ rain or shine, sleet or snow.
The year has seen a number of personal and wider achievements within the friendly group – one of its members at the grand young age of 80 has not missed a weekly meet yet. Dr Max Holloway, who started up the group with his wife Stacey, buddied up at a training camp in the Hebrides with extreme swimmer and UN Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh before he took on the life-threatening challenge of a 1km swim across a supra-glacial lake in East Antarctica – where no human had ever swum before.
SEAL George Gray and former workmates more than doubled a £10,000 target for mental health charities by taking on The 4 Rivers Challenge, so far raising £21,110 via virginmoneygiving.com by swimming four rivers, in four capitals, in four seasons.
This Sunday, March 8, swimmers, plungers, toe-dippers and towel guardians are all welcome to join a sunrise dip on Seil beach opposite the village school at Ellenabeich in celebration of International Women’s Day. Sunrise is just before 7am so meet on the beach for 6.50am – that gives five minutes to get ready, says organiser Kathie Griffiths.
‘Everyone is welcome to come down and join us. Bring warm hats and layers for afterwards, a flask and snack. Swim boots or beach shoes are a good idea too, it can be a bit stoney getting in. Just like all swims, all swimmers must be solely responsible for making their own risk assessment on the day,’ she added.
Swimrises to mark this year’s International Women’s Day are being held right across Scotland.