Wild Swimming News

BBC News Reports: Researchers are testing the water in Cambridge to identify the source of bacterial infections affecting rowers and swimmers. Puntseq’s survey of regular river users found that one in five “obtained an infection likely attributed to Cam water contact”. Symptoms included so-called “swimmer’s itch”, fever after swallowing water, and wound infections. In 2014, organisers cancelled the first City of Cambridge Triathlon after the river tested positive for potentia

Cambridge Independent reports: Wild swimming is a very popular sport – and one that has a long history in Cambridge. Places for this year’s Swim the Cam sold out within days of being advertised on social media. That’s 50 people who will swim the 3.8km from Bryon’s Pool to Sheep’s Green at 11am on Saturday, July 15. The event revives a competition which once attracted about 200 swimmers to the city’s river and could, like swims of the past, become an annual fixture. “The respo

Cambridge News reports that following discussions on Thursday the one mile ‘Swim Through’ race may soon be re-instituted in Cambridge. “The swim through was an annual event across the city for more than 40 years before the river quality was deemed not good enough, but organisers say the water has improved since the 80s.” “The early morning open-swim used to run along the College Backs, from the Mill Pond to Jesus Lock, before it was disbanded and organisers hope, if the event

Times change and attitudes toward river swimming have polarized but the fact remains that the River Cam is a delightful place to swim. Children were taught to swim at the Sheep’s Green bathing complex. A large rectangular paddling pool is still popular with local children. Adjacent to it, a foot-bridge crosses a tributary of the Cam and the boys’ and girls’ bathing places lie to the left and right respectively. Walking across the field, another bridge separates the men’s and