Ellerton Wild Swim Relay: Fish & Chips, Butterflies, and North Yorkshire Magic
High fives all round! Photo by Roxanna Barry
Setting the Scene
As a brand-new venue on the Level Water circuit, the 60-acre lake at Ellerton Park set the stage for a weekend of North Yorkshire grit, warmth, and incredible community spirit.
Arriving at a fresh location always brings a touch of quiet intrigue, but as soon as the registration tent opened, the peaceful countryside vibe shifted into pure event energy. A local musician set the tone with sets of acoustic guitar covers, music drifted across the banks, teams gathered to set up camp, and by the time the pre-swim briefing kicked off, the buzz around the lake was unmistakable.
Stargazing During the Night Swims
Once day spectators headed home, the true community heart of the Wild Swim Relay took over. Swimmers huddled around the campfire to trade stories and keep warm between stints. The evening's undisputed highlight arrived at 8:00 PM, when the fish and chip van rolled into the car park to find a queue of roughly 60 hungry, expectant swimmers already waiting! Sitting together in the event village, warm fish and chips in hand, created an instant camaraderie that carried straight into the darkness.
Out on the water, the night swim brought a special kind of magic. The wind, which had been whipping up during the day, finally died down between midnight and 4:00 AM, turning the lake glassy flat. In one of the night's best moments, swimmers even swapped their goggles for regular glasses, floating peacefully on their backs to look up at the clear, starry sky.
The beautiful lake! Photo by Roxanna Barry
Inspiration
The heart of why we swim was brought home by six inspiring young swimmers from the Borocuda Para Swim School who came down to join the fun. Most jumped in for a dip and Callum braved the water an incredible four times, rewarded afterwards with toasted marshmallows over the firepit! A few of the kids, alongside their parents and teachers, took to the microphone to share what their Level Water lessons mean to them, which was a wonderful full circle moment.
Downpours, Butterflies and Hard Earned Glory
This relay tested everyone's grit. Chilly temperatures and a heavy downpour during the final hour meant swimmers had to dig exceptionally deep, making the finish line all the sweeter. Teams brought the fun regardless: giant inflatable crocodiles and flamingos filled the water, while team Swim & Tonic rocked custom hoodies. Taking fancy dress to the next level, one entire team tackled the final lap transformed into vibrant butterflies complete with wings, headdresses, and sparkly makeup! Crossing the finish line in the relentless rain only amplified the collective sense of achievement, sparking massive cheers and emotional celebrations.
Rounding the buoy! Photo by Roxanna Barry
Unsung Heroes
A damp pack-down couldn't take the shine off the weekend. A huge thanks goes to lake owner Sarah for her incredible hospitality and support throughout. Something we were most impressed by was the copious volume of tea consumed (with many teams bringing their own trusty teapots!). The ultimate testament to the weekend's spirit came from solo swimmer John, also volunteered in his spare time to help the Level Water event crew.
To date, this event has raised over £41,000, which will fund upwards of 2,700 swimming lessons, something everyone involved should be immensely proud of!
See you next year, Ellerton! x