FEARLESS swimmers will once again take to chilly waters as an international swimming gala returns to the Lake District.

Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel and Marina will play host to the fifth Big Chill Swim with professional and amateur open water swimmers from countries such as Chile, Russia and USA taking to Windermere without wetsuits in a series of gruelling challenges.

The event kicks off on Saturday with a 450m endurance event followed by a number of multi stroke sprints at distances ranging from 30m to 120m before team relays commence in the afternoon.

The day after there will be a 240m race before swimmers take on 32 widths of the marina in the 1km British Championships.

Ben Berry from English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues said: "The Big Chill Swim here at Low Wood Bay is always very well supported locally and we’re looking forward to another great day’s racing in a truly wonderful setting.

"Outdoor open water swimming, unheard of as a mainstream sport a few years ago, is now hugely popular both here in the Lake District and around the world."

Each Big Chill Swim race is timed with the fastest in each age group category going forward to collect their prizes and medals at a special ceremony and barn dance which will be held at the hotel on Sunday evening.

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