David Takes on the Bantham Swoosh

Our CEO, David Stevens, took on the Bantham Swoosh 2025 and completed it in an impressive 2 hours and 1 minute. The event, held on 12th and 13th July, brought together swimmers of all abilities for a weekend of open-water swimming.

The Bantham Swoosh is the perfect entry-level open water event: 6km in distance, but only 4km in effort thanks to the river’s natural Swoosh, which carries swimmers effortlessly to the finish line.

On Saturday, 800 swimmers gathered in Aveton Gifford, zipped up each other’s wetsuits, and were carried down the river to Bantham Beach. Sunday saw 400 participants starting at Bantham itself, strolling over sand dunes, and being carried up the crystal-clear Aune Estuary to the start line for a “Boomerang” finish.

The sun shone throughout, keeping spirits high from the first volunteer on the field to the last Boomeranger sipping hot chocolate at the finish.

The weekend raised a phenomenal £245,000 - enough to fund over 16,000 swimming lessons for children with disabilities across the UK.

A big well done to David Stevens for finishing the Swoosh in such a strong time.