Suzanne started swimming when she was about 7 years old with her local swimming club and used to swim competitively until she was about 14. Then gave it up!

She didn’t really do any sort of serious swimming until taking up Triathlon about 7 years ago.

“Triathlon gave me the confidence to have a go at this longer distance open water swimming, but the training course we did in Portsmouth earlier this year was probably the first time that I’ve swum long distances in cold water without a wetsuit.

Why am I doing this? Well, firstly because Suzy Holmes talked me into it - she’s got a lot to answer for!

Secondly, it’s a huge challenge, and it’s not every day that you get an opportunity to swim the Channel

Suzanne with Pip and Suzy at the Lake Bala Championships.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to cope with the cold, the jellyfish, feeling seasick, getting swamped by big waves.....it’s going to be tough, but hopefully we’ll make it.

An intrepid Suzanne going into the water with her team mates at the Inter-Service Open Water Championships at Lake Bala in June.