"The coldest Baltic Beast ever held – and three Kenilworth swimmers came home with numb fingers, huge smiles and a story no one else in Britain can tell."

Most of us spend winter wrapped up warm, not diving into water that sits below freezing.

But three swimmers from Kenilworth Masters did exactly that when they travelled to Gdynia, Poland, for the Polish Winter Swimming Championships - part of the International Winter Swimming Association (IWSA) World Cup series, famous for attracting some of the toughest winter swimmers in the world.

Kenilworth's Neil Curtis, Roy McWhirter and Karen Mee joined a British team facing the coldest conditions the event has ever recorded: -0.35°C water, -7°C air temperature, and a windchill of –12°C.

Neil, a well‑known figure in the ice‑swimming community and founder of Kenilworth based business Net Visibility, has tackled Alcatraz, competed across Europe and raced at GB championships.

Training with Kenilworth Masters - alongside regular cold‑water dips at The Lenches, Cliff Lakes and Stoney Cove, has sharpened his technique and, crucially, helped him coax Roy and Karen into the world of winter swimming.

For Roy and Karen, this was their first international competition. The temperatures alone were enough to make even experienced swimmers hesitate.

"It was one of the most extreme but ultimately one of the most rewarding events I've ever participated in," said Roy McWirter, coach at Kenilworth Masters.

advertisement

Karen added, "I had no expectations going to Poland. With the temperature dropping so low, just getting into the water felt like the biggest challenge. I still can't quite believe what we've achieved."

Between them, the trio brought home 14 medals, including five each for Karen and Roy, and four for Neil.

The standout moment was the 1km "Baltic Beast" a gruelling endurance swim in water below 5°C.

At -0.35°C, this year's race was the coldest Baltic Beast ever held. Only a handful of swimmers attempted it, including Neil, Karen and Welsh ice‑swimming pioneer Cath Pendleton, the first person to swim a mile inside the Antarctic Circle.

Neil became the first British man to complete the Baltic Beast, and early indications suggest that Karen Mee and Cath Pendleton may also be among the first British women to finish the 1km event in such extreme conditions.

Neil said: "I've longed to complete a 1km in extreme conditions. I definitely got more than I bargained for. I'm incredibly proud of Roy and Karen, they've taken to winter swimming like ducks to water."

The trio were supported by their "seconds", the helpers who monitor swimmers during the race and assist with recovery afterwards. Karen was supported by Roy, while Neil was seconded by Serpentine swimmer Nick Hungerford, whose enthusiasm has sparked early plans for a friendly Kenilworth vs Serpentine 'World Series' challenge.

Their achievements show what can happen when community spirit, curiosity and a touch of madness come together. 

advertisement