Team Vigour

Team Vigour has had a busy season and this week one of our swimmers Caroline Connor has summed up Vigour Events and the great season many of our swimmers have had.

Caroline like many others swam to raise money for charity, we would love to know who swam for charity this year, which charities you swam for and how much you raised. It would be fantastic to be able to total up the money raised this season and which charities benefited from your swimming. ! Please let us know at [email protected]

With the summer season now officially finished we have plenty to keep you busy over the winter months:

Total Immersion weekly swim sessions on a Monday night at Hamilton College

Total Immersion workshops on the 4th & 11th November

Winter Swim Sessions at Pilmuir Quarry starting the 29th October

We are also happy to announce the 1st Phase of our 2018 events, click here for the details and watch this space for the some great new and exciting swims for 2018 !!!!!

Vigour - 'The physical and mental energy and enthusiasm, strength of body and mind', as defined by Collins English Dictionary.

'Team Vigour' is run and organised by the amazing husband and wife duo of Robert & Kirstin Hamilton, along with occasional help from their two energetic kids Freya and Ethan!

'Vigour' is based in Glasgow and we swim/train at Pilmuir Quarry throughout the year and when it begins to get icy cold we head to Bardowie sailing club where we have the luxury of changing facilities! We also swim at Loch Lubnaig and Loch Venachar nr Callander where we can have 6-8hr swim sessions in preparation for the season ahead.

'Team Vigour' is like an extended family. People from all walks of life who share the same passion of outdoor swimming and all that goes with it. You don't have to be 'great swimmer', you just need to have oodles of enthusiasm that Robert and Kirstin will utilise to the best of their ability to make sure your swimming experience is the best ever.

The constant flow of laughter and chatter in and out the water is evident at every swim session and at every Vigour event. This is why we all return week after week after week, no matter what the weather throws at us!

During the summer time over 50 swimmers will descend apon the quarry and the sight of all these swimmers bobbing around is really quite overwhelming!

This year has been a very successful one in terms of personal achievements from within the 'Team Vigour' camp, all of them led by Robert and his safety crew led by Stewart Griffiths, too many to mention but each of them personal to each and every swimmer no matter what the distance. 

Darryl Boult, Caroline Connor and Scott McQuade conquered the length of Loch Lomond, all 22 miles of it. Phia Steyn completed the amazing feat of Loch Awe and Loch Ness within 8 weeks. The Beatson Cancer charity team of David, Laura, Jessica, Jan, Karen, Hilary, Derek, Jonathon ,Emily, Catherine, Paul and Jenni also completed the length of Loch Lomond and the amazing camaraderie between the whole team was inspirational. Kim Riddoch competed in the 10k length of Loch Earn swim in September along with David Barlow and Scott Simpson. Laura Ormiston swam over 7km, the longest distance she has ever covered .Grahame Connor and Greg Duffy beat their confidence demons by taking part in the Great Scottish Swim in August and Rob Towart who swims endlessly, no matter what the conditions also completed the 10km at Loch Earn and the Great Scottish swim.

These stories are only a selection of the members of 'Team Vigour' but what drives us all is the positivity and confidence of each team member. We are all there for each other, whether it's a few words of encouragement or just having a good laugh, that's what makes Team Vigour one of the best outdoor swimming clubs in the world! Who can have the option of swimming in Scotland's first ever ice mile, swimming across the Firth of Forth and then swimming the length of various Loch's across Scotland !

Robert and Kirstin welcome all newcomers to the sport, visitors to the area and even if you just want to take a look at what goes on, please just come along and join in the fun and meet new friends.

'Team Vigour' goes from strength to strength each year and I can bet you that you will read about even more adventures next year !

Visit us at vigourevents.com   

Written by Caroline Connor - Proud Team Vigour member.

Top to bottom: Darryl, Phia & Caroline at Loch Venachar, Caroline during her Loch Lomond swim, winter swim at Luss, The main man, Robert Hamilton 'off duty' !!!