Helen Beveridge

Helen Beveridge in middle at the Loch Ness Monster Swim in Scotland together with Frances Cassidy, Sandra Lea, Trev Johnson, and Ruth Jeays (shown left to right)

Ned Denison hosts an annual Triple Crowner dinner at the end of the Cork Distance Week in Cork, Ireland. On 12 July 2024, Fergal Madden, Paula Yankauskas, Carol Cashell, Gábor Molnár, Milko van Gool, Anita Hartsock, Loren King (first row, left to right) Gina Harden, Liz Fry, Courtney Moates Paulk, Martha Wood, Susan McKay, Laura Lopez Bonilla, Carol Wortman, Matthias Kaßner (second row, left to right) Helen Beveridge, Stephanie Hopson , Rosie Foley, Heather Roka, Kerry Yonushonis, Ned Denison, Bill Shipp, Fionnuala Walsh, Jenny Smith, Simon Olliver, Steve Sutton (third row, left to right) attended

Helen Beveridge is a 50-year-old mother of three and an open water swimmer based in Scotland who came to the sport in 2011 after booking a SwimTrek Central Lakes weekend with friends. Within two years, she was able to call herself a Channel Swimmer. and within 5 years, she achieved the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. She is also one of the race directors of the Vampire Swims.

'Muckle Four'

Muckle means very large in the Scots vernacular. The Muckle Four comprise the key four largest freshwater lochs of Scotland: the deepest (Loch Morar), the longest (Loch Awe), the biggest by volume (Loch Ness) and the biggest by surface area (Loch Lomond). Beveridge completed Morar, Ness and Lomond in 2016 and Awe in 2018. All swims have been ratified by the British Long Distance Swimming Association.

English Channel

On 6-7 October 2013, Beveridge succeeded in completing a solo swim of the English Channel in support of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland. With the guidance of CS&PF pilot Neil Streeter, she overcame big spring tides to successfully complete the 22 mile swim in 19 hours 27 minutes. Earlier in that year Beveridge completed an English Channel relay on 28 June 2013 with fellow team members Julian Oldfield, Pip Barry, Kathrine O'Brien, Ruth Beaver and Pauline Barker in support of Aspire, a charity who help people with spinal cord injuries to live independent lives.

Open Water Swimming Highlights

Solos

• She achieved the Frosted Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in June 2015.
• Catalina Channel - a 21-mile solo swim on 1 October 2014 in 13 hours 43 minutes with the guidance of CCSF pilot John Pittman on Outrider
  
• English Channel - a 21-mile solo swim on 6-7 October 2013 in 19 hours 27 minutes with the guidance of CS&PF pilot Neil Streeter
  
• 2-way Windermere - a 21-mile solo swim on 6 August 2013 in 14 hours 20 minutes supported by Colin Hill of Chillswim
  
• Manhattan Island Marathon Swim - a 28.5-mile solo swim on 16 June 2015 in 9 hours 39 minutes (Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming)
• 19 km Loch Morar - on 20 July 2016, an 8 hour 12 minute crossing ratified by the BLDSA.
  
• 36 km Loch Ness - on 1 August 2016, an 18 hour 22 minute crossing, ratified by the BLDSA, raising over £4,000 for the Highland Hospice, a charity based in Inverness at the age of 48.
  
• 35 km Loch Lomond - on 20/21 August 2016, an overnight solo swim of 15 hours 3 minutes with the BLDSA bi-annual event
  
• 39 km Loch Awe - on 4/5 August 2018, an overnight solo swim of 23 hours, 29 minutes and 55 seconds, being the first swimmer to swim north to south starting from the River Orchy rail bridge and completing at Torran Bay, ratified by the BLDSA, raising almost £5,000 for Niemann Pick UK, a charity supporting those with the ultra rare Niemann Pick disease including two of Beveridge's daughters.
  

Relays

• 4-person veteran ladies Loch Ness relay - a 23-mile swim with 'CHAPs Monster Relay Team' on 19 July 2014 in 19 hours 05 minutes. First four-person relay, first four-lady relay, first all veteran relay
  
• 6-person Loch Ness relay - a 23-mile swim with her relay team 'Six-in-Ness' on 27 July 2013 in 12 hours 54 minutes
  
• 6-person English Channel relay - in 13 hours 52 minutes as the 'Aspire Turtles' with Eddie Spelling on 28 June 2013 in support of Aspire, a spinal injuries charity
  

Other

• British Long Distance Swimming Association events since 2013 including Champion of Champions (5+3+1 miles), Llyn Tegid (6 miles and 3 miles), Torbay (8 miles), Coniston Veterans (3.25 miles), Ullswater (7miles), Derwentwater (5.5 miles) and St Mary's Loch (6.5 miles)
  
• Ice Mile swim in Loch Achilty on 3 March 2013, water temperature 2.83C, leading to membership of the International Ice Swimming Association
  
• prior to 2013, Beveridge completed the 6.5 miles of Loch Earn with Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association
  
• winner of the non-wetsuit category at the 2011 First Monster Swim, Loch Ness (Loch Ness Monster Swim)
  
• she completed the Frosted Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming on 16 June 2015
  

Charity Swimming

In 2013, Beveridge's swims raised more than £5000 for charity. Subsequently Beveridge has completed further charity swims in 2014 for RNLI and 2015 again for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland. 2016 saw Helen raise money for the Highland Hospice and in 2018 for Niemann Pick UK. To date Helen has raised almost £15,000 for charity.

The 1st Loch Ness Vampire Swim saw 27 swimmers taking part with the letting of 15 pints of blood and £158 donation to the charity Bloodwise. Loch Ness has since hosted an annual Vampire Swim every year on the saturday closest to 31 October. The core aim to encourage blood donation and to raise money for Bloodwise has continued successfully with much fun enjoyed by all participants along the way.

Wild Highlanders

Beveridge is a founder member of the Wild Highlanders, an all-ability group of open water swimmers based in the Highlands of Scotland, a member of the Inverness Swimming Club, and an ice swimmer.

Ice Swimming Career

• she completed an ice mile on 3 March 2013 in 2.83°C water + 8.00°C air for 1.06 miles in 39:07
• she completed the 1 km ice swimming race at the 2014 and 2015 Big Chill Swim at the Low Wood Bay Marina, Windermere, England
• she competed in the 1 km IISA Ireland national championships at Wild Water Armagh on 30 January 2016 in 4.5C water
• she completed the 1 km ice swimming race at the 2016 Big Chill Swim at the Low Wood Bay Marina, Windermere, England in 6.4ºC water

External links

• The Ties That Bind Triple Crowners
• Open Water Swimmers Take It To The Extreme with Ice Miles, Channel Swims and Marathon Swims
• The Legacy Of Loch Lomond
• Start On A Trip, End Up In A Journey
• Woman endures icy waters to swim Loch Ness
• Jim Loreto Does Frosted Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming
• Frosted Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming
• Blood-letting Open Water Swims
• Helen Beveridge Aspiring To The Extreme
• Wild Highlander Swims - Helen Beveridge Blog
• Helen Beveridge Loch Ness Challenges for RNLI
• Helen Beveridge English Channel Relay Challenge
• Helen Beveridge English Channel Solo Swim
• International ice Swimming Association
• Inverness Swimming Club
• Helen Beveridge on Twitter
• Woman endures icy waters to swim Loch Ness
• Open Water Swimming
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Have Fun, Do Good, Enjoy A Swim
• Marathon Swimmers Federation bio