Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
Ella Madgwick
Swim history before SwimTrek
Born and raised in a small beach town in NZ called Whanagamata in the coromandel peninsula. Basically lived in the sea as a kid, swimming, surfing, and sailing around the islands in the coromandel. I studied adventure tourism in Queenstown, NZ (the world capital for adventure). I worked as a swim teacher in Yorkshire, mainly teaching schools and private lessons to children in Harrogate.
Most Memorable Swim Moment
Swimming in the sea around Cuba, watching all the sea life swim around me.
Top Swimming tip
Have the right swimming costume/wet suit for the season.
Interesting Fact
I love Hiking; I just completed the Tour Du Mont Blanc in August. One of the best hikes in the world!
Paul Fallows
Swim history before SwimTrek
I have been swimming from a very young age, I remember too well the early morning swim sessions before school and then the hours training after school. I enjoyed swimming competitively and spent most weekends at some kind of swim meet. In my later life I have discovered open water swimming and all that it offers. I have been so lucky with the places I have swum, the warm waters of Australia, the marine life packed waters of the Maldives, swimming in Oman with Dolpins and stingray! And closer to home swimming the length of Windermere when the lake was like a millpond with the sun on my back.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming the length of lake Windermere. On the morning of the swim there was a mist on the lake and we couldn't see very far ahead, as I swam up the Eastern side of the lake I could see the sun creeping over the hilltop and burn off the mist. Once the mist cleared we had the most incredible conditions on Windermere, the water was like glass, so smooth and beautiful.
Top swimming tip
Relax! Stiff bodies don't swim well especially if you are swimming long distance in open water. Relax the neck and shoulders, relax the legs, gentle kicks from the hip and enjoy!
Interesting fact
I'm swimming the Channel this year.
Andrea Harvey
Swim history before SwimTrek
I was lucky enough to grow up in Cornwall on the beach. I learned to swim and joined my local surf life saving club as soon as physically possible. When I went to university in Dublin I joined the UCD Swim team to focus on pool swimming and fitness. Since then I’ve entered Biathlons and SwimRun and enjoyed my own pool training alongside sea swimming at every opportunity.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming into a sun fish, a very strange experience.
Top swimming tip
Optimizing the glide as much as possible when doing under-water swim testing.
Interesting fact
Decaffeinated coffee isn’t ‘no-caff’, it’s just ‘less caff’.
Andrew Ragless
Swim history before SwimTrek:
I started squad swimming at age eight and pool competitions not long after. One of the happiest memories of my childhood was traveling by bus with my swimming club team mates around the South Australian Riverland (famous for its oranges) to attend country swimming carnivals; sleeping on the floors of school gymnasiums, indulging in lamingtons and baking in the hot dry sun. We’d compete in each town’s memorial olympic pool and cool off with dips in Australia’s longest river, the mighty Murray. I went on to compete in breaststroke at state and national level and achieved an Australian age top ten ranking in 200m breaststroke. I returned to masters swimming in my mid twenties including the 2008 FINA World Masters in Perth and took up competitive open water swimming for the first time… I’ve never looked back.
Most memorable swim moment:
Swimming the first leg of the 100km Katherine Ultra Challenge in the remote Northern Territory in spectacular (but croc infested) Nitmiluk Gorge. The swim started pre-dawn and millions of bats were screeching as we descended the ancient sandstone cliffs to catch a ferry to the start line upstream. It felt like a tense scene from Jurassic Park as we all put our faith in the skills of park rangers and their salt water crocodile traps. As the dawn broke and the spectacular cliffs glowed in hues of gold and red, all danger was forgotten.
Top swimming tip:
Slow down, or you’ll miss it.
Interesting fact:
My great grandpa discovered a dinosaur; the largest known marsupial to have ever lived.
Ali Philips
Swim history before SwimTrek
I was so lucky to grow up in Norfolk, by the sea and holiday in The Lake District. Being in or on water has always been part of my life and any excuse to get out and find new places to explore is a passion. I've worked jobs in hospitality, retail and as an outdoor instructor - all of which helped me realise that if I'm not around water then I'm not a happy person. The best place for me to be is in the water. I now live in The Lake District, swim most days and enjoy a distance goal as much as discovering hidden waterfalls for a quick dip. Even on the days when the wind it’s blowing and it's wet from every direction, there's always time to challenge yourself and enjoy the outdoors!
Most memorable swim moment
Taking my family to my favourite 'magical glen' spot in The Lake District. The weather was perfect and this beautiful emerald green pool was perfect to swim up and down and clear to the bottom. Swimming together in the dappled sunlight watching the fish, lizards and birds. Then we were relaxing afterwards and saw Kate Winslet (dry, warm and not holding a door to save her life!)
Top swimming tip
Find a friend to swim or paddle alongside you. Not only is it more fun, you're safer in the water and have someone to carry your snacks!
Interesting fact
I have a degree in Dance and Choreography. Although the moves I bust out now are more along the lines of the moonwalk, running man and the worst attempt at The Worm you'll ever see!
Jane Hansom
Swim history before SwimTrek
At school, I competed at national level in swimming but did little sport from leaving Aberdeen University until the age of 40, when I decided to run the 2009 London Marathon. This proved to be a life changing experience on both a professional and personal level and I subsequently completed 5 marathons (finishing 3rd master in the 2012 New York Marathon with a PB of 2hrs 58mins) took up triathlon and started my own sports marketing agency promoting swim, bike and run brands. I started to swim regularly again with the Camden and Swiss Cottage Masters team and have since represented the Great Britain Age Group team in both Sprint and Olympic distance at World Triathlon Championship events as well as countless Challenge Family and Ironman events over the past 10 years - winning my age category in every race I entered including Ironman Switzerland, South Africa, Dublin, Italy, Mallorca, Samorin, Challenge Roth (twice) and the big one – The Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii - in 2016, as well as being runner up in 2015 and 2017. Although I feel that I have found my niche in the Ironman distance of 3.8 swim, 180km bike and 42k run, I have a particular love of swimming (my 1st love and favourite discipline) and swim 3-5k daily in either my pool or the ocean on the Caribbean Island of Nevis where I now live. Most days I spot turtles, stingrays, and spotted eagle rays. I have completed the Nevis to St Kitts Cross Channel swim for the last 11 years, winning my age category most years.
Most memorable swim moment
I recently spent a week in the Maldives on a sailing yacht. One morning we woke after mooring for the night in Dolphin Lagoon and I had my customary pre breakfast swim. Only that morning it was different. I found myself swimming in the middle of a pod of a hundred dolphins or more. They were everywhere. In front of me, behind me, on either side of me and below me – 10 rows deep. Many had babies riding on their mum’s tummies. The best thing was I was swimming fast enough to keep up with them and keep my “position” within the pod. It was like we were moving as one “dolphin peleton”. It was simply incredible. The “clicking” noise was so insanely loud it seemed like the whole pod were chattering to each other and having a conversation. Perhaps it was about me - the “human" in the red swimsuit who had gate-crashed their party!” Either way, I felt so privileged to be invited along for the ride. My friend on a paddle board alongside me managed to record it all on video.
Top swimming tip
Visibility in the water is important and will increase the enjoyment of any swim. Better visibility will enable you to sight better, swim in a straight line, and help you spot interesting sea-life in the ocean. So, look after your goggles. Always rinse them after swimming in fresh water and keep them in a case to extend their life and ensure they stay scratch and fog free for as long as possible.
Interesting fact
I am lucky enough to have just built a beautiful 25m pool in my back garden on the Caribbean Island of Nevis. My dog, Bailey loves to swim laps with me and often sneaks up there herself to fit in secret swim sessions! She is a great swimmer.
Andrew Tester
Swim history before SwimTrek
I've always been attracted to the water since I was a baby. Living in the seaside town of Worthing located with the English Channel to the South and South downs national park to the north, the open water was always calling. It's difficult to keep me out of any body of water. From a very early age I swam for Worthing Swimming club progressing to play water polo in my teenage years. I had about ten years off of swimming and in my late 20's took up running. To compliment my running I would swim to stretch out and loosen up. I then put the discipline of running, swimming together and included a bike, dipping my toe into Triathlon. This is where my love for open water swimming and my OWS journey began. I have competed in many open water swims at regional and national age group level, winning the river Adur, & Arun races, Tribals end of season lake 10k, Dock to Dock 10k , Swim the lake, Paddle Round the Pier 1.5km and finishing 3rd in 2021 Brighton Triple crown. I have also swum the Thames marathon 15km, Dart 10k 3 times and swum back from the Rampion windfarm 15km off the Sussex coast as well as competing in Aquathlon at national level. I am a qualified swim teacher, Swim England coach, level 2 Open water swim coach and SwimTrek coach at Sea Lanes endless pool in Brighton. In any spare time I love skateboarding, paddle boarding, windsurfing, running and mountain biking
Most memorable swim moment
Lifeguarding Aquatics at London 2012 Olympics
Top swimming tip
Swim drills slow and focus on excellent technique to imbed the movement into muscle memory. To often our faces are in the water as we swim in pools and different locations. Take time to talk to your fellow swimmers and take time to look around at your surroundings.
Interesting fact
I have competed and was in the semi final at Red bull Neptune steps, one of two only uphill swim races in the world
Kelsey Van Dyke
Swim history before SwimTrek
I was a competitive synchronized swimmer for 10+ years. I also coached the sport for 8 years. While studying abroad in Belgium for a semester I started playing water polo and still play to this day (recreationally now). In 2017, a friend introduced me to open water swimming. I’ve competed in a few open water swim races and was a part of two relay teams that swam across two lakes in my home province of Saskatchewan, while raising money for a local charitable organization. I recently traded fresh water for salt water and finally began a lifelong dream of learning to surf.
Most memorable swim moment
During the relay swim of Diefenbaker Lake, I had a shift in the middle of the night. Everything was dark except for a few lights on the boat, the water was still and it was completely silent. As I was swimming, the northern lights came out and danced in the sky, keeping me company for most of the hour. It was an unforgettable experience.
Top swimming tip
Ear plugs were a game changer for me when I started swimming in open water. And a hot beverage ready post-swim!
Interesting fact
I love languages. I speak French fluently and am currently learning Spanish (I've got a 241 day streak going on Duolingo).
Eabha Cox
Swim history before SwimTrek
From a young age all I wanted to do was be in or on water. From wakeboarding to windsurfing, cliff jumping, SUPing, kayaking and scuba diving, I've given it all a go. For me it always comes back to the swim. I started swimming competitively at the age of 11 with my local swim team and fell in love with the intense training and competitions. I made Regional and National squads and won many middle distance events. At 15 I took to the sea competitively as a surf lifesaver, winning region and national titles. From there the coastal races caught my eye and I’ve participated in open water races and triathlons ever since! Fortunately, my passion opened up many opportunities, enabling me to spend my summers as a lifeguard and water sport instructor, work as a swim teacher through university, and be Waterfront director at a holiday resort in Croatia (serious views!!)
Most memorable swim moment
Catching the most perfect wave in a national surf swim that brought me the whole way to the shore and got me on the podium.
Top swimming tip
Just go for it - Swim when you can and wherever you can. Even if it’s freezing it’ll be lovely once you get down! You never regret a dip.
Interesting fact
When I was 13 me and my family road tripped Southern Africa in a car we called “Noah’s arc”.
Carlos Lopez
Swim history before SwimTrek
I've been swimming since I started elementary school, and since High School I've tried to keep my swimming regular. With a profession as a Field Service Engineer, It's been difficult to keep up with my training due to extensive travel, but it has allowed me to swim in lots of beautiful seas. Since 2005 most of my holidays have been divided between diving and swimming mostly in tropical waters, while in Barcelona, I swim open waters from april to november. Rest of the year pool does the trick.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming in random Raja Ampat islands after diving. Swimming at the edge of busy walls with lots of fish and coral.
Top swimming tip
If you can't keep with your ocean swims, play with your technique in the pool.
Interesting fact
Don't enjoy cold weather unless I'm skiing.
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