Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
Stephen Pratt
Swim History
Swimming has been one of the most rewarding pursuits in my life, allowing me to forge friendships around the world, coach swimmers to personal bests, watch my daughters compete in collegiate swimming and water polo, and explore the path less travelled via open water adventures. Growing up in San Diego, CA, I spent years as a beach lifeguard and competed in swimming and water polo, continuing water polo at the collegiate and masters levels. I’ve enjoyed many open water swims both as a solo swimmer and as a teammate. Some of my favourites are The Trans Tahoe Relay, Fort Point, Golden Gate, Roundtrip Alcatraz and The Maui Channel Swim. In addition, I find enormous gratification from coaching — both as a long-time Masters swim coach and for several years as a high school water polo coach.
Most Memorable Swim Moment
It's a tie between swimming under the Golden Gate Bridge alongside three gray whales and competing one of my years in The Trans Tahoe Relay as a family team.
Swimming Tip
Swim relaxed. Place your hand and then rotate your hips for full extension.
Interesting Fact
I’m proud to be a former United States Marine Corps infantry officer AND my taco recipe nearly became world famous when I was interviewed on a major NY radio talk show.
Hannah Lowther
Swim history before SwimTrek
As a child, I dreamt of being an Olympic swimmer as I trained and competed regularly from a young age. Team sport (lacrosse) took over at secondary school before I returned to the pool at Durham University with the water polo team. I discovered open water swimming when I signed up for a triathlon in 2015 and got accustomed to wearing a wetsuit. This had to change when I was invited into an English Channel relay team in 2018 where acclimatising to the cold without a wetsuit was key. I was a cold water novice then but the pandemic lockdown caused me to discover local outdoor rivers, tarns and waterfalls and since June 2020 I’ve been a year round swimmer. Professionally, I have taught and coached children, and personally I swim with a Thames open water swimming club. I love to discover bodies of water wherever I travel, both close to home and around the globe. Swimming outdoors is a big part of my lifestyle now, enjoying winter waterfall dips and summer long distance point to point adventures!
Most memorable swim moment
Jumping into the English Channel in the dark for my first leg of my Channel relay swim.
Top swimming tip
Always keep your swimming kit close by as you never know when a swim opportunity might arise!
Interesting fact
Having been a teacher and worked in education for 10 years, I quit my job in June 2023 to take a year of ‘Adventure Leave’. Since then, I’ve enjoyed exploring South America, Antarctica and Asia. Getting a role as a Guide at SwimTrek was a goal for this year so that I can experiment pursuing a career in swimming and travel, my two main interests!
Christine Murray
Swim history before SwimTrek
I grew up as a competitive pool swimmer in Australia, and after my fear of seaweed was conquered, I began to really love open water swimming. I now regularly participate in open water events, such as the Rottnest Channel Swim.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming past five turtles during the Keppel Island Swim, all at different points of the swim.
Top swimming tip
Always wear sunscreen and anti-chafe – don’t learn the hard way!
Interesting fact
I tore the meniscus in my right knee while doing a tumble turn (that’s hard to do!)
Chess Roffe Ridgard
Swim history before SwimTrek
As a teenager I swam competitively in pools but as an adult the competitive edge has subsided with every splash in outdoor big blue spaces! I now swim to see how far I can go and how much I can learn. My happy place is in the water, telling stories and creating memories with like-minded water worshipers. I am lucky enough to have experienced many wild swim locations and various swim events. My favourites to date are the Vidostern Simmet in Sweden (21k) and Lake Geneva (70k relay). You will also regularly find me through the winter months slipping in to chilly waters and letting out a few naughty swear words in the process. I previously worked for the National Open Water Coaching Association (NOWCA) as their Development Officer. Whilst there I founded their winter Sub10 Club initiative, created their Cold Water Induction videos and also developed the Introduction to Front Crawl courses which are taught at their Love Open Water venues. I continue to coach at Middle Dock in Canary Wharf which is a real hidden gem – it has by far the clearest and cleanest open water in London and is teeming with fish!
Most memorable swim moment
I was part of a 70k Lake Geneva relay team last summer. We were 28hrs into what had been a clear glassy swim and suddenly the clouds rolled in and the white horses started charging. I stepped up to the side of boat and before I knew it, the rail had dropped away and I was wrestling the waves. For an hour I punched through watery walls with our little sailboat Chupito racing alongside. I’ve never known swimming like it - having to hold your nerve, keeping your core super strong but flexible to the roll and timing each stroke to fall at the same time as the water. It’s by far the most challenging swim I’ve ever encountered but also the most rewarding. I will never forget the thrill of ‘beating’ the waves as we pulled into the bay and the water smoothed out. Me, Chupito, our swim team and the incredible crew that kept us safe throughout.
Top swimming tip
One at a time, flick each hand out in front of you like you’re trying to get a pesky little piece of seaweed off your hand. How your fingers fall is the position they should be in whilst you’re swimming - not held tight together but fingers spread slightly open. If you turn your hand over and study how it looks compared to when you close your fingers, you should see how much bigger your palm is when you release those fingers into the spread position. Practice keeping those fingers gently open with a firm controlled cupped palm for a better hand-paddle-catch position in the water.
Interesting fact about you
If you have an Amazon Alexa in your house you have likely already head me… or at least heard a certain part of me. I am, the farts of Alexa. That’s right, if you ask Alexa to fart you will be rewarded with one of 36 different bum toots - some fresh from my behind and others with added effects to make them sound cartoony. You’re welcome!
Cora Deane
Swim history before SwimTrek
I have been swimming for as long as I can remember, thanks to my Dad bringing me to teach me to swim soon after I even learned to walk! I began swimming at a competitive level when I was 8 years old in my local swimming club, and also surf- lifesaving during the summer seasons. I have also beach lifeguarded for 4 summer seasons on beaches along the coast of Clare on the west of Ireland. Swimming plays such a massive role in my life and I will always have a love for it!
Most memorable swim moment
When I was a little nipper (about 9 years old) in surf lifesaving I was taking part in a race. The waves were quite rough that day, a wave came and knocked a small jellyfish into my mouth and I swallowed it! Luckily enough it was a moon jelly so it didn't sting my insides. Safe to say they do not taste great.
Top swimming tip
Don't attack the water, glide through it.
Interesting fact
Studying marine science at university
Mark Tobin
Swim History Before SwimTrek
I've been swimming all my life, but really gravitated towards open water swimming when I started surf lifesaving in 2017. During the lockdowns, open water swimming became my main sport. I swam the Galway prom or in my local lake almost every day. In winter I swim with my university fitness squad for fun, but I make it a habit to get a dip in the sea as often as possible. This year I'm hoping to swim Galway Bay. I've competed in surf lifesaving every year since I started. Although I love the swim and board races, I am much better at beach sprinting, and I've won a small number of national medals. I almost love coaching as much as swimming. I've coached nippers in surf lifesaving for 3 years and have been an assistant coach for the senior Galway squad for 2 years. I have been a volunteer lifesaving instructor for 5 years, and have taught all class levels from beginners up to beachguards and poolguards. I take great pride in being able to spread my enthusiasm for the sport to others. I worked as a beach lifeguard in Galway for 4 years. A swim after work was always a great way to relax.
Most memorable swim moment
Spotting a wild starfish while racing some friends to a tidal island at Glassilaun beach in Connemara is probably my favourite swimming moment. The water is perfectly clear and the backdrop of the mountains makes it my favourite beach.
Top swimming tip
Good sighting can save you a huge amount of time and energy when you're open water swimming. I try to just bring my eyes out of the water, so your hips can stay high in the water and you waste less energy. Picking a distinct landmark and a good pair of goggles also makes it much easier. I always end up roughly where I want to go!
Interesting fact about me
I play drums in a band. We tried to enter the Eurovision Song Contest but we didn't get in.
Ewan Nolke
Swim History
Swam for my local club from the age of 7 and competed from the age of 12 at both the Irish longcourse and Short course Divison 1 championships every year. I have competed at the Irish varisties in 2022/2023 where I won the 50 free and back and was placed on the Irish Varsity team. Throughout the summer months I did a lifeguard sport called surflifesaving where each year I meddled and was selected from 2018-2020 on the Irish Senior team. I have competed in a number of open water races from 600-1000m and also hold a record in the beat the ferryman swim in Waterford.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming for the Irish varsity team in the Celtic games which was a competition where the top Irish and United kingdom university swimmers competed against each other. I competed in the 50m free and backcrawl and made the final in the 50 free which was a massive achievement in such a talented field.
Top swimming tip
When open water swimming being able to pop your head up mid stroke and check where the marker is can save you mid race a lot of time and prevent you missing a marker or swimming further then you are required. During a race this can change your race and help you beat a competitor without even having to swim faster. It is a simple mistake and once perfected it will divide you from the rest of the competitors’.
Interesting Fact
I moved to San Diego last summer and was a kayak tour guide and surf instructor in La Jolla. Surfing with Dolphins was definitely my favourite moment of my life.
John Mccall
Swim history before SwimTrek
I competed at a national level until I was 20 years old with my best results being 2nd in 200m butterfly and 3rd in 100m butterfly in the Irish Open (2007) with times of 59 secs and 2.05 respectively. After competitive swimming I played waterpolo, competed in surflifesaving, open water swimming and surfed. I still swim for fitness in the pool (to help my surfing) as I surf all year round and when I can in the summer months I do open water swims in the sea (I bought my first swimming wetsuit last year which is a dream come true!).
Most memorable swim moment
Its hard to pick, I have been lucky to have surfed with dusty (the friendly dolphin in Co. Clare) and playful seals but one summer when I was beach lifeguarding in Co. Kerry, Ireland, as I was taking down the flags at the end of the day a pod of pilot whales swam into the bay. I put on my wetsuit and grabbed my googles and swam out towards them. Unfortunately the Bull whale in the pod was sick and had come into the shallows to beach himself, but I approached the pod and gave them plenty of space as I swam up back and forth across the bay with them. I was at a distance where I could only see their fins on the top of the water but as time passed they came closer and I could see the full body of the whales below the water. The cubs stayed close to their mothers but swam playfully breaking the surface of the water from time to time letting off the distinct release of air from their blowholes. I felt blessed that they allowed me to observe them in such a manner.
Top swimming tip
Efficiency! Be like the whales or dolphins when you swim, be streamline. Power doesn't equal speed. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Eradicating unnecessary movements or movements that go against the flow of water will increase efficiency, reduce energy consumption and ultimately allow you to swim faster for longer.
Interesting fact about you
Pioneered river surfing in Limerick city, Ireland. We have a hydro dam upriver from the city and they release water at certain times and at a certain tides there is a standing wave!!
Steve Whitmore
Swim history before SwimTrek
At the age of 10 I completed my life saving badges bronze/silver/gold half drowning my brother in the process and joined my local swim club wellington in Shropshire. I soon became one of the best butterfly’s in the county and midlands due to no one else being daft enough to swim the event. After joining the Army I was able to use my Swim experience to get out of most field manoeuvres much to the annoyance of my fellow soldiers and represent the Royal Engineers in freestyle, water polo, progressing to representing the British Army in triathlons, winning the first British Army of the Rhine triathlon in Osnabruck in what was then known as West Germany. Fortunately only 15 people turned up.
This spurred me on to race in more Triathlons which I loved as at that time they were new and exciting representing GB along the way to marathons, coast to coast endurance events via a spell in the Circus as a trapeze artist. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time and really enjoyed the versatility of training/competing in different environments, with different people. Trying out lots of new sports at a fairly high level to performing Trapeze in front of 4,000 people at Glastonbury’s circus big top opening night. But despite all these great highs and lows I was always drawn back to swimming and particularly swimming in the sea.
At 56 I decided now was the time to achieve one of my own goals swimming the English Channel as part of a 5 person relay team, in 14hours. This has since led me to coach and manage 6 successful England to France and Jersey to France relay teams for Brockwell swimmers. It’s been quite an adventure.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming in the surf off Towan beach Newquay, on a cold winter day with the sun barely visible, enjoying the sea rolling around me!
Top swimming tip
Thoroughly warm up, increase body temperature before entering cold water.
Interesting fact
I was a trapeze artist in the circus.
Claire Parsons
Swim history before SwimTrek?
The water has always been my happy place. I swam competitively as a child, but this dropped off in my teenage years. After running the Edinburgh marathon in my 20s I was injured and the physio recommended I swim. I went to Brockwell lido and vividly remember thinking why did I ever stop doing this and I haven’t looked back since. Around that time longer distance events were opening up and I was lucky to swim the Great North Swim, the Dart 10k and the Henley marathon.
In 2016 we moved to Singapore and there were even more opportunities to swim. I was also able to turn my passion into a career as I became a swim coach. I love being able to share my love of the water and helping others to enjoy it more in whatever form that takes for them. I am an advanced aquaphobia coach and have helped many nervous swimmers overcome their fears and achieve their goals. Now that I am back home in the UK and with SwimTrek, I am excited for the opportunities that the sea will give me going forward, once I get used to the cold again that is.
Most memorable swim moment?
When I swam to Rottnest Island in Perth I was escorted to the finish line by an enormous ray, it was magical. Being Australia I then popped up into a fantastic party atmosphere. One of the best days of my life.
Top swimming tip?
Don’t get hung up on what other people look like in the water. We all have different bodies, strengths and goals. You’ll find the best way for you to move in and enjoy the water. Think about how your movements impact your position in the water. If you focus on moving the water backwards, you will go forwards.
Interesting fact?
I was the first women to swim the 16km around Perhentian Besar (Big Perhentian) off the coast of Malaysia. I also have webbed toes, but having never swam without them being joined I don’t know if it’s an advantage or not, everyone asks me!
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