River Arun Swim
Sun 17 Sep 2023 Arundel, West Sussex, UK

River Arun Swim

A beautiful summer swimming challenge in a tidally-assisted river, making the distance easier than in a lake or pool, with a small group of others plus safety team and ideal for first-timers.

  • Sun 17 Sep 2023
The Black Rabbit, Arundel > The Squire & Horse, Pulborough

River Arun Swim

12:30

£25

Age 18 & over

  • 4 miles river swimming

Overview

Never tried open water swimming? Then the River Arun Swim is for you!

Soak up the English countryside in rural Sussex from a completely different perspective alongside a small group of like-minded people, all getting out of their comfort zone to achieve a personal challenge and support people with spinal injury.

Highlights

  • A unique charity swim in the picturesque River Arun
  • Experience the flow of a tidally-assisted swimming challenge
  • Achieve a new open water distance of 4 miles (6.5km)
  • Be part of the small group of 20-25 swimmers plus safety team
  • Ideal for first-timers, pairs and teams of friends or club members
  • Low entry cost and easy-to-smash fundraising target
  • Get sponsored or make a donation to Aspire, because every four hours someone in the UK is paralysed by a spinal cord injury

Event video

  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Swim hat provided
  • Teams
  • Wetsuit advised
  • Wheelchair users

Who is it for?

The group size is roughly 20-25 and professional swim guides will be close by to help and encourage you. This is not a mass participation event. You'll be able to go at your own pace, so is ideal for your first open water swimming adventure. You will have time and space to enjoy the river and its surroundings. 

Timetable

You will be sent a final itinerary for the swim a week ahead of your swim date, as the swim and timings are highly tide dependent, but here's a rough guide:

  • 12:30 | Breakfast and briefing

    You'll be welcomed by the team at the end point (The Squire and Horse) and enjoy a light complimentary breakfast. If you've signed up by yourself this is a great opportunity to get to know the other swimmers. You'll take a short drive to the start point, from one pub to another!

  • 14:00 | The swim begins

    At The Black Rabbit Pub you'll get into your wetsuit and set out on your challenge with the support and guidance of the team.

  • 15:30-16:00 | Swim complete!

    Your river journey is complete when you climb up the steps built into the left side of the river bank at Bury village. Congratulations - you've swum the River Arun! There is an optional celebratory lunch at a local pub to round off the day.

FAQs

  • I've never swum outside before, is it right for me?

    You don’t need to be a strong swimmer to take part in this event but should be comfortable swimming 2 miles in the pool.
    This is roughly 128 lengths of a 25 metre pool or 64 lengths of a 50 metre pool.
    The swim is just over 4 miles long and tidally-assisted, which sounds daunting if you’re used to a pool, but means that the distance will feel easier than it would in a lake or in the sea.
    You will be able to see the bank at all times, there will be ‘get out’ points along the river, plus fully supported boats to assist you should you need them. You will be part of a small group (up to 25 swimmers maximum) completing this event so help will constantly be available to you should you need it.

  • Can I swim any stroke?

    Yes you are welcome to swim any stroke but it would be best to swim front crawl as a preferred stroke rather than breaststroke. You can also wear fins if that suits you.

  • Do I have to do any training before the swim?

    Yes, you will need to prepare for this event. You should have practiced swimming in open water in the wetsuit you intend to swim in and you should have practiced swimming in water that is not clear (i.e you won’t be able to see the bottom).

  • Does the swim happen if the weather is bad?

    The swim will take place whether or not the weather is bad unless there has been excessive rainfall, which can cause the river to swell to dangerous levels. Lightning would also mean the swim would be canceled. The team will make all necessary steps to inform you prior to the swim in the unlikely event of a cancellation.

  • I don’t own a wet suit. Do I have to buy one?

    No, you can rent a wetsuit and you'll get advice on this when you sign up.

  • Bar
  • Cafe
  • Free parking
  • Rural
  • Toilets

Event HQ

The Squire & Horse
Bury Hill
Bury
Pulborough
West Sussex
RH20 1NS
UK

  • First aid
  • Marshals
  • Point to point
  • Single start

Route info for spectators

If your partner or friends would like to support the swimmers there are various vantage points along the way, the swim start, the bridge between South and North Stoke, Amberley Bridge and the swim finish. All provide excellent viewing spots for photographs and cheering on!

  • Pre-race meal

Included

  • Open water swimming guides
  • Boat safety cover
  • Swim cap
  • Memento when you raise the minimum requested fundraising amount 
  • Complimentary light pre-swim snack
  • Water and jelly babies during swim

Not Included

  • Travel to and from the swim start and finish
  • Wetsuits and fins (if required)
  • Celebratory lunch post-swim

  • Fundraising incentives
  • Fundraising materials
  • Fundraising required
  • Fundraising support

This is a unique and exclusive swimming challenge for Aspire. All swimmers will be supporting the charity.

Aspire

Supporting people with Spinal Cord Injury to help them live full, independent lives.

Every four hours someone in the UK is paralysed by a spinal cord injury. It can happen to anyone at any time and no one is prepared for how it will change their life. Aspire is a national charity that provides practical help, supporting spinal cord injured people from injury to independence.

How Aspire helps

  • Advice for those newly injured by a Spinal Cord Injury

    Advice and information for people newly injured by a Spinal Cord Injury.

  • Help with independent living

    Independent Living Advisors provide advice and guidance to patients in Spinal Injury Centres.

  • Assistive technology

    Aspire's Assistive Technology Programme enables everyone, regardless of the level of their spinal cord injury, to independently use a computer, tablet or phone.

  • Accessible housing

    Aspire's Housing Programme offers temporary accessible housing for people with Spinal Cord Injury around the UK.

  • Housing advice

    Aspire's Housing advice service can help if you have a spinal cord injury and have questions about adaptations, moving out of inaccessible accommodation and dealing with Local Authorities.

  • Welfare benefits advice

    Free advice service providing advice and support to people with Spinal Cord Injury.

How your sponsorship helps

  • £25 will buy special grip cups and glasses for use in an Aspire House by someone with limited hand dexterity. 
  • £50 will pay for adjustable furniture raisers in one of the houses so beds and chairs can be set top the correct level for someone with a spinal injury.
  • £150 will pay for an Independent Living Advisor to spend a day in a Spinal Injury Centre offering one-to–one advice and support to newly injured patients.
  • £280 will enable seven Patient Education Advisors to each spend four hours in hospital supporting rehabilitation and education so patients gain as many skills as possible to help them in the transition from hospital to home, and beyond.
  • £500 will provide a thermostatic temperature-controlled shower in an Aspire House to ensure that no one gets burnt, as spinal cord injured people are not able to feel how hot the water is against their skin.
  • £600 will pay for Aspire to fully support someone with Spinal Cord Injury through their Housing Advice or Welfare Benefits Advice services, up to and including representation at tribunals. 
  • £1,000 will pay for a rise-and-fall sink or hob in one of the houses, allowing a wheelchair user to access them.

  • Age 18 & over
  • 25 places
  • Enter online
  • Fundraising required

It was a really great experience. Challenges have helped me focus on things that I can do. You can actually see the nature. And then when I saw my friends at one of the checkpoints waving and spurring me on, I went faster. It has been quite inspiring for me to do it. I really believe in Aspire. Vanessa

I've always wanted to have a go at an open water swim but I'm not a very strong swimmer and I've never had the confidence to do it on my own. I've never swum in a river. I'm really glad I did it. Give it a go. If I can do it then anybody can do it! Anna

It's my first river swim. It's a challenge. It's the longest distance I've done but it's a lovely swim. Dan