Over 120 people turned up on Saturday, 20 April, for the 2024 British Naturism National Swimming Gala, and it was quite an evening. Around 90 swimmers battled it out through some 70 races. It was my partner Dave’s third gala and – let me get the kudos out of the way – he did very well.
“It was a fantastic evening with record numbers attending,” says BN Sports Director Ian Munt. A big shout-out to “the 21 volunteers who supported us during the evening and made the event run so well.”
This year marked the launch of a new activity: the Festival of Sport. The sports hall at the venue opened for badminton and pickleball. I’m a pickleballer myself, but this was the first time I’d tried it naked. It was such fun that I had to tell my regular (textile) p-ball group about it, to bemused smiles. Some of the swimmers wandered in between races as well, and everyone seemed to enjoy the games.
The Gala always attracts a nice mix of ages, from teens and even younger people up to competitors in their 80s – and a good number of women. These races are serious business: they lead to the creation of a Team BN that will compete at the 25-27 October international competition in Le Havre, France. There are spaces for 42 competitors.
But the evening is also just good fun, with lots of chatter and laughter and the lovely friendly environment Naturism encourages.
“Swimming is a great way to improve physical and mental health, so the gala is something we have always worked to advance,” says Mark Bass. “The widespread appeal of skinny dipping in particular was reflected in the large attendance, which has been growing year-on-year. So many people talk about how events like this help them feel at home in the Naturist community and improve their sense of wellbeing that being involved is really uplifting.”