A NORTH Yorkshire water park has launched its first ever Open Water Swim Challenge, for customers to channel their inner Olympian.

The event, which will take place on August 22, will be in one of the largest watersport lakes in North Yorkshire.

Consisting of a 2 kilometre races, the challenge will suite more experienced swimmers looking to compete for a trophy and those just looking to give it a go.

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The swim will begin at 10am and with only 50 places available people are encouraged to pre-register to be in shot of getting a place.

The amateur swim challenge will follow at 11am with just 100 spaces up for grabs.

People who are not quite up for the 2 kilometre amateur swim distance but still want to give it a go will be given the option on the day to complete a 1 kilometre loop.

Both races are set to be fully lifeguarded and the course will also consist of cryotherm markers and an archway to ensure safety is a priority.

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All participants who sign up for the Open Water Swim Challenge by August 14 will also receive a complimentary limited-edition t-shirt celebrating the event.

James Whitehead, operations manager at North Yorkshire Water Park, said: “Open water swimming is a fantastic way to get away from the stress of everyday life, reconnect with nature and exercise without being confined to a pool. The cold water increases your metabolism, boosts your immune system, and even improves your circulation.

“Swimming is also known to improve your mental health by producing dopamine and endorphins, but even better than that, the cold water accelerates the release of endorphins even further, making you feel great both during and after!

“We’ve been so inspired by the Olympics that we wanted to give the public the chance to test themselves in a safe environment with our Open Water Swim Challenge, something we hope to host every year. I would encourage people to register for the challenge as we only have a limited number of places available as we expect the races to sell out quickly.”

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