ANYONE watching Mark Gillard power through stretches of open water like Lake Windermere might be surprised to learn that he used to be a poor swimmer.

Eight years ago, the Farnworth fireman was envious of other, stronger swimmers during fire service weekly swim training. “I used to do breaststroke and could only watch the stronger swimmers going so much faster than me doing crawl,” he recalls.

So Mark decided to teach himself crawl, and soon found that he was not only swimming faster but really enjoying the sessions.

So much so, in fact, that he became a regular at Horwich pool near his home.

A friend there suggested he might like open water swimming and invited him along to a session at Salford Quays. “I didn’t just like it though,” he laughs. “I loved it!”

And that was how the father of two began taking part in open water swimming sessions and competitions at places like Pennington Flash and in the Lake District.

The former Hayward School pupil, now 42, who admits he was “all right at sport at school but nothing special” has turned himself into a talented open water swimmer.

He’s had success particularly in 5k open water swimming competitions, although has also swum the length of Lake Windermere – all 10 and a half miles of it. Last year, he was a late replacement for a member of an eight-strong squad swimming the Channel.

He decided that his normal training wouldn’t prepare him enough for the sea’s chilly conditions “so I used to fill a bath with cold water and ice and sit in that for an hour,” he says.

“It paid off because when we did the swim, I felt OK. That swim was amazing, though – like being thrown into a washing machine!”

This year, he took part in the Great Lancashire Swimming series of competitions, and his third and two second placings in the three-strong series was enough to make him the overall winner.

“There is something special about swimming in open water,” he explains.

“You’re very free there but, as well as being physically fit, you have to be right mentally.

You’re spending a lot of time with your head in the water, so you’ve got to be determined.”

While Mark enjoys swimming in the more tranquil waters of Horwich, Farnworth and Smithills pools during training sessions each week, it is places like Pennington Flash that offer conditions nearer those in competition.

“In pools, you do tend to glide along,” he says, “but open water needs a much choppier stroke.

The water can be a bit rough with the swell, and it can get very cold.”

Mark usually competes in a special wetsuit – “there are different types for different activities” – and the experience is nothing like swimming in trunks.

“With a wetsuit, you are definitely more buoyant as well as being protected to some extent from the cold,” he states.

Mark also joined Bolton Triathlon Club and has been strongly supported by its members.

He also pays tribute to wife Linda “who puts up with me going off training and competing all the time.”

He couldn’t imagine his life now without swimming and hates to be away from it for any length of time.

He’s competing in a 5k race at Buttermere later this month – probably the last of the season, which runs from April to September.

He’ll be back training in local pools’ during the Winter, but he has his sights ultimately set on a rather larger stretch of water. “I think I’d like to do the Channel on my own now,” he states. “That would be a great challenge.”

z For information on Bolton Triathlon Club go to www.boltontri.com