MORE than 300 brave competitors took to the Forth & Clyde Canal for the ultimate test of physical and mental strength in Glasgow for the Red Bull Neptune Steps.
Marc Austin, who competed at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and trains at the Stirling Performance Centre, battled hard throughout the day to finish second in the adventure swim.
Mark Deans from Glasgow used his experience to win the title for the third year in a row.
Meanwhile, in the female race, Jennifer Davis from Dalgetty Bay fought off the win despite competition from thrill-seekers from across the globe.
Competitors from as far afield as Canada and Lebanon took on the world’s only uphill swimming race as thousands of spectator lined the course.
Athletes went head to head in heats throughout the day, before advancing to separate male, female and junior competitions.
The winners from each round moved onto the semi-final heat and eventually the final.
Each canal gate featured a different obstacle, which the swimmers had to climb over before diving into the next section of water, including cargo net, ropes, wood ladder, rope ladders and a climbing wall.
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