Twin brothers from Sunderland have gone head to head in the 2012 Great North Swim.
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After two days of cancellations due to strong winds, brothers Alexander and Graham Ross were unsure whether they would be able to compete.
But despite bad weather threatening to sabotage the entire weekend, the first swimmers of 2012 finally took to the plunge at 8.30am on Sunday June 24.
The twins – who were forced to run to Windermere because their ferry took longer than expected – took part in the third round of the day.
Sporting yellow swim hats to signify they were part of the yellow wave, the brothers began swimming at 9.30am.
A mile later, Graham Ross emerged from the water first, his twin brother just minutes behind him.
The yellow wave was introduced by Blue Peter’s Helen Skelton, who spent time chatting to swimmers before the race.
Other well-known faces included Olympic gold medalist Duncan Goodhew, who was there throughout the event to offer advice to swimmers.
A number of Olympic medalists who had intended to swim in a separate category on Saturday also decided to join participants in the second wave.
Friday’s cancelled two-mile races were re-scheduled for Sunday afternoon, but those whose races were cancelled on Saturday were unable to take part.
Five thousand people were expected to swim throughout the day – a quarter of the people who took part across the entire weekend in 2011.
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