As the leaves turn from green, to gold, orange and red, most people start to think of all things wintry – the dark evenings and the cooling of the weather. The night upon which the clocks go back sits at the crux of that point when autumn disappears and winter emerges. With the exception of those years in which I was working nights, for the first 48 years of my life, the night when the clocks go back is celebrated with a snuggle underneath the duvet and the rejunivation that comes with an extra hour of slumber.

This year, a challenge arose that flew in the face of traditional observances. The rationale was simple – a 200m open water swim relay in a team of four. The team to win would be the team that completed the most number of laps in the time allowed. The twist: the race would start at 1am with the laps to be completed clockwise and on the hour that the clocks turned back, the laps would be completed in a counter-clockwise direction.

Consequently after viewing the Rugby World Cup final, our team met to register at the venue in Lincoln. It was decided that the order of swim would be settled by the order in which we arrived for registration, consequently I was selected to swim third. We made a decision not to swim in wetsuits (one of only two teams to do so) and thus we arrived at the venue laden with dryrobes, sleeping bags and blankets, towels, hot water flasks and all such accoutrements to keep us warm during the challenge. Having completed long swims in the past, the duration of this swim was mild by comparison, but never before had I to emerge from the water, rest and re-enter. With an air temperature of 12 and a water temperature of 10 these were fears that should not be underestimated.

Mindful that a two-hour swim can constitute a marathon, and having seen the natural athleticism of the other teams, I sought to find my own rhythm and ensure I swam my own race. I was conscious that a wobbly course can add minutes onto the 200m time and concentration had to be devoted to looking up and focussing on the next buoy. During the briefing, we had been warned about the slippery matting at the exit point and warned to swim as close to the exit – it was at this point we were swept up into the hulking arms of Jim, who gave just enough time for the feet to touch solid earth before being sending me in a sling shot up the ramp to high five Jane, who was leg four. A call to the lap counter with the name of our team (Two bras and no knickers) never failed to elicit a smile, even on the 23^rd repetition before the attempts to keep warm and the repeat 200m.

Time ticked on – we reached the halfway point, along with with the confusion created by those swimmers finishing their clockwise laps and those just starting the counter-clockwise laps. The reverse loop added an extra challenge – the route into the finish was lit by a dazzling white light so powerful as to blind and disorientate the most experienced of swimmers. The rules of the competition had stated that any lap started at 2am would counted in the final total, consequently the sprint was on for me to finish my lap, race up to Jane and allow her to enter the water with seven seconds to spare.

Event over, team photographs taken and layers of clothing adorned, hot chocolates consumed and self-congratulations earned at having completed the challenge of a relay swim in the middle of the night complete with getting in and out the water. We earned the accolade of being joint last with 23 laps completed – the fellow holders of the wooden spoon spot being the other team to swim In skins.