OPEN water swimmers Colleen Blair and Bryan McLelland prepare to dive in to Loch Lomond as they launch a major conference on the growing sport.

The 2014 World Open Water Swimming Association Global Open Water Swimming Conference will be held at Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute on September 20 and 21.

Up to 500 delegates are expected at the event, ranging from coaches to open water swimming champions and race officials. Ms Blair, from Aberfeldy, was the first woman to swim from Orkney to mainland Scotland and is preparing to swim from Orkney to Shetland.

Picture: Martin Shields