Health and safety even targets New Year's dook

Published on Monday 31 August 2009 22:07

SWIMMERS taking part in Scotland's oldest New Year's Day dip are being told to fill in an assessment form in advance before taking part in the event this year to comply with health and safety rules, it has been revealed.

Hardy souls have been plunging into the sea at Broughty Ferry every 1 January since 1884 – a time when the Tayside seaside town was known as "the Brighton of the North".

But this year, for the first time, they have been told they will have to register and fill in a form before taking part in the New Year's Day Dook, which attracts up to 140 participants and more than 2,000 spectators every year and raises huge amounts of money for charity.

Joyce McIntosh, president of the organisers, Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association – known as "the Phibbies" – said the change had been introduced after an incident last year in which a participant had to be hospitalised with hypothermia.

Mrs McIntosh said the association had decided that everyone intending to take part must register in advance rather than just turn up on the day and complete their forms on the beach.

She said: "When the club started in 1884, it was traditional for members to have a dip in the water every day except Sundays.

"But the New Year's Day dip has grown over the past 30 years or so and now we have the city's lord provost and sometimes MSPs and MPs taking part and lots of people use it to raise money for charity

"In the interest of health and safety, we now need to know more about participants in case they have an accident."

Local residents questioned the change. A shop worker, who asked not to be named, said: "The Dook has been the tradition in Broughty Ferry for as long as anyone can remember.

"People always just turn up and go for it. This is just health and safety gone mad. You can't breathe these days without health and safety on your back."

Tracey Cooper, manager of the Fishermen's Tavern in Broughty Ferry, which doles out free broth to spectators and participants, said: "Our opening hours on New Years Day are based around the Dook. People come in and have a few drinks before going to watch, and everyone comes back afterwards for a couple.

"It's a very big thing in Broughty Ferry and always has been. People come from all over to watch. It would be a shame if it started getting too PC. But I can understand why they have to do it in this day and age, with people trying to sue.

"But most people are pretty organised when it comes to this – most don't just show up."

Ms Cooper added: "In 1884 there was no such thing as health and safety, but it's part of the times we live in and I'd rather have it than lose the Dook."

The Phibbies took to the streets of Dundee at the weekend, handing out registration forms to ensure people wanting to take part are aware of the change and no-one will be left disappointed on New Year's Day.

The registration form for the 2010 dook, on the sands next to Broughty Castle, can be found at www.yeaaba.btik.com.