Almost 100 swimmers took the plunge and swam the 5.5km channel between Gozo and Malta today as part of the annual Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club race.

And if that wasn't challenging enough, a further 14 swimmers added a return leg, racing from Malta to Gozo and back in a gruelling 11km route. 

Both racing categories saw a "substantial" increase in participation, the sports club said. 

The Gozo - Malta race began at 8.15am at Ras il-Qala, with the first swimmers reaching the Ramla Bay resort in Malta at around 9.30am. 

Swimmers undertaking the 11km route set out earlier, leaving Marfa at 6.30am.

To qualify for the race, athletes had to have undertaken three of the 2km races that form part of the Birkirkara St Joseph 2016 Open Water Swimming Series, as well as having taken part in the four-kilometre event registered a time equal to or less than 1 hour 20 minutes. 

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