A Ludgershall-based Army officer is set for the trip of a lifetime as she prepares for an international swimming competition in San Francisco.

Twenty-nine-year-old, Captain Katie Hislop, serves as Adjutant at 26 Engineer Regiment and is part of the British Armed Forces swimming team that is set to take on international teams in the World Masters event at the beginning of August.

Picture of Capt Katie Hislop taken by Army photographer Gaz Tyson

And just to get themselves prepared, Katie and other Army members of the team will take part in the National Swimming Championships in June.

Katie is no stranger to international sports. She has competed as a tri-athlete in New Zealand and Madeira and last year took part in novice events at the Army Snowboarding championships going on to win a couple of them.

But foreign travel as a swimmer is unusual and presents a new set of problems as she seeks sponsorship.

“Fundraising is an issue,” she said. “The American trip is costing about £1,500 each and we have to find that money ourselves. The Army Sports Lottery fund has given us £400 each and regiments have given varying amounts of money. And we have been sponsored by Maru, the sportswear company who are providing kit but we are seeking more sponsors.

 “I represent the Army in the inter-service competitions, and from there a Combined Services team is chosen to compete against the Police and Civil Service. Now the Combined Services team is going to California as the British Armed Forces team and this trip to San Francisco is my first opportunity to go abroad in an international swimming event.”

Katie’s is set to compete in several races in the USA including the 50 and 100 meters freestyle, 50, 100 and 200 meters breaststroke  and four relays.

A veteran of operations in Iraq, Kosovo and Northern Ireland, Katie been swimming since childhood. She represented her school and the county and although she joined the Army seven years ago, she has competed for the Service swimming team before that as a member of Exeter University Officer Training Corps.

She is optimistic about their chances. “We have a strong team especially on the Army girls’ side,” she said.