Open Water

 

Open WaterUp for a challenge?  Want to try something new? …….

For further information contact the Open water secretary peterandclairthorn@warwickshireswimming.org.uk

Open water swimming was officially recognised by FINA, the world governing body of swimming in 1986, but you can go back to the 1896 Olympic Games and before to realise that Open Water swimming was the forerunner of the indoor competitive swimming that we know today.

The ASA is the National Governing body for swimming in this country and has run an open water national championship for 100 years.   District Open Water Championships for juniors (from 12 years), seniors (from 18 years) and masters (from 25 years) are a more recent development.

Open Water

Open water races can take place in any large outdoor body of water; seas, lakes, rivers, canals and reservoirs.  The distance of each event varies.  The ASA is affiliated to FINA, the world governing body.

Anyone undertaking open water swimming must be a competent swimmer, but the experience is a whole new world!  Whilst open water demands different skills to those of pool swimming, the differences are no greater than between freestyle and backstroke.

Open Water

How do I get involved in open water?

  • Keep doing the training in the pool with your local club
  • Enter long distance swimming events in the pool
  • Enter District Open water races
  • Make sure your first open water event is over a shorter distance

Your performances will improve as your open water skills develop, but the key to success is the speed you have developed in the pool.

Warwickshire ASA is keen to develop open water swimming in the county.  For more information please contact: Claire Thorn;

Come on give it a go ….. You will not regret it!

Open Water

 

Warwickshire Swimmers Plunge for the 1st time into Open Water

A new discipline in Warwickshire ASA is open water swimming.  Their first championships took place on 5th July at Bosworth Water Park within the Midlands Championships.  Events on offer were 5k, 3k and 1.5k; a dozen Warwickshire swimmers entered the County Championships.

The following became Warwickshire County Champions:

In the 3k – Thomas STACEY, Coventry also won the Midland title by a massive 1 minute; Paul BATES (40-49), Perry Beeches was also 3rd in the Midlands championships.

Robin HUGHES, Stratford in the 15 years and Kathryn LYTHGO, Leamington in the 16 years age category.

First OW champs 1

In the 1.5k –Nadia GROVES, Coventry in the 13 years, Rachel LLOYD (40-49) Rugby and Jose Orta GONBALEZ (35-39), Coventry.  LLOYD and GONBALEZ also won the Midlands titles.

First OW champs 2

There are still several months of the open water season remaining.  Why not start your preparations for the 2016 Championships … you too could become a county champion!

British Open Water Championships sucess

Tom Stacey National Medal 2015 Tom Stacey Open Water Nationals 2015

The British open water championships took place earlier this month at the Rother Valley.

Coventry’s Tom Stacey put in an excellent performance to take the silver medal in the boys 16 years 3k event in a time of 36.09, flying the flag for Warwickshire.

For further information please contact Claire Thorn, ………