World Open Water Swimming Competition the Big Chill Swim
A group of Guernsey Swimming Club Adults and Masters travelled to Windermere to take part in the Big Chill Swim World Open Water Swimming competition and 1000m (British Championships 1km): Arriving on the Friday the swimmers went for an acclimatisation swim in the lake and also to complete qualifying swims for the endurance swims as these were unable to be swam in Guernsey due to the temperature of the sea at 9 degrees being too warm to qualify for the 450m and 1000m events.
Swimmers had travelled from all over the world to participate in the event, as part of the entry criteria each swimmer has to summarise their open water experience, so we had Channel Swimmers, North Sea swimmers, lake swimmers, all round sea swimmers with one Russian swimmer put down for his cold water experience I’m Russian and that fully qualifies me to take part.
The competition took part in lake Windermere with pontoons arrange into an outdoor pool area, unfortunately do to the recent storms damage had been caused to the pontoons turning at one end of the pool had to be on the rungs of the safety ladder. No Jumping in, diving or tumble turns were allowed with automatic disqualification for breaking the rules. The water temperature on the Saturday was 6.4 and on the Sunday 6.2 a little warmer than the previous year when it was below 5 degrees.
Race Distances consisted of :
30m breaststroke: Competitive head up breaststroke race,
60m freestyle: Competitive freestyle race. Races will be two widths of the marina and held in age group divisions.
4 x 30m relay: Mixed gender teams only, each swimmer completes one width of the marina. Any stroke acceptable, this is a great team challenge and popular with those wanting to raise funds or swimming in fancy dress.
120m freestyle: Competitive freestyle race. A great challenge for those looking to increase their distance, but who aren’t yet ready for the endurance 450m. Races will be 4 widths of the marina and held in age group divisions.
240m: Competitive freestyle race. The next challenge for those looking to increase their distance from the 120, but who aren’t yet ready for the endurance 450m. Races will be 8 widths of the marina and held in age group divisions.
450m endurance swim: For experienced cold water swimmers only. A huge endurance challenge! Only touch turning allowed for 15 widths of the marina.
The weekend concluded with the 1000m (British Championships 1km): For experienced cold water swimmers only. A huge endurance challenge! Only touch turning allowed for 32 widths of the marina.
The Weekend was a great success with 3 Gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals being won, however the highlight of the weekend was not just coming 3rd in the relay but beating the Jersey team who were swimming in the same heat. There was great comradely and support by all of the swimmers and partners during all of the swimming races standing in the cold wind and rain cheering on both Guernsey and Jersey swimmers.
Individual Results:
Roger Allsopp: 75-79: 60m freestyle 00:53.77 Gold,240m Freestyle 04:16.21 Gold
Stephen Naftel: 55-59: 30m Heat up breaststroke 31.37 Bronze,60m freestyle 00:54.50 6th 240m Freestyle 05:39.26 5th
Adrian Sarchet 40-45: 60m freestyle 39.94 silver, 1000m National Championship 18.43 Silver
Tim Pond 45-59: 240m Freestyle 04:17.48 4th, 450 Endurance Swim 08:32.75 4th
Christine O’Meara 65-69: 60m freestyle 00:58.82 Silver
Vanessa Marsh 55-59: 30m Heat up breaststroke 36.57 Gold, 60m freestyle 01:02.08 7th
240m Freestyle 04:54.19 4th
Trudy Casbolt 55-59: 60m freestyle 00:58.07 4th,450 Endurance Swim 09:21.41 7th
Wendy Andrews 55-59: 60m freestyle 01:00.20 6th,240m Freestyle 4:42.58 Silver
Naomi Wakeford 50-54: 450 Endurance Swim 9.55.02 4th,1000m National Championship 24.52 Bronze
Katie Norris 30-39: 30m Heat up breaststroke 31.84 8th, 240m freestyle 04:52.12 5th
Relay team: Trudy, Katie, Tim and Ady bronze medal
