Thanks to Tom Broadbent for contributing to this report.
Around 1900 enthusiastic swimmers took on the challenge of the Great Scottish Swim at sunny Loch Lomond today. Participants of all
abilities, from first timers to Olympic medallists, took on half mile, one mile or two mile swims at Scotland’s biggest open water event, held
for the first time at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
As the rest of the UK battled the rain, dry and calm conditions in West Dunbartonshire were perfect for amateurs and elites alike.
The women’s race was tough from the start, but saw Edinburgh based Keri-Anne Payne take an early lead and go on to win with a time of 18:19:26, the other eventual podium finishers were Rebecca Smith from the Isle of Skye, coming in second with a time of 18:21:37 and Camilla Hattersley from Glasgow who placed third in 18:24:70.
European Championship Gold medallist Hannah Miley and twice Commonwealth Games champion, Caitlin Mclatchey of Edinburgh placed 5th and 10th respectively. Both pool swimmers, they were racing in the open water competitively for the first time and used the event as an opportunity to begin their training ahead of Glasgow 2014.
Kerri-anne said, “It was brilliant today. The water was lovely; it’s such a nice course and a beautiful location. I was really pleased to win
today, it was great!”
The extremely competitive men’s race was decided when eventual winner Alex Studzinski of Germany aggressively overtook Chad Ho from South Africa, and won in a time of 16:46.99. Despite losing his goggles in the challenge, Ho was second in a time of 16:48:55 followed by Christian Reichert of Germany in 16:48:92. Double Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the pool, Robbie Renwick from Glasgow found it a tough race against international open-water specialists, coming in 10th in his second ever open-water event.
Alex Jackson, Great Swim Series director of organisers Nova Said, “It’s been an absolutely incredible day here at Loch Lomond. The enthusiasm and excitement of swimmers, supporters and spectators has provided an amazing atmosphere from start to finish.
“The event has been a real success and we’d like to take the opportunity to thank all of our participants, staff and volunteers, as well as our
partners, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Event Scotland and West Dunbartonshire Council.”
The event is part of Great Swim, Europe’s biggest open water swimming series, which gives 20,000 participants the opportunity to swim in
Lakes, Lochs and urban docks across the UK including; the Great North Swim at Windermere, Cumbria, the Great East Swim at Alton Water, near Ipswich, the Great Manchester Swim at Salford Quays and the Great London Swim in the Royal Victoria Docks – See more at:
http://www.greatswim.org/
Hi Nance, I believe it was between 15 and 16 – around the same as the Loch Ness Monster Swim on the 17th (but without the howling wind and halfway cancellation of event). I’ve got a Blue Seventy Reaction, and I saw quite a lot of other people in the same suit. There were tons of others though; in fact I’m kind of curious as to how much difference I’d feel in a higher end suit in terms of flex around the shoulders and so on.
Absolutely amazing day. Can’t wait for next year!