Open Water News & Results

A small but dedicated group of City of Bradford swimmers compete in Open Water championships during the summer months.

The discipline of Open Water swimming covers all races held outside – in lakes, rivers, docks or the sea. Distances vary from 1000m to 10 km in this country. The safety of competitors is of primary importance and all events take place with safety boats and canoes in attendance.

Our swimmers have represented Great Britain abroad and the sport is developing rapidly at international level, hopefully with some open water events to be included in Commonwealth and Olympic Games in the not too distant future.

Participation in Open Water swims will appeal to competent swimmers looking for a new challenge in the natural environment, especially if their preferred pool events are distance freestyle. However, different skills need to be learnt to move outdoors.

E.g.:-

• learn to swim in a straight line without use of pool markings
• lift your head once every 10 strokes or so and within your breathing pattern to confirm your direction
• be able to breath to both sides (wind, waves and the course may necessitate breathing to your weaker side)
• acclimatise to colder temperatures

All open water swimmers train in pools (the training is more structured). Greater emphasis is placed on longer swims and aerobic work but stroke technique and flexibility must also be programmed. To be a top open water swimmer you must still be a fast swimmer, so speed work remains vital and strength training is equally as important (swimming into waves saps your energy reserve and is surprisingly tiring).

Many swimmers just enjoy the challenge of finishing the race (having braved the cold, the weeds, the fish and the weather!) and the more social aspects of open water swims, travelling all over the country, but there is also the chance to progress to national and international level. The British Long Distance Swimming Association organise swims which can be entered from the age of 12 and the ASA has district Grand Prix and National events which can be entered from the age of 13.

Further information can be obtained from the A.S.A open water link  and BLDSA, and from Barbara McGuffie

Season Report 07 - Garry Vilmans

This is only my second year  in open water swimming,  and I am enjoying it very much. They are good social events and a great crowd of people.  Last year I could only enter the novice  races  as I was not a member  of the  B L D S A,  This year I joined the club and was able to enter in some longer races.

My first three races (Wykeham. Rivington. Llyn Tegid Bala) I decided to do breaststroke just to  test the water and to see if I could do the distance.  In June  I got a very unexpected  phone call from Diane Llewellyn; she wanted me to join their relay team  to swim Lake Windermere. This event was a one off to celebrate  the golden jubilee of the  B L D S A.   Our team was called the West Yorkshire Waders, We did finish the race  - we didn’t come first - but we didn’t come last.

My biggest challenge was on the 18th August when I  entered the Derwent Reservoir Championship;  this was going to be my longest race to date.

This race was 5.25 miles, this was the first time  a championship had been held in the North East, the weather was not on my side it was cold wet and very windy, I did manage to finish  in just over 4 hours. Only 10 started the race, I came second and got my first medal.

My last event this year was Lynn Regis Norfolk on 22nd September  it was a 5km race I  came 7th in my category in a time of 1.54.30 The weather was quite nice and I enjoyed the swim.

Looking forward to some more swimming next year.

 Garry Vilmans (Masters Squad)