Last chance to enter Swim England’s London Region Open Water Championships

Regional open water events provide a stepping stone to the National Championships

Entries for Swim England’s London Region Open Water Championships close on 14 June. The event takes place on 7 July at Merchant Taylors’ School in Middlesex. Swims are open to both Age Group and Masters swimmers. Age Group entries must be made through a swimmer’s club while Masters swimmers can enter as individuals.

While this is a Swim England event, adult swimmers who are not Swim England members are welcome to enter provided they complete a temporary membership form. Swim distances are 2km, 3km or 5km.

The event will be held under British Swimming rules – the same rules elite athletes compete under at the Olympics. Regarding wetsuits, this means they must be worn if the water temperature is between 16 and 17.9 degrees. If the water temperature is above 18 degrees, wetsuits are not permitted and swimming costumes must comply with World Aquatics Open Water Rules.

Age Group swimmers taking part have the opportunity to qualify for Swim England’s National Open Water Championships on Saturday 27 July at Rother Valley Country Park. The Swim England Open Water National Masters Championships takes place the day after at the same venue. However, there is no need to qualify to take part in the Masters event. You can enter directly.

Other regional events around the country include the South East Open Water Masters Championship and the Regional Open Water Championships (East Midlands, West Midlands, South West).

Speaking about the National Masters Championship event, Jeroen Peters, Swim England Masters Working Group Chair says: “We’re trying to recreate that team spirit and atmosphere from our pool swimming events by bringing together a wider programme at the open water national masters.

“The way we’ve done this is by working the schedule in a way so that swimmers can take part in up to five events rather than encouraging people to travel just for one swim.

“As well as the three individual events, we’ve added an open/male, female and mixed relay to the competition so swimmers are able to compete alongside their club mates just like they would in the pool.

“Our hope is that this makes the event better to attend for both swimmers and spectators as it brings together everything we love from the pool but we can enjoy it in the beautiful setting of Rother Valley Country Park which has lots more to offer the entire family.”

Find out more and enter the London Region Open Water Championships here: https://www.swimming.org/london/open-water-championships-development-day-entries-open-now/

Find out more and enter the National Masters Open Water Championships here: https://www.swimming.org/openwater/about-national-masters-championships/