Great Views Of The Great North

Cumbria Live has some great video footage of the Great North Swim, including the women's elite race and some of the 6,000 other open water swimmers who took part in this second annual mass participation open water swim in the "iconic" Lake Windermere in northern England.

Winning In Windermere

Daniil Serebrennikov and Nadine Pastor of German upset their more famous elite competitors in the 1-mile British Gas Great North Swim yesterday under sunny skies and in 17°C water in Lake Windermere this weekend. Olympian and race commentator Steve Parry reports, "The elite races demonstrated the importance of tactics for both the men’s and women’s events."

"In the women’s race, 10K world champion Keri-Anne Payne took an early lead until the 1.200K mark while followed by a chasing pack with Germany’s Steffi Biller and Nadine Pastor and the Russian Olympic gold medalist Larisa Ilchenko. At this point, the physicality of the sport really came into the full view with leg and elbow kicks coming into quick exchange."

"Nadine broke free of the chasing pack and used the calm water to her full advantage, while Katy chose to take a different route than the group as she gained valuable yards. Nadine was the clear winner, but you could have thrown a coin over second, third and fourth. Great Britain's Katy Whitfield finished second with the Larisa in third and Keri-Anne in fourth."

The first half of men’s race was led by long-distance specialist Alexander Studzinski of Germany who built up a ten-meter gap between him and the chase pack.

Steve summarizes, "It looked like an impossibility that Alexander was ever going to lose, but Daniil Serebrennikov of Russia swam the perfect race and timed his move flawlessly, pushing ahead for just one [last] metre of the race to give Daniil his second victory in the British Gas Great Swim four-part series. Much to the delight of the home crowd, British junior swimmer Tom Allen finished hin third."

But, more importantly, 6,000 other swimmers entered the event with the world-class swimmers in only the second year of the event.

"The Great Swim brand has created a series of events for people to get excited about," said Steve. "My personal hope is that these mass participation open water swimming events will one day be just as popular and successful as their Great Run counterparts."

Elite Women’s Results:
1. Nadine Pastor (GER) 18.14
2. Katy Whitfield (GBR) 18.15
3. Larisa Ilchenko (RUS) 18.16

Elite Men’s Results:
1. Daniil Serebrennikov (RUS) 16.23
2. Alexander Studzinski (GER) 16.23
3. Tom Allen (GBR) 16.26

The event will be televised in Great Britain in the fall on Channel 4.

A Video Is Worth A Thousand Words

Colin Hill of Nova International, driver behind the Great North Swim, the Great London Swim, the Great Scottish Swim and the Great East Swim, continues to promote open water swimming in a variety of ways.

He promotes wild swimming with Kate Rew in the Lake District of England, where William Wordsworth lived, in this video.

Click here to view.

Fun-filled Foursome Of Fun

East, west, north and south...the sport continues to boom throughout the British Isles.

The first in a series of four Great Swims, the Great London Swim, will be held on August 15th at the Royal Victoria Dock in London.

2009 world 10K champion Keri-Anne Payne, 10K bronze medalist Cassandra Patten and and Olympic 10K silver medalist David Davies will headline the elite athletes while thousands of others from every age and ability will also participate.

The next races include Great Scottish Swim in Glasgow on August 29th, the Great North Swim in Lake Windermere on September 12-13th and the Great East Swim in Suffolk on September 26th.

The elite athletes - both male and female - will be racing for the £1,000 first prize, £750 second prize, £500 third prize, £250 fourth prize and the £150 fifth prize.

Open Water Wednesday on SwimNetwork

Today, Swim Network posted two Open Water Wednesday articles that focus on the Tools of the Trade and pro open water swims.



The pro swim article covers the US$25,000 Aqua Zone Portland Mile, the US$20,000 RCP Tiburon Mile and the pro-am Pagganck Mile in New York City in the US as well as the Midmar Mile in South Africa, the Great North Swim in England, the Flowers Sea Swim in the Cayman Islands, the 57K (35.4 miles) Maratón Acuática International Santa Fe - Río Coronda and the 88K (54 mile) Hernandarias-Paraná Swim in Argentina.

Go to SwimNetwork to read the Open Water Wednesday article.

Photo shows Fran Crippen at the 2007 Pan American Games 10K race.

Mile After Mile

Inches...feet...yards...pounds...quarts... while the world used metric measurements, a handful of countries still use the imperical units of measurements: UK, US, Myanmar and Liberia.

Although 1K, 2K, 5K, 10K and 25K races are popular the world over in open water swimming, mile (1.6K) swims are gaining popularity.

These one-mile races include the RCP Tiburon Mile in San Francisco Bay, the new Pagganck Mile that will be part of the Governor's Island Swim Weekend in New York City, and the Great Swim Series that includes Great London Swim, the Great Scottish Swim, the Great North Swim and the Great East Swim.

This Monday morning in California, there is also the Millerton Mile that serves as the 2009 US Masters Swimming 1-mile national championship. Mike Shaffer, 43 of Ventura County Masters, and Jeff Erwin, 44 of Idaho's Sawtooth Masters (shown on left), who both dominated the distance freestyle events in the pool national masters championships are expected to be the class of the field in the Millerton Lake.

Photo of the start of the 1-mile Pacific Open Water Challenge in California by Bob Maguglin.

Great Swim Series in the UK

The 2009 Great Swim Series includes the four events, all 1-mile televised open water swimming events for people of all ages and abilities.

The events will include Olympic medalists and celebrities.

1. Great London Swim at the Royal Victoria Docks in London on the August 15-16.
2. Great Scottish Swim in Strathclyde Park on August 29-30.
3. Great North Swim in Lake Windermere on September 12-13 [note: already sold out]
4. Great East Swim in Ipswich Alton Water on September 26-27

Further updates on the Great Channel Swim will be forthcoming.

Great East Swim Launch

On April 23rd, International Swimming Hall of Famer Michael Read, former open water swimmer Alan Bircher, Karen Pickering, an outstanding British pool swimmer, Sonia O’Sullivan, a 5K run Olympic silver medalist who has taken up swimming, and Stuart Storey, a BBC sports commentator, will introduce the Great East Swim in The Atrium in Ipswich, England.

The Great East Swim is a new one-mile swim from the same group that organizes the Great Channel Swim and the Great North Swim.

The inaugural Great East Swim will be held in Anglian Water park in Suffolk, UK on Saturday 26th 2009.

Thousands of swimmers of all abilities from recreational swimmers to Olympic champions are expected to swim the 1.6K (1-mile) event that is part of the Great Swim, a series of 1-mile mass participation televised events taking place throughout the UK similar to the popular Great North Swim which maxed out at 5,500 entrants in its September 2009 event.

Great Growth in Great Britain

The 1-mile Great North Swim is now officially full with 5,500 participants entered. This makes the two-day event the fastest growing open water swimming event in the world in only its second year.


At the Great North Swim, the 5,500 swimmers will compete in 250. As David Hart of Nova International says, "It is clear that open water swimming events have really captured the imagination and the Great North Swim will be a spectacular sight.

"Watching Olympic 10K Marathon Swim medalists David Davies and Cassandra Patten defend their 2008 titles will only be part of the fun as the Great North Swim becomes part of the Great Swim, a new series of 1-mile televised open water swims around the U.K.

Lake Windermere: Before and After

Less than two weeks after the Great North Swim opened for entries, the first day of the event is closed with a maximum of 2,500 swimmers - and the second day is quickly reaching its limit.

Lake Windermere was not always the venue for thousands of open water swimmers, but it has been a marathon swimming hotbed for decades nevertheless. Since 1956, our records indicate that the British Long Distance Swimming Association has hosted numerous 25K International Championships in England's largest lake.

While modern-day open water heroes like Olympic 10K Marathon Swim medalists Maarten van der Weijden, Thomas Lurz and David Davies have recently frequented Lake Windermere, athletes like the following heroes swam up and down the lake in years past:

Elaine Gray won the 10.5-mile Windermere International Championships in 1966. A.D. van der Vieken won the 15.5-mile championship in 1970. Lotty van Teen won the 15.5-mile championship in 1974. And renowned swimmers like Kevin Murphy, Michael Read, Penny Lee Dean (shown on left), Sally Minty nee Minty-Gravett, Julie Bradshaw, Karen Burton nee Reeder, Alison Streeter and John York has honored the shores of Lake Windermere with their presence.

As one of the World's Top Open Water Swims, the Great North Swim plans to set off a total of 5,000 swimmers over a two-day period in waves of 250 people.

Colin Hill, the Event Director said, "The Great North Swim’s success is down to its stunning location, world class elite field, overwhelming support from spectators and the enthusiasm of thousands of swimmers."

Throughout the decades, Lake Windermere has been a draw for international fields of marathon swimmers. Now, it is the site for open water swimmers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

A growing trend around the globe.

3,000 and Counting

The Great North Swim is listed in the World's Top 100 Open Water Swims list - and for very good reason.

World-class athletes mix with newcomers for an exciting two-day open water swimming extravaganza in England's biggest lake.

Within a week of opening up for entries this year, more than 3,000 people have signed up for the 2nd annual event on September 12-13 - and the interest continues to build.


The Great North Swim event enables some of the world's best open water swimmers sprint over a mile as well as providing a reasonable challenge for newcomers in Lake Windermere. The top three women in 2008 included Olympic 10K Marathon Swim bronze medalist Cassandra Patten (shown in middle), silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne (left) and Jennifer Jackson (left) third.

Lake Windermere is located in the Lake District which is one of England's 14 National Parks.

In an innovative partnership, British Swimming is supporting the Great North Swim.

Peter Mearns of Northwest Regional Development Agency said, "We are thrilled to see so many swimmers signed up to this year’s event which is not only testament to the success of last year, but also highlights competitors’ enthusiasm for being part of a really unique experience. I hope that many more visitors will be encouraged to take part and go on to explore the outstanding assets of Cumbria and the Lake District."

Bob Sutcliffe, a competitor from the 2008 Great North Swim commented, "It is fantastic to see us build on the success of last year's swim. We are keen to promote Windermere as a place for safe swimming for people of all abilities and a training ground for Olympians."

The Great North Swim will form part of the Great Swim Series taking place throughout the UK. More details will be announced within the next month.

Two Days of Great Swimming

The Great North Swim, the largest open water swim in Britain, will expand in its second year. The 1-mile Great North Swim will return to Lake Windermere on September 12-13.

The swim not only showcases some of the world's best open water swimmers, including 5 Olympic 10K Marathon Swim medalists in 2008, but also provides a challenge for thousands of others who can train and prepare for an enjoyable mass participation open water swim.

Over 2,000 swimmers participated in the event in 2008, with Olympic 10K Marathon Swim silver medalist David Davies the overall winner in the elite field. "The event was just amazing. To be swimming with so many people and to be cheered on by so many spectators was really impressive. The setting itself is stunning, the course has been well thought out and swimmers had everything they really needed to enjoy the event."

Colin Hill, Event Director from Nova International, who predicts up to 5,000 swimmers will take part in 2009. "The Great North Swim was an instantly iconic event that has created an exciting Great Swim Series around the country. There’ll be lots happening over the weekend."

A business challenge event will been introduced this year where teams of 4-8 swimmers can represent their company to compete with others. This helps extends the reach of our community from lakesides and seashores to corporate boardrooms - a move that Wayne Riddin of the Midmar Mile has utilized very well in South Africa.

Nothing Great Is Easy

Nova International organizes and promotes the Great North Swim in Lake Windermere, England and will organize and promote the totally unique and thoroughly entertaining Great Channel Swim.

Nova International produced a great show at the Great North Swim - make sure to watch the women's finish below. They will undoubtedly produce a wonderful Great Channel Swim across the English Channel this coming August.

The tagline of the Great Channel Swim is NOTHING GREAT IS EASY, a very appropriate description in what will be the most anticipated endurance event of 2009.



The Great Channel Swim will be swum under the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation rules with official Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation observers acting as judges. As such, no wetsuits are allowed and the swim suits must not float, must be porous and must not come off the shoulders or go below the knees. As is known in the English Channel community, swimming without suits is also allowed and has been done on numerous occasions.

The Great Channel Swim

Nova International, the innovative event management company organizes the world's largest half marathon (Great North Run attracted 52,000+ runners last year) and the Great North Swim in Lake Windermere, will out-do itself in 2009. Nova International will organize the Great Channel Swim in August 2009.


Colin Hill is Nova International’s Project Manager for this Great Channel Swim where many of the world's greatest marathon swimmers may compete in a televised event, including Olympic 10K Marathon Swim bronze medalist Cassandra Patten (shown to the right) and English Channel record holder Petar Stoychev (shown above).

Exciting times in the Channel and for open water swimming in general with a major press conference scheduled for Thursday in London.

Copyright © 2009 by Open Water Source

ONLY 13 DAYS LEFT!!!

The fantastic Great North Swim can be seen by Internet users within the UK or the Republic of Ireland on Channel 4 for 13 more days. Click here to watch this 1-mile race in Lake Windermere in England. The race was a great rematch between several Olympic medalists.

Turning the tables on his Olympic rivals, David Davies won a thrilling battle in 17 minutes 3 seconds over second-place Maarten van der Weijden, the Olympic 10K gold medalist, and third-place Thomas Lurz, the Olympic 10K bronze medalist.

Olympic 10K bronze medalist Cassandra Patten finished in 18:21, earning a 1-second victory over Olympic 10K silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne and 400-meter freestyle bronze medalist Joanne Jackson in the made-for-TV event.

More than 2,200 swimmers participated in the first-year event, the largest open water swim in the largest lake in England.

With London hosting the 2012 Olympics, the future looks bright for its homeland heroes with strong British Swimming Federation support, growing media interest and overwhelming citizen enthusiasm over open water swimming.

Decorated British pool swimmer Mark Foster said, "The response from the public has been phenomenal and to have 2,200 swimmers of all abilities taking to the water is a real achievement for the sport. [People...] got to see the most talented long-distance swimmers in the world doing what they do best."

Photos provided by the Great North Swim.

Note: video of the event cannot be seen by those outside the UK or the Republic of Ireland.

Bronze Medalist Going For Gold in the Bay

Olympic 10K bronze medalist Thomas Lurz reflected on his Olympic performance in Beijing before the upcoming Tiburon Mile in San Francisco Bay.

"I felt good on every loop," said Lurz of the four-loop course in Beijing. "The average speed was fast so that was good. Around the last turn buoy, I was thinking, 'Now the race really begins'. The finish was a little hard to see and David Davies and I went to the right. Maarten [van der Weijden] had a straight line and swam well. We gave everything. I am happy to medal."

When asked what the future holds, Lurz replied, "I am 28 [years old) so we will see what will come in the future."

After the Olympics, Lurz swam at the European Open Water Swimming Championships in Croatia and the Great North Swim before arriving in San Francisco for the RCP Tiburon Mile. "I am looking forward to this event, but also to looking for a break soon."

"The RCP Tiburon Mile is a very nice and interesting race. A 1-mile swim is short. Because it is only one mile, the pool swimmers will be fast. If the race was longer, the open water swimmers would have an advantage. It will be a good race."

Photo of Thomas Lurz after his 10K victory at the European Open Water Swimming Championships taken by Giorgio Scala of Deep Blue Media.

Olympic Rematch Covered by Swimming World Magazine

Swimming World Magazine posted an article about the Great North Swim in Lake Windermere, England. Photos, a race summary and results of the top 5 swimmers can be found here.

Swimming World Magazine will also post a great 8-minute video highlight of the 1-mile race. The open water swim in the largest lake in England was a great rematch between 6 Olympic medalists, including David Davies, Maarten van der Weijden, Thomas Lurz, Cassandra Patten, Keri-Anne Payne and 400-meter freestyle bronze medalist Joanne Jackson.

Swimming World Magazine cover shows American Olympic 10K representative Chloe Sutton.

European Swimmers of the Meet Honors

Edith van Dijk and Thomas Lurz won Swimmer of the Meet honors at the recently concluded 2008 European Open Water Swimming Championships in Croatia.

It was a fitting tribute to the 35-year-old van Dijk after an illustrious career dating back to 1993. van Dijk and Lurz were given an OMEGA watch. OMEGA is one of LEN's sponsors and suppliers.

van Dijk narrowly missed a medal in all three individual events (5K, 10K and 25K) finishing fourth in all three.

Lurz immeadiately left for Lake Windermere in England to participate in the Great North Swim) after winning to the 10K and 2 bronze medals in the 5K time trial and 5K team event in Croatia.

In the team standings, Italy won with 182 points followed by Russia (176), Germany (154), Spain (132), Netherlands (94) and France (69).

Photos of Edith van Dijk (with daughter) and Italy's victorious open water swimming team taken by Giorgio Scala of Deep Blue Media.

Defending One's Turf with Great Swims

The 1-mile Great North Swim in Lake Windermere in northern England was a great rematch between 6 Olympic medalists, but the British were not about to be beaten on their home turf.

Turning the tables on his Olympic rivals, David Davies won a thrilling battle in 17 minutes 3 seconds over second-place Maarten van der Weijden and third-place Thomas Lurz who just flew in from the European Open Water Swimming Championships in Croatia.

Likewise, Cassandra Patten finished in 18:21, earning a 1-second victory over Olympic 10K silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne and 400-meter freestyle bronze medalist Joanne Jackson in the made-for-TV event

More than 2,200 swimmers participated in the first-year event, the largest open water swim in the largest lake in England, that will be broadcast on British national television later this month.

And with London hosting the 2012 Olympics, the future looks bright for its homeland heroes with strong British Swimming Federation support, growing media interest and overwhelming citizen enthusiasm over open water swimming.

Decorated pool swimmer Mark Foster who did not swim due to a shoulder injury explained, "The response from the public has been phenomenal and to have 2,200 swimmers of all abilities taking to the water is a real achievement for the sport. People waiting to take part and those heading to Low Wood to support family and friends are in for a real treat, as they will got to see the most talented long-distance swimmers in the world doing what they do best."



Upper photo of Cassandra Patten from the British Olympic Association website.

Lower photo from the Westmoreland Gazette showing Patten, Foster, van der Weijden, Payne and Davies from left to right.

Olympic Medalists in Lake Windermere

In addition to Olympic 10K Marathon Swim gold medalist Maarten van der Weijden, silver medalists Keri-Anne Payne and David Davies, and bronze medalists Thomas Lurz and Cassandra Patten, Joanne Jackson, the bronze medalist in the 400-meter freestyle in Beijing, will also compete in the 1-mile
Great North Swim in Lake Windermere. Six Olympic medalists in a short 1-mile lake swim should be quite a fun race to watch.