Our ladies excelled at the East Region 2019 Open Water Championships with both Abbie Barnwell and Chantal Smith qualifying for the Swim England National Open Water Championships by virtue of them both winning their respective age group’s 5k events.

Abbie won the 16 years’ event with a time of 1:08:38.4 whilst Chantal won the 19 years’ age group in 1:10:24.0.

Competing in the Girls’ 15/16 years’ Novice 1k event, Lauren Donnelly claimed the East Region bronze ahead of Lauren Hooker who finished 4th, places which they matched in the County competition.

In the Women’s 12 years’ 2k event Lyla Howard finished as the top placed Beds County swimmer whilst coming 6th in the Region.

Zara Fallon was the second highest Beds swimmer in the 14 years’ 2k race, coming 9th in the Region.

Dave Wright was our only male competitor, finishing for the fourth successive year in the top three in the 50/59 Years’ 5k event. This year Dave claimed the bronze Regional medal, behind two swimmers from Norfolk who were 5 or more years his junior.