Share your love of swimming - Get info on training to become a swim teacher from just £79

Jenny has a Ball as she wins European Masters Open Water gold

Jenny Ball and Michael Read have been crowned European Masters Open Water champions.

They were two of nine British medallists in the two open water races held in Lake Bled, Slovenia.

3000m 

Ball, of Camp Hill Edwardians SC, clocked a time of 1:09:32.0 to take top spot in the Women’s 80-84 age group.

Alison Gwynn, of Mid Sussex Marlins, collected a silver medal in the Women’s  70-74 years race with a time of 54:18.6, 38.2 seconds behind France’s Denise Feltz (53:40.4).

Spencer Swim team’s Amanda Heath was also second in the Women’s 60-64 age group after finishing in 45:26.0, 3:43.4 behind Italy’s Cristina Tarantino (41:42.6).

Emma Wills’ time of 35:49.3 was enough to earn her a silver medal in the Women’s 35-39 age group.

The York City Bath Club swimmer was 24.6 seconds behind race winner Gaia Peracca, of Italy, who clocked 35:24.7

Ceri Edwards, of Portsmouth Northies SC), finished third in the Women’s 40-44 age group after recording a time of 37:32.1, 1:59.1 behind Spain’s Rebeca Santos who claimed the gold media.

And Tony Cherrington, of Spencer Swim Team, was also a bronze medallist in the Men’s 75-59 years event.

He finished in a time of 49:54.4 and was 1:05.2 adrift of race winer Joaquin Canales Mendoza, of Spain (48:54.2).

5000m

Brighton Dolphins SC’s Read finished almost 11 minutes clear of the field in the Men’s 75-79 age group.

He clocked 1:38:17.4 to take the gold medal – 10:57.7 ahead of Holland’s Geza Kaltenecker (1:49:15.1).

Spencer Swim Team’s Peter Stephens was third in the Men’s 70-74 age group in a time of 1:33:35.8.

He was 14:48.6 adrift of Switzerland’s Kurt Frei who topped the podium (1:18:37.2).

And Pete Dixon, of Tower Hamlets, also claimed a bronze medal in the Men’s 50-54 race,

Germany’s Michael Prufert took the gold in 59:13.8, with Dixon 1:07.8 behind in a time of 1:00:21.6.

Image credit: Verity Dobbie

Top