Phoebe Griffiths wins girls' 5k gold

Pheobe Griffiths claimed the girls’ 17/18yrs 5k title with over a minute lead at the Swim England Open Water National Age Group Championships.

She helped Ellesmere to the Swim England National Age Group Open Water team trophy, which is awarded to the club who claims the most medals at the event.

Griffiths, who won the girls’ 16yrs event last year, seemed to have plenty in the tank to push herself to a decisive victory. She touched in 1:00:57.81 to claim the top spot on the podium.

Griffiths commented on her performance: “It feels good. I’m competing again next week, so it’s nice to know that I’m doing well. It’s good for next week. I was hoping to medal coming into the competition, I wasn’t sure on the colour but I’m glad I got gold.

Amber Hughes of Hatfield took silver in a time of 1:02:00.17, and Imogen Moroney took bronze with 1:02:12.24.

Scholes wins boys’ 17/18yrs 5k gold

Jamie Scholes of Peterborough swam a fantastic race in the 17/18yrs age group.

He had been battling with Jacob Butterfield and Bailey Hairsine for most of the race, but he eventually took the title with a good 30 second lead. He touched in 57:57.87 for gold. Scholes was the fastest overall swimmer in the 5k event.

Butterfield of Leeds took silver with 58:28.40 and Hairsine of Kingston-upon-hull took bronze with 58:27.64.

Mad dash for finish in boys’ 19yrs+ age group

William Ryley took a comfortable victory is the men’s 19yrs+ age group 5k event. However, the next three swimmers had to battle it out for the final places on the podium.

Ryley managed to get ahead in the closing stages of the race. The Bath University swimmer touched in two seconds ahead of the field, winning the race in 58:17.10.

West Norfolk’s Nathan Wells, Ryan Reader of Derventio eXcel and Northampton’s Thomas Smith were almost swimming on top of each other in the home straight, and it looked as though any of them could take home a medal.

Wells managed to inch his way into second place, taking silver with a time of 58:19.07. Reader was next over the line, touching in 58:19.20 for bronze. Smith was just edged out, finishing fourth with 58:19.39.

Ryan wins comfortable victory in girls’ 19yrs+ event

Nicole Ryan won the girls’ 19yrs+ 5k race with a nine second lead, ahead of Chloe Pollard of East Grinstead and Phillipa Shuttleworth of Hatfield.

Wycombe District swimmer Ryan made it over the finish line in a time of 1:01:01.42 to claim the gold medal.

Pollard followed up for silver with her time of 1:01:10.35. Shuttleworth had Newcastle’s Georgia Darwent hot on her heels, but took the final podium spot in a time of 1:01:56.65.