Double dose of open water action returns to Rother Valley

The Swim England Open Water National Age Group Championships and Swim England Open Water National Masters Championships will return to Rother Valley Country Park this weekend, with swimmers from across the country set to battle for national honours.

The Age Group Championships will take place on Saturday 25 July, before Masters competitors take to the water on Sunday 26 July.

Age Group swimmers set for action

The weekend begins with the Swim England Open Water National Age Group Championships, where some of the country’s best open water talent will compete across three race distances.

The day gets underway at 9.30am with the 7.5km event for swimmers aged 16 years, 17/18 years and 19+ years. The 5km race for 14/15-year-olds follows at 1.30pm, before the championships conclude with the 3km event for 13-year-olds at 4.15pm.

Last year, City of Sheffield topped the club medal table after securing two gold medals and one silver across the day of competition.

Masters titles on the line

Attention then turns to the Swim England Open Water National Masters Championships on Sunday, where competitors will race across four events.

The action starts with the 5km race at 10am, followed by the 1km event at 12.30pm and the 3km race at 2.20pm. The championships will conclude with the popular 4x500m mixed relay at 4.30pm.

Among the standout performances at last year’s championships was Otter swimmer Hayley Davis, who completed a clean sweep of gold medals in the 5km, 3km and 1km events. Competing in the women’s 40-44 years age group, she was the only English swimmer to claim gold across all three individual distances.

Swimmers, coaches and team staff are encouraged to read the event conditions and competitor information in full before travelling to Rother Valley Country Park.

Event photography from both championships will once again be provided by Will Johnston Photography.