Wycombe District win top club at Open Water National Age Group Champs

Wycombe District Swimming Club won the top club award at the Swim England Open Water National Age Group Championships.

They picked up seven medals at the event with two golds, three silvers and two bronze medals throughout the 14 races at Rotherham’s Thrybergh Country Park.

It ensured they won the trophy for the third time in a row after they won the award in both 2018 and 2019.

And for head coach Kevin Brooks it represents all the hard work they put in with open water swimming.

He said: “It’s really pleasing (to win the award) because it consolidates what we’ve done prior to covid.

“We were top club in 2018 and 2019 so that’s really important to us as our offering as a club so we’re really happy.”

Wycombe’s gold medals on the day were won by Lucy Fox and Joshua Weston with Annabelle Compton, Samuel Williams and Monty Smith all winning silver.

Hazel-Anne Carter and Charlotte Heyden took home bronze on an impressive day for the club.

Head performance coach Josh Atkins believes all the clubs swimmers can be proud of their performances.

He said: “We had some really good swims today and we do love the open water at our club, it’s a big part of our programme.

“A lot of the swimmers have come after doing regionals a couple of weeks ago and have stepped up against some more competitive swimmers and have done a really good job.”

‘Open water is important for swimmers development’

The club has made open water swimming a priority within their training and encourage all of their swimmers to take it up to help them develop.

“Open water and distance swimming generally is important for swimmers development so we encourage all of our younger swimmers to do open water and distance events because their longevity in the sport will be greater” Brooks said.

“We see that with other swimmers in the pool in terms of the success of the programme.

“We are successful because of our distance offering and how it actually impacts other events like 50m’s, 100m’s and 200m’s in a positive way.

“It’s part of our comprehensive training programme which is why it’s important.”

Atkins explained how the club prepared their swimmers for the event by familiarising them with open water.

“After regionals we start doing open water sessions in the lake.

“We offer that up to a lot of our swimmers from juniors up to seniors.

“Those sessions take place every Wednesday morning and we find getting used to being in the lake environment whether it’s cold weather in a wet suit or not in a wet suit makes sure that on the day we turn up ready to perform and we’ve seen that today.”

You can see all the results from the Swim England Open Water National Age Group Championships here.

Pictures: Will Johnston Photography