Scottish Swimming have announced that the national one mile open water championship race will take place at this years Great Scottish Swim in Loch Lomond, 29 August.
The race will be part of the elite competition which will see some of the world’s best open water swimmers, compete against Scotland’s top home grown talent, in one of the country’s most iconic settings.
The Great Scottish Swim is Scotland’s biggest open water swim with over 2000 people taking part across the day, in a range of distances from a beginners half-mile challenge, all the way up to a gruelling 5k “half-marathon” swim.
Lining up for the one mile elite race will be Commonwealth Champion and local Balloch boy, Ross Murdoch, who will be competing in the open water for the first time, he will be joined by fellow Scot, Commonwealth silver medallist, Robbie Renwick.
They will be taking on international talent including 2013 World Champion Christian Reichert of Germany as well as newly crowned 2015 World Champion and six time Midmar Mile winner, South Africa’s Chad Ho.
The women’s race will feature two time National USA 10KM Champion, Christine Jennings alongside two time World Champion, and Olympic Silver medallist, Team GB’s Keri-anne Payne.
Tom Broadbent, elite athlete manager at Great Swim said, ”We’re extremely proud to host the Scottish National Championship race as part of the Great Scottish Swim.
“The race is open to both senior and junior athletes, and it will be a great experience for younger athletes to compete against top international talent, hopefully it will result in some great performances all round.”
Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of Scottish Swimming said, “Open Water swimming in growing in both popularity and stature and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Great Swim to host the Scottish National Championship over one mile.
“Through our Swim Social platform we have been providing opportunities for individuals to come and try open water swimming. These sessions are coach led and are held in a safe, supportive and fun environment. Feedback suggests that many people have used these opportunities ahead of the Great Swim to develop their skills ahead of this great event.”
Mairi Bell, Head of Visitor Experience at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, said,
“There is no better setting than Loch Lomond to host Scotland’s largest open water swimming event. The Great Swim brings competitors from around the globe to this stunning part of the world, and we encourage them to explore the rest of the National Park while they are here. We’re delighted that local swimming hero Ross Murdoch is taking to the water and I hope this will inspire other budding swimmers to take up the sport.”
This is the third year the Great Scottish Swim has been held at Loch Lomond, with the open water swimming element of the inaugural, multi-event European Championships due to take place on the loch in 2018.
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said, “We are delighted to support the Great Scottish Swim and welcome some of the world’s very best open water swimmers back to Scotland, as well as those competing in the Scottish National Championship. With our wealth of stunning natural assets, Scotland is the perfect stage for events and it is without doubt that Loch Lomond will again provide all entrants with a sensational setting for this exciting contest.”
As well as overall prizes for the first five athletes to finish, elite swimmers will be awarded on their speed over the first 200m and 400m, with prize money on offer for the first male and female athletes past these markers.
For more information on qualifying standards and up to date athlete announcements please visitgreatswim.org/Scotland.
For more information about taking up open water swimming, visit www.vigourevents.com, or for details of Scottish Swimming’s ‘Come and Try’ events go to www.scottishswimming.com.
Ends.
CONTACT:
Philippa Morrow / philippa.morrow@
Kirsten Phillips / k.phillips@scottishswimming.
Notes to editors:
All Scottish athletes wishing to compete must be able to demonstrate the following qualification times*.
Women
800m – 9:40
1500m – 18:40
2K (OW) – 33:00
Men
800m – 9:30
1500m – 17:20
2K (OW) – 32:30
(*800m and 1500m times must be swum in a pool, the 2K times are open water specific.)
Swimming news courtesy of Scottish Swimming.