Last year, South Axholme narrowly missed out on bringing home the Top Club Trophy, with 48 swimmers over the course of the day, it looked like a possibility this year.

After the first event Scunthorpe Anchor took an early lead, over the next nine events the lead passed between Louth, Pocklington (last years winners), Scunthorpe Anchor and South Axholme Sharks. By the tenth event Pocklington and South Axholme were tying. At the end of the morning session South Axholme were ahead by 26 points.

South Axholme managed to hold the lead till the tenth event in the afternoon, when Pocklington managed to gain enough points to equalize. During the rest of the afternoon the lead bounced between the two clubs. South Axholme crept into the lead four events from the end of the day and held the lead to win by 8 points.

Congratulations to all swimmers involved, it was a great team effort. Along with all the medals, 26 Speeding Tickets were achieved.

Lizzie McCallum was awarded the top 13/14yrs Top girl award, Lizzie placed one first place, three second places and a third to top the table with 25 points.

So, what exactly is open water swimming?

A fair question! Technically speaking, open water swimming takes place anywhere that isn’t a swimming pool. This means no man-made sides and bottom, and no lane ropes or black lines to follow.

Open water venues include:

• Lakes
• Rivers
• Lochs
• Seas
• Reservoirs

Most people find the freedom and lack of chemicals so invigorating they can’t help coming out of the water feeling happy and relaxed.

However, you do have to consider there are plants, fish and other things living in the water which add to the fun!

You might also see open water swimming referred to as wild swimming or outdoor swimming.

The names are very interchangeable but to make things easy we stick to the term open water swimming.

Wild swimming also means swimming in groups or individually where there is no supervision.

This is a riskier choice for swimmers, and we recommend you never go open water swimming on your own.

The history of open water swimming

Swim England has a long association with open water swimming and has run a national open water championship for more than 100 years.

Competitive swimming at the Olympics traces its roots to competitions in the sea, lakes and rivers rather than pools, although modern open water swimming races tend to be held over longer distances than are swum in the pool.

The sport has increased in popularity since men’s and women’s 10km Marathon races were included in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing 2008.

English swimmers Keri-anne Payne and Cassandra Patten won silver and bronze respectively for Team GB in Beijing.

The 10km Marathon was one of the most popular events at the London 2012 Olympics, with hundreds turning out to support Payne in the open water swimming race held in the Serpentine in Hyde Park.

Can anyone do it?

Open water swimming is for everyone, both kids and parents, of all abilities and age groups as long as you have the ability and confidence to swim without being able to put your feet down.

Remember it’s very likely you’ll be out of your depth for some of the time (if not most of the time).

You can take it as seriously or as casually as you want to, from social swimming to elite level. All we ask is that you try and enjoy what you do.