Swim England East Region Open Water Championships 2024

by MJ Phoenix
in Officials, Officials Training, Open Water News
on 19 July 2024

Introducing the 2024 Open Water East Region Championships, a top-tier competition that unites the best swimmers in the area to participate in the thrilling and difficult sport of open water swimming. This year’s finals, which took place at Whitlingham Country Park, provided intense competition and an amazing experience for both competitors and spectators.

This year for the first time in a while the water temperature dropped to 17 degrees which dictated that swimmers all had to compete in wetsuits.

The day started with the 3k event and saw exceptional swims from Norfolk Swimmers Isaac Buchan (Cons), Austin Taylor (Cons) and Jamie Wilson (WNSC) win Norfolk Gold, Silver and Bronze, With Isaac and Austin qualifying for Nationals Open Water. Simon Buchan also won Norfolk Gold and Qualified for Nationals in the 50-59 Masters Age category.

In the Womens 3k event Lily-May Freeman (GYSC) Norfolk Gold in 14yo category; Grace Cook (15)secured a Norfolk Gold medal & Trophy for fastest Norfolk female and secured herself a National Qualification. Silver went to Elizabeth Mitchell (GYSC)

Poppy Peebles won Norfolk Gold in the 16yo category for West Norfolk, Molly Tattersall Norfolk Gold (17-19yo) for Dereham Otters; Sarah Buchan Gold (40-49) for Norfolk Vikings. Tracey Dodds (50-59) Norfolk Gold for West Norfolk.

Next was the 1k event which saw West Norfolk Swimmers Freddie Wakefield (11-12) Gold, Bay Smith (11-12) Silver; David Roczniak (13-14) Gold; Oliver Norris (15-16) Gold & Fastest male swimmer Trophy winner; Lexi Foster Norfolk Gold (11-12) and Elizabeth Litvinenko Silver (11-12); Daisy Covell (13-14) Gold. Dereham’s Isabelle Brown (15-16) Gold and fastest swimmer Trophy winner.

The 2k event followed with Gold, Silver and Bronze going to West Norfolk Swimmers Nellie Chadderton, Polly Anderson and Arya Richardson in the 12 yo category; Olivia Bradford secured Gold (WNSC) and Ellie Hannant Silver for Dereham in the 13yo category; Roxanne Demmen Gold (30-34) for Norfolk Viking: Lucy Chadderton Gold (40-49) West Norfolk; Miranda Taylor Silver (40-49) City of Norwich.

Mens results Lawrence Taylor Gold (12) City of Norwich; Noah Buchan City of Norwich Gold and National Qualifier 13) Jason Taylor (50-59) City of Norwich Norfolk Gold

The day culminated with the 5K event which saw Matthew Phoenix-McGlynn (16yo) take Norfolk Gold and Trophy for City of Norwich; West Norfolk’s Samuel Rose Gold (20-24); James Tattersall (40-49) of Dereham Gold; Brooke Clipsham (15) City of Norwich take Womens Gold; West Norfolk’s Wiktoria Marcinek (16) Norfolk Gold and Nationals Qualifier; Poppy Peebles (16) Silver (WNSC); In the 17-18 yo category saw Esmi Kidman WNSC take Norfolk Gold; Dayna Arbon City of Norwich Silver and Zoe Wilson (WNSC) take Bronze.

Jessica -Jane Applegate (City of Norwich) competed in her first-ever Open Water event and came in with an impressive time to take Norfolk Gold and Nationals Qualifier in the (25-29 age group)