The Great North Swim

The Great North Swim was a big success and spectators got treated with an ultra tight battle for the titles. Olympic open water swimmers David Davies, Maarten van der Weijden, Thomas Lurz, Cassandra Patton, Keri-Anne Payne and Sandra Biller were competing directly with ITU triathletes Alastair Brownlee, Jodie Swallow and Marie Rabie and a couple thousand other folks. In the end the Open water swim specialists ruled, but with all the blueseventy wetsuits present, we should maybe say, blueseventy ruled. :-)

Lined up and ready to go



David Davies is focused and concentrated



Keri Anne Payne is making final adjustments



And they are off!



Thomas Lurz in the water


Top 7 Men

1. David Davies (GBR) 17:02 - reaction
2. Maarten van der Weijden (NED) 17:05 - helix
3. Thomas Lurz (GER) 17:19 - reaction
4. Alan Bircher (GBR) 17:26
5. Dave Carry (GBR) 17:28
6. Mark Threfall (GBR) 17:58
7. Alastair Brownlee (GBR) 18:06

Top 6 women

1. Cassandra Patten (GBR) 18:21 - helix
2. Keri-Anne Payne (GBR) 18:22 - reaction
3. Jennifer Jackson (GBR) 18:24
4. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 18:25
5. Stefanie Biller (GER) 18:59
6. Marie Rabie (RSA) 20:30