Roquebrune-Cap-Martin hosted the French championships for 5 km, Saturday 20, and 25 km, Sunday 21 June 2009. The two races served as French selection tests for the world championships for both distances, and for future European Junior Championships at 5 km. The competition was boosted by international representation from GB, Switzerland, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain and for this leg, a doubling of French Cup points.
The British Gas Development Open Water team signed off from this leg of the French Cup with another medal to add to their tally. Tom Allen took the bronze in the men’s race to add to the gold medal he won during the first leg in Creil.
The team also enjoyed a number of impressive finishes with Alfie Howes, Alistair Brown, Alex Mackay, Kayleigh Dawson and Catherine Marcroft all finishing within the top ten in their races.
Mark Perry, National Open Water Performance Manager said: “This event was the French trials for both their World Championship and European Junior teams, in addition to attracting international athletes from Luxembourg, Switzerland and Spain.
“With several Olympians and a field of senior swimmers the British junior contingent were very professional and had obviously learnt from their fist event in Creil. Placing four males and two females in the top 10 at this level of competition is a fantastic result, and seventeen year old Tom Allen proved once again that he is a formidable talent for the future.”
View results of 5km event (GB interest)
More than 5 hours after the start, the 25km victory went to Dunkirk’s Joanes HEDEL who gained the upper hand over Stéphane Gomez (SO Millau), 2nd, and Bertrand Venturi (DFC Sète), 3rd. In the women’s race, Coralie Plouviez (ASPTT Toulouse) took the title, ahead of Spaniard Esther Nunez, Cathy Dietrich (Obernai D) and Célia Barrot (ASPTT Limoges).
View results of 25km event.
Video below is from a 1500m Roquebrune Cap-Martin event on 15 Sep 2007 :