4/5 July 2009 – Weymouth
An exciting weekend of Open Water swimming this year saw swimmers enter from around the country in addition to East Dorset Open Water club and dual registered members competing for West and Dorset honours.
Well done to East Dorset’s Rebecca Christian-Drage, Danni Callahan, Meghan Thomas, Claire Rafferty, Bob Holman and Sean Heppell.
Danni Callahan was second home in the women’s race in 1:34:50.7 behind Joanne Reeks from Derbyshire, winning trophies for the 17-29yrs Dorset and South West categories as well as a silver for the open event.
Team-mate Meghan Thomas (1:51:16.2) was fourth overall, fourth in the 17-29yrs, third from the South West and second from Dorset.
Rebecca Christian-Drage won the junior 5km in 1:53:39.9.
In the men’s 5km race, Wareham’s Les Jessop was the first over 50 swimmer in 1:30.39, winning the open, regional and county cups for his age group.
Bob Holman (Bere Regis and East Dorset) was the fifth over 50s finisher, third South West and second Dorset in 1:51:56.0.
In the men’s 10km, Poole’s Mike Trew was the first over 50 finisher from the South West and Dorset in 4:00:44.7.
In the girls’ 15-18yrs 3km race, Poole and East Dorset’s Claire Rafferty was second overall and second from the South West and Dorset in 49:59.65. Megan Thomas’s time of time of 1:18:36.03 made her the first Dorset and South West swimmer in the 19-29 age group.
Ferndown Otters and East Dorset swimmer Sean Heppell was first overall in the men’s 1.5km event in 22:41.15.
In the women’s 15-18yrs 1.5km race, Danni Callahan was the first Dorset swimmer in 30:01.39 with Rebecca Christian-Drage second (33:54.89).
View video of 2008 Maritime Festival explaining how the Spirit of the Sea concept was born (3m 53s)
10km Full Results
5km Full Results
3km Full Results
1.5km Full Results
The event was honoured by a visit from the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr. Anne Kenwood and her Escort.
ASA South West Region acknowledges with grateful thanks the enthusiastic help and support given by the Borough Council, the Sea Cadet Training Centre, the Poole Harbour Canoe Lifeguards, St. John Ambulance, the Weymouth South Scout Group and many local people to ensure the Championships retains its position as a major event in Great Britain.