British swimmers Cassie Patten and Alan Bircher took a European title a piece at the LEN 5km Open Water Swimming Cup in London today.

It took strong sprint finishes from the duo to secure gold in windy conditions at the London Regatta Centre in the heart of the Royal Albert Docks.

Patten was in London after a packed week of competition that saw her swim at two international meets - the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Seville and the Barcelona Mare Nostrum.

The 20-year-old arrived in the Capital in the early hours of this morning with team mate Keri-Anne Payne after a lengthy journey by air from Spain and then by car from Liverpool via Manchester. And an unfortunate turn of events saw the pair involved in a car accident in wet conditions on the M6.

In the dock today, Patten and Payne (both Stockport Metro) were amongst the leading swimmers for the duration of the 5km course, with Patten taking a body-length lead on the final straight. Germany’s Stefanie Biller and Anna Guseva of Russia were also in the mix over the distance and just pipped Payne for a podium spot in the home sprint.

Patten touched home for gold in 62:00.72, Guseva won silver in 62:02.27, Biller took bronze in 62:03.56 and Payne was fourth in 62:03.87.

“I’m pleased with that,” said Patten. “I think that’s the worst preparation ever for a race. Our plane from Spain was delayed by around three hours and the weather made the driving conditions appalling. I think I might have mild whip lash from the accident.    

“I’m not normally good over 5km, but before I got in that water someone reminded me I won the LEN event last year and that gave me an extra boost.

“I felt really relaxed at half way, I paced myself well and I wasn’t over-anxious about not leading, which was good. I swam with Keri-Anne for a lot of the race which helped as we’re not rough with each other and I’m really pleased she swam well although I’m sure she’d like to have medalled.” 

Having kept up with the leading pack for the first 2.5km, Britain’s younger swimmers Rachel Jack and Alice McCall finished well in 7th and 11th place in 62:42.32 and 64:42.46 respectively.

In the men’s event Bircher (University of Bath) was chased all the way by Bertrand Venturi of France, but managed to keep his lead despite a challenge for gold on the final sprint. After losing his goggles at the FINA 10km in Seville last weekend and finishing 33rd, Bircher was keen to put in a good performance before tomorrow’s 10km race.

Bircher won gold in 56:49.24, Venturi claimed silver in 56.49.87 and compatriot Julien Codevelle won bronze in 56:54.51.

“I hadn’t planned to go out fast, but I lead off well from the start and just thought I’d go for it,” said Bircher. “I knew if I got into the lead the French and Spanish guys would just sit behind me, so I did a lot of leading out there.

“Before the race I decided if I was at the front I’d really go for it from the far buoy. I kicked as hard as I could but I couldn’t quite shake off the French guy. I managed to get him on the final sprint though.

“Tomorrow will be a different ball game, it’s anybody’s race. I was eighth at the Worlds and I need to get back on track. I’ve got eight months to the Olympic qualification event in Seville and I’m finally back into full training and training at the level I should be.”

British titles were also on offer as part of the 5k event. In the women’s race Patten, Payne and Jack made the podium while in the men’s event open water newcomer Richard Charlesworth (Hatfield / Southport School) won silver in 57.35 and City of Glasgow’s James Leitch claimed bronze in 62:03.82.

And Britain’s junior’s were also in action at the London Regatta Centre competing in the British Swimming 3km Junior International.

Reigning champion Chad Ho of South Africa and Egypt’s Mazen Aziz took the top two spots in the boy’s race, coming home in 36:00.93 and 36:01.53 respectively, while local swimmer Craig Jackson (Greenwich) claiming bronze in 37:07.60.

The girls’ event was a British affair with Aynsley Heseltine forging ahead on the final leg. The City of Sheffield youngster won gold in 39:12.28 in front of Jennifer Jackson of Wigan Best in 39.25.26 and Carnegie’s Jennifer Davis in 41:19.60.

-ENDS-

The Festival of Open Water Swimming takes place at the London Regatta Centre at the Royal Albert Docks from 16-17 June and comprises the following events:
Saturday 16 June
1pm: LEN Open Water Swimming Cup Leg (incorporating British 5km Championships)
4pm: 3km Junior International

Sunday 17 June
11am: FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup (incorporating British 10km Championships)

The London leg is one of 12 races scheduled as part of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup.

For more information contact British Swimming media officer Amanda Smith on 01509 632238, 07876 652 318 or email amanda.smith@swimming.org

British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain.  It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (Amateur Swimming Association), Scotland (Scottish Amateur Swimming Association) and Wales. (Welsh Amateur Swimming Association)  British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.
www.britishswimming.org

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The Festival of Open Water Swimming has been part funded by UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Events Programme, which aims to secure events of strategic importance that deliver a range of lasting benefits. These include economic, social and cultural benefits as well as improving sporting performance by home athletes, encouraging participation and leaving a legacy of facilities and development initiatives. Over 120 sporting events have been staged in the UK through the programme since 1997. More at www.uksport.gov.uk