The DLGC First Ever All Female Relay Team

Congratulations to The Dover Lifeguard Channel Swimming Relay Team
Sophie, Tori, Lucy, Mel, Corienne and Laura completed the swim on the
27th Aug 2005 in a time of 9 hours 47 mins. - WELL DONE!!

What is open water swimming?

Regional & Kent Championships 2006

The definitions:

• Open water swimming shall be any competition that takes place in a river, lake or sea.
• Long distance swimming shall be an event in open water competitions up to a maximum of 10 kilometres.
• Marathon swimming shall be an event in an open water competition over 10 kilometres.

Club organised swims: 

• Dover Life Guard Club hosts a series of swims from their headquarters on Dover beach from May through to September. (This is the open water season) and a calendar of events will be posted.
• We travel to events such as Brighton for the Pier to pier race, the Kent & SE Regional Championships at Portsmouth, Junior International & British Championships at the Albert Docks and National Age Groups at Nottingham.
• We have a history of solo and relay team successes across the English Channel. (escorted by one of the regulating firms)

ASA organised swims: 

• Grand prix series each year, which consists of 5K races, held in the South, the Midlands, the North and the finals being held at Nottingham.
• National Age Groups which are held at Nottingham.
• British 5k & 10k championships.

• Some ASA Regions organise regional championships and grand prix. The SE Region ASA is one of the regions to do this.

 FINA organised events: 

• FINA organise an International programme. There is qualifying criteria for these swims as there is big prize money.

British Long Distance Swimming Association organised events: 

• The BLDSA organise their own grand prix which includes approximately 13 swims at different venues around the country.

Please don’t be confused by the definitive word of competition as “open water swimming” is also about personal challenges and achievements.

This Photograph was taken at the Southern Counties Long Distance Championships, at the Royal Albert Dock London 1999