This weekend Sevilla and the Swimming Federation of Andulucia hosted the 21st Spanish National Open Water Championships 2018.
This three day event 15th – 17th June took place at the “CAR Isla de La Cartunja” in the Guadalquivir river. Over 600 swimmers from all over Spain, Portugual and further afield participated in in range of categories from 15 years to 70 plus years over distances of 3km, 5km, 7.5km and 10km. Local swimmers from Alicante, Petrer, Murcia, Elche and Torre Pacheco participated in the Masters 3km event.
Due to the large number of participants, and in the rising heat of the day, Master swimmers started their races in 9 separate 10 minute intervals. With over 50 swimmers in each start. The course of 3km took a route between bridges over the river and was marked with large white buoys.
Professionally overseen by officials from the Spanish Swimming Federation monitoring competitors by boats around the course swimmers finished the circuit at the electronic timing board at the start pontoon.
Results: Our local swimmers Beth Altabas and Vicki Connolly won medals in their events. Beth won a gold medal in the Female 70+ category with a time of 1:04:25 and Vicki a bronze in the Female 50-54 category with a time of 51:54. Other local swimmers also had good swims and all are looking forward to the rest of the Open Water season.
