H2Open, the World’s first dedicated open water swimming magazine, has joined forces with seven race organisers to create Britain’s first National Open Water Swimming Ranking Series for 2012.

The concept is simple. Swimmers will have to complete three of the seven races to participate and will be awarded points based on their finishing position. The top swimmers in each age group will be crowned national champions at the end of the year. Race distances range from 1 mile to 5 km and take place in the sea, rivers and lakes around Britain.

Open water swimming can be great fun but it can only be fully appreciated if you are a strong swimmer, and this is achieved through training and advanced learning. As this can be a long process, the ASA want to help people along the way before they themselves go out to share the knowledge they have gained.

If you are a confident swimmer, why not start by helping lead some of the swimmer groups in our Club sea swims! And if you are keen to develop a career helping others to swim, the ASA runs a series of seminars on continuing professional development.

We are planning to kick off the New Year by combining our AGM with a social gathering including a lunch and a game of skittles!

You are warmly invited to attend, and we are meeting at the Coach & Horses Pub, Wimborne on Sunday 5 February with the lunch starting at 12.30pm. If you wish to attend the lunch, please contact Gina (download file for details) as she is preparing a list of diners. After lunch, the AGM should start around 2 pm and not last more than 30-40 minutes after which we will play a game of skittles (no experts please!). We should finish around 4-5 pm.

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The Big Splash Mile for Sport Relief challenge was launched as part of the Swimathon Weekend over 27 – 29 April 2012.

The launch took place in 10 pools across Great Britain with swimming ambassadors Duncan Goodhew and Jodie Kidd swimming the first two lengths at London’s Oasis Sports Centre.

There were also features across national and regional television through Big Splash partners, the BBC.

It doesn’t take much to get club leaders Ali and Stuart swimming in open water, particularly when we mentioned celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall would be cooking up some tasty carb-loading dishes after a 3km river swim at Wareham.

Ali and Stuart were part of a group of open water swimmers featured in an episode of River Cottage Veg. Vegetarian triathlete Colin Hill (of Great Swim fame), Ali, Stuart and the swimmers tackled the snacks with gusto. There’s also footage of Colin and Stuart competing in the 2011 10km Dart Swim.

World Champion Keri-anne Payne has been announced FINA Athlete of the Year for women’s Open Water after her impressive summer performance.

The best nine Athletes of the Year 2011 were selected by FINA for its five aquatic disciplines. FINA collected votes from its 202 National Member Federations, media and aquatic experts. Payne was recognised for her achievements at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai where she dominated the two-hour long 10km Open Water race.

Open water sighting technique with World Champion Keri-anne Payne and Dan Bullock

Advice from World Champion Keri-anne Payne and Dan Bullock (6m 27s)

ASA SW Region President, Chris Esmond, sadly passed away at 1pm, Sunday 27 November 2011. Jean, Kyrsty and Jon where with him.

Our thoughts and prayers will be with Jean and his family at this most difficult time. We will advise funeral service details when the arrangements have been made.

Di Gibbs, Secretary Dorset County ASA, will be contacting friends and colleagues in Dorset but please advise anyone else who would appreciate being informed.