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.

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.

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.

Keri-anne Payne has been named Women’s Open Water Athlete of the Year by European national governing body LEN.

The 23-year old – who trains under Sean Kelly at the British Gas ITC Stockport – has enjoyed her most productive season to date, defending her 10km title at the World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai and becoming the first Brit to qualify for London 2012 in the process.

The FREE 48-page Open Water supplement with the November 2011 issue of Swimming Times features world 10k open water champ Keri-Anne Payne, British Gas Great Swims, ASA open water festival, Bosworth swims, Henleaze Long Swim, safety, technique, book reviews and several personal reminiscences of open water swimming that will amaze and inspire you.

Safety is of paramount importance to the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) and British Swimming in the conduct of any Open Water Swimming event / competition.

Click to download Guidance, Safe Operating Procedures & Risk Assessment.

3 September 2011 - Sandbanks to Southbourne

Congratulations to everyone who took part in our annual 10km swim. There were some very creditable performances but everyone swam brilliantly. Well done!

We have posted times for the swim below. A great swim from Emma Baird showed the boys a thing or two!

We woiuld like to thank Linda Vides and family for providing refreshments at the end of the swim

Ronan Keating and Jenny Frost led a 10-man relay team across the treacherous 56 miles of Irish Sea to raise money for Cancer Research UK last week.

The team – a mixture of celebrities and ‘everyday swimmers’ – reached Dublin in 35 hours and 18 minutes after setting off from Holyhead, North Wales at 9pm on 30 August 2011.