British Gas ITC Swansea swimmer Tom Allen, who competed at the World Championships in Shanghai last month, won silver with a strong swim in the 5km race in Navia.

As well as the European Juniors Navia is hosting RFEN and regional Championships.

Germany won the 3km event in 32.08.8, Italy were second (32.34.9) and hosts Spain third (32.35.0) - the team’s time equates to that of the third swimmer to finish.

The GB team of Thomas Allen (32:54.2), Thomas Sunter (32:55.3) and Danielle Hall-Jackson (32:56.2) came 6th.

The British Gas GBR Open Water Swimming Team that will take on the best swimmers from the continent at the Open Water European Junior Championships in Spain, has been announced.

The six-strong Team which features, World Championship finalist Thomas Allen and former European Junior Champion Eleanor Faulkner, will take part in the two day event from the 12th August as they compete in the 5km races.

More than 50 eager young swimmers gathered on the bank of Rother Valley Country Park to take part in the Championships.

The overcast conditions did not deter swimmers tackling two distances from 1750 metres - 15/16 Yrs Age Group through to a 2000m - 17/18 Yrs Age Group.

The 2011 British Gas ASA 3km Masters Open Water champions were decided on the opening day of the ASA Open Water Festival at Rother Valley Country Park in Sheffield.

Following on from the 1km mass participation event, the experienced swimmers of the British Gas ASA 3k Open Water Masters Championships took to the water to compete for national honours.

Fastest person to swim the English Channel, Peter Stoychev (Bulgaria) won the Men’s 25km race in 5:10:39.8. Vladimir Dyatchin (Russia) was 35.8 seconds behind in 5:11:15.6 and Csaba Gercak (Hungary) third in 5:11:18.1. The water temperature hit 31 degrees.

In the Women’s 25km race, Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil) won gold in 5:29:22.9. Angela Maurer (Germany) was 2.1 seconds behind on 5:29:25.0 for the silver and Alice Franco (Italy) was third in 5:29:30.8.

Swann Oberson (SUI) won the sprint finish to secure Women’s 5km gold medal in 1:00:39.7. Aurelie Muller (FRA) was second in 1:00:40.1 and Ashley Grace Twichell (USA) third in 1:00:40.2.

Thomas Lurz (GER) won the Men’s 5km in 56:16.6 with 10km winner Spyros Gianniotis (GRE) second in 56:17.4 0.8 and Evgeny Drattsev (RUS) third 56:18.5.

Britain’s open water swimmers Dan Fogg and Tom Allen showed determination and grit as they battled their way through the Men’s 10km event at the World Championships in Shanghai in slightly cooler conditions.

Gold went to Spyros Goanniotis of Greece in 1.54:24.7, Thomas Lurz of Germany took silver in 1.54:27.2 and Sergey Bolshakov of Russia was third in 1.54:31.8. Fogg finished 15th in 1:54:46.9 with Allen 26th on 1:55:37.4.

British swimmer Keri-anne Payne led throughout to retain her World Championship 10km title in Shanghai.

Payne touched in 2.01:58.1 with Italy’s 2010 FINA Open Water 10km World Champion Martina Grimaldi taking the silver in 2.01:59.9 and Marianna Lymperta of Greece took the bronze in 2.02:01.8.

Events are underway at the 2011 FINA World Championships, but not all swimming takes place in the pool. Competitors head into the open water for action at Jinshan City Beach in Shanghai on Tuesday 19 July.

The host team, China, did its official training at the venue on Thursday morning. The open water races include 5k, 10k and 25k events. The swimmers held a half-hour practice to get used to the temperature and the environment. They had trained in rivers and lakes for the past month, and now worked to complete the transition from swimming in freshwater to sea-water before the 5 days of competition begin.

At the ASA SW Open water Swimming Championships and Age Group Competitions 2011 held at Preston Beach, Weymouth on 3 July 2011:

Emma Baird (42.41.84) was awarded the Dorset County ASA silver salver and gold medal, and a Regional silver medal in the 3km Women’s 15 to 18yr age group. Martha Holman (1.24.29.5) was awarded the Dorset County ASA trophy and gold medal, and a Regional bronze medal in the 5km Women’s 17 to 29yr age group.