King and Queen of the Moor!

2019 has certainly been a good year for our Open Water swimmers!

Performance Squad swimmer, Gemma Owen has been crowned Queen of the Moor and our former swimmer Neil Gilson crowned King of the Moor!

Back in June, on Sunday 16th June at Roadford Lake on Dartmoor, Gemma (19) swam the Dartmoor Swim and placed 2nd female overall, with the course being shortened to 4km due to the really poor weather. Then at the end of September, on Sunday 29th September at Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor, she swam the Exmoor Swim placing 3rd female for the 6km swim in better weather conditions this time with it being less windy, but still a wet day. In both events Gemma placed 1st in the youth category. Overall her combined times from both events placed her as first overall female in a wetsuit making her Queen of the Moor in a combined time of 2 hours 35 minutes and 53 seconds for the 10km! Well done Gemma! Crowned an excellent year of Open Water swims.

Gemma with her Queen of the Moor Trophy.

Our former swimmer Neil Gilson, who has also had an amazing year in Open Water took part in the Dartmoor Swim which he won. This was in preparation for his mammoth charity challenge to swim 24 miles in 24 hours, which he successfully completed back in June in Loch Lubnaig in Scotland. Neil raised over £6000 in the process for PANS PANDAS. Neil also took part in the Exmoor Swim, winning the 6km swim in an impressive time of 1 hour 20 minutes, which meant he was crowned King of the Moor!

Steve Hurley who is one of our Masters swimmers and keen Open Water competitor, has also had a really successful year, winning a number of Open Water events during 2019, also competed at the Exmoor Swim coming out first overall in the 2km with a time of 25 minutes 7 seconds. He was over 4 minutes faster than the next competitor over the line! Amazing swim Steve!

Well done to all and here are some photos from the recent Exmoor Swim. (Photo credit - Exmoor Swim Facebook Page)

Gemma (Queen of the Moor) far left / Neil (King of the Moor) far right