Great Swim
Encyclopedia
Billed as "the UK's biggest mass participation open water swimming
series", the Great Swim was started in 2008 with a one mile Great North Swim in Windermere
. Taking its inspiration from the world’s biggest half marathon the Great North Run
, and the idea of Long Distance swimmer Colin Hill who was working for Nova international, Great Swim uses the formula of mass participation events to provide a focus and a challenge for which the individual can train.
After the success of the inaugural Great North Swim on 14 September 2008, which attracted over 2,200 swimmers of all ages and abilities (including five of the six Olympic Open Water Medallists), the series was expanded in 2009 to 4 events and added the title sponsor of British Gas. The Great London Swim took place for the first time on 15 August 2009 in Royal Victoria Dock
. The Great Scottish Swim took place on Saturday 29 August 2009 at Strathclyde Park
, followed by the Great North Swim on 12 and 13 September 2009 and finally the Great East Swim on Saturday 26 September in Alton Water
. Over 6,000 swimmers registered for the Great North Swim in 2009, and nearly 4,600 recorded a finishing time for the one mile distance. Over the 4 events in 2009, over 6,700 swimmers were recorded as having completed the distance.
In 2010 the series was extended to include an event in Salford Quays
, all events were televised on Channel 4 with hour shows dedicted to each event, with the main focus on the elite races. In addition, 500m swims have been added to the program at each venue as well as a 2 mile swim in Windermere called The Great North Swim the Extra Mile. However, 2010 saw the cancellation of both the Great Scottish and Great North Swims due to the presence of a controversial amount of blue-green algae at both sites, leaving several thousand swimmers disappointed.
2011, however had 10,000 swimmers sign up to the British Gas Great North Swim, held over 3 days and included two mile, one mile and half mile events.
The British Gas Great Salford Swim was shown live on BBC.
2011 Head of Great Swim, Colin Hill, left Nova International to work for the London 2012 Olympics as Marathon Swimming Technical Operations Manager.
Each event features an elite race for women and another elite race for men, followed by a series of "waves" of swimmers with up to 200 swimmers in a wave. The course is GPS calibrated to ensure that the exact distance of one mile is covered and each competitor is electronically timed with a chip strapped to the ankle.
Although not specifically a charity swim, many participants raised money for a range of charities. Specific charity partners are nominated for each event (and sometimes are able to provide entries) but no restrictions are in place around fund-raising.
Open water swimming
Open water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, canals, and reservoirs.The beginning of the modern age of open water swimming is sometimes taken to be May 3, 1810, when Lord Byron swam several miles to cross the Hellespont from Europe to Asia.In...
series", the Great Swim was started in 2008 with a one mile Great North Swim in Windermere
Windermere
Windermere is the largest natural lake of England. It is also a name used in a number of places, including:-Australia:* Lake Windermere , a reservoir, Australian Capital Territory * Lake Windermere...
. Taking its inspiration from the world’s biggest half marathon the Great North Run
Great North Run
The Bupa Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon, taking place annually each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields in England. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.The first Great...
, and the idea of Long Distance swimmer Colin Hill who was working for Nova international, Great Swim uses the formula of mass participation events to provide a focus and a challenge for which the individual can train.
After the success of the inaugural Great North Swim on 14 September 2008, which attracted over 2,200 swimmers of all ages and abilities (including five of the six Olympic Open Water Medallists), the series was expanded in 2009 to 4 events and added the title sponsor of British Gas. The Great London Swim took place for the first time on 15 August 2009 in Royal Victoria Dock
Royal Victoria Dock
The Royal Victoria Dock is the largest of three docks in the Royal Docks of east London, now part of the redeveloped Docklands.-History:...
. The Great Scottish Swim took place on Saturday 29 August 2009 at Strathclyde Park
Strathclyde Park
Strathclyde Country Park is a country park located in Lanarkshire, Scotland.The park covers some 4 km², centred on the artificial Strathclyde Loch. It is located next to the River Clyde between Hamilton and Motherwell. Strathclyde Park forms what used to be known as the Low parks of the now...
, followed by the Great North Swim on 12 and 13 September 2009 and finally the Great East Swim on Saturday 26 September in Alton Water
Alton Water
Alton Water is a manmade reservoir. It is the largest in Suffolk, with a circumference of over 8 miles .-Construction:...
. Over 6,000 swimmers registered for the Great North Swim in 2009, and nearly 4,600 recorded a finishing time for the one mile distance. Over the 4 events in 2009, over 6,700 swimmers were recorded as having completed the distance.
In 2010 the series was extended to include an event in Salford Quays
Salford Quays
Salford Quays is an area of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Previously the site of Manchester Docks, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in...
, all events were televised on Channel 4 with hour shows dedicted to each event, with the main focus on the elite races. In addition, 500m swims have been added to the program at each venue as well as a 2 mile swim in Windermere called The Great North Swim the Extra Mile. However, 2010 saw the cancellation of both the Great Scottish and Great North Swims due to the presence of a controversial amount of blue-green algae at both sites, leaving several thousand swimmers disappointed.
2011, however had 10,000 swimmers sign up to the British Gas Great North Swim, held over 3 days and included two mile, one mile and half mile events.
The British Gas Great Salford Swim was shown live on BBC.
2011 Head of Great Swim, Colin Hill, left Nova International to work for the London 2012 Olympics as Marathon Swimming Technical Operations Manager.
Each event features an elite race for women and another elite race for men, followed by a series of "waves" of swimmers with up to 200 swimmers in a wave. The course is GPS calibrated to ensure that the exact distance of one mile is covered and each competitor is electronically timed with a chip strapped to the ankle.
Although not specifically a charity swim, many participants raised money for a range of charities. Specific charity partners are nominated for each event (and sometimes are able to provide entries) but no restrictions are in place around fund-raising.