Reigning champion retains title at Boulters to Bray swim

A triumphant day was had by swimmers at the Boulters to Bray open water swim as last year's winner regained the trophy.

More than 170 swimmers donned their wet suits to take part in the event, supported by the Louis Baylis (Maidenhead Advertiser) Charitable Trust, which saw them swim 1.7 miles from Boulters Lock in Maidenhead to The Waterside Inn in Bray.

Alastair Bingham, of Horseguards Drive in Maidenhead, took the title of the fastest swimmer for the second time in a row with a time of 29 minutes.

The 17 year-old, who competed in the junior men category said: "It was a good swim, I was sprinting as fast as I could towards the end and it paid off.

"I started swimming at the age of five and have been swimming competitively for ten years. It was nice to keep my title from last year”, added the Windsor Swimming Club member.

Winners of other categories included Matt Baker in the open men with 30 minutes, Aimee Campbell in the open women with 34 minutes, Jim Mackenzie in the masters men with 33 minutes, Christine Van Der Spuy in the masters women with 34 minutes and Abigail Dow in the junior women with 32 minutes.

This is the second time the event has been held following a 43-year absence, and was rounded off with a presentation at Maidenhead Rowing Club.

Event organiser Keith Dixon said: "It's been a great day, we've had a bigger turn-out than last year.

"It's a real Maidenhead event and it has brought the whole community together to watch a high-standard of competition."