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Posted: 12 May 2011 | Channels: Sport, Consumer

Keri-Anne Payne Gets Inspired Ahead of the British Gas Great Swim Series

The Stockport swimmer will compete in the opening event of the series, the Great Salford Swim on Sunday 15th May. She is still celebrating after winning her first 10km race of the season at the LEN Open Water Cup in Israel last Saturday, where she secured qualification for the World Championships in Shanghai in July.

Today the world champion passed on advice to three soldiers from 9 Parachute Squadron RE, based in Woodbridge, Suffolk, who will participate in the British Gas Great London Swim on 2nd July in aid of BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Service Mans Association). They decided to swim for the charity when their good friend was badly injured after standing on an IED while on tour with them in Afghanistan earlier this year.

Pamela Batchelor, 44, from Southam, Warwickshire, is another amazing individual who took part in the master class. She overcame ovarian cancer at age 25, then breast cancer at 31 and will also swim at the London event in July.

The British Gas Great Swim Series is a group of multi-distance events, ranging from half a mile to 2 miles, which are open to swimmers of all abilities. The swims take place in various lakes, lochs and docks at five locations around the UK, to enable as many people as possible to take part.

In addition to the huge number of amateur swimmers, the British Gas Great Swim Series attracts the world’s top elite competitors.

The 2011 British Gas Great North Swim at Lake Windermere has already hit the magic 10,000 mark.

The following events make up the 2011 British Gas Great swim Series:

  • The British Gas Great Salford Swim, Salford Quays – Sunday 15 May
  • The British Gas Great East Swim, Alton Water near Ipswich – Saturday 11 June
  • The British Gas Great North Swim, Lake Windermere, Lake District, Friday 17 to Sunday 19 June
  • The British Gas Great London Swim, Royal Victoria Dock – Saturday 2 July 2011
  • The British Gas Great Scottish Swim, Strathclyde Loch near Glasgow – Saturday 24 September
For more information visit www.greatswim.org