LYNSEY Tuckerman, Gemma Hitchlock and Joanne Bennett became the first Bury and Elton girl members to compete in a long distance open water swim when they took part in the annual Llyn Padarn lake swim last Saturday.

The 13-year-olds were the youngest swimmers in the two-mile open event, competing against both males and females up to 70 years-old!

The more unorthodox starting of open water races initially caught out the girls, resulting in trepidation as they slowly waded out to a depth deep enough to swim in.

However, they quickly adapted to the difference in rules, conditions and, more importantly, temperature and set of in pursuit of the leaders.

Intelligent pacing soon had them within the top eight. Unfortunately, the experience of the leading male and female swimmers paid dividends, with the girls having to regularly interrupt their strokes to gain their bearings, they eventually finished the race in fifth, sixth and seventh place overall.

This disappointment was quickly replaced with elation when the girls realised that they were in fact second in the mixed junior team event.

All three completed the two-mile swim in under 57 minutes, a testament to their fitness and all-round swimming ability.

The girls are now hoping to continue this success when they compete in the Northern Counties Championship event at Salford Quays later this month August.