THE first River Dee Bridge to Bridge swim has taken place in Chester to honour the memory of a popular paediatrician.
The six-mile event took place on Saturday from the Iron Bridge at Aldford to Queen’s Park suspension bridge in Chester.
A three-mile swim also took place from Eccleston Ferry to the same finish in Chester.
The swims were held as one of the British Long Distance Swimming Association (BLDSA) championship races that take place across the country.
All swimmers completed the swim without the aid of a wetsuit.
The event took place to honour the memory of Dr Dave Casson, a paediatrician from Norley, who worked at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and in Chester.
Dave, who was a keen open water swimmer, died aged 45, after a short illness in 2009 and the event brought together many family, friends and colleagues to remember him.
Twenty brave swimmers, all escorted by a kayaker, set off at 10am from the Iron Bridge at Aldford.
The Duke of Westminster had kindly given permission for the swim to start in his estate and had been supportive during the preparations.
Lydia Woodward and Nicola Fraser took an early lead and, setting a very fast pace, they passed Eccleston Ferry after only 45 minutes.
Not far behind them at this stage, Jane McCormick, Michaela Richard and Simon Lee were swimming well.
All the six-mile swimmers were past Eccleston when the three-mile swim started from Eccleston Ferry at 11.30am.
A number of the competitors were making their first splash in an open-water event, including Daniel Casson, Dave’s brother, and Owain Williams from Littleton, Chester.
The good weather had made this one of the busiest days on the river this year.
The River Dee patrol boat, two safety boats and more than 30 kayakers ensured all the swimmers finished the race without incident.
It also encouraged a large crowd of friends, family and interested passers-by who lined the river bank to applaud the swimmers as they approached The Groves at the finish.
Nicola Fraser was the first under the bridge in an impressive time of one hour 57 minutes, becoming the first winner of both the six mile female trophy and the David Casson trophy for the first male or female under the bridge.
Lydia Woodward finished only two minutes behind and was the only other competitor to break the two hour barrier.
Simon Lee was the first male, in two hours 17 minutes.
In the three mile race, Sue Marsh and Phil Burchell won the female and male races, in times of one hour 33 minutes and one hour 24 minutes.
The final trophy of the day was awarded for outstanding achievement.
Although every swimmer deserved it on the day, Daniel Casson won the award after recovering from a recent road traffic accident to complete his first open water swim which was commemorating his brother, finishing the three mile swim in two hours 14 minutes.
The awards ceremony took place at the Grosvenor Rowing Club afterwards.
Dave’s wife Penny and his children George and Ella presented the prizes in a clubhouse packed with swimmers, kayakers, family and friends.
The event was successful in raising more than £1500 for the BabyGrow Appeal, which is raising funds for a new special care baby unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
The second Bridge to Bridge swim is planned for September 2013.
