Twenty five West Australian open water swimmers will be heading over to Nagambie Lakes in Victoria to compete in the 2010 Australian Open Water Championships this weekend, Saturday 20^th and Sunday 21^st February.

The 2010 Australian Open Water Championships is set to showcase Australia's top open water swimming talent in the hope to qualify as a team member for the 2010 Open Water Swimming World Championships, 2010 Open Water Swimming Pan Pacific Championships, 2010 Open Water Swimming Junior Pan Pacific Championships and 2010 Open Water Swimming Oceania Championships.

Western Australia's top open water swimmers Rhys Mainstone and Melissa Benson from City of Perth swimming club are both strong contenders at the championships. Mainstone placed fourth in the 10km open water swim at the 2009 FINA World Cup in Sharjah and was an open water team member at the Rome World Championships. Benson also competed at the FINA World Cup placing 17^th.

Many of these competitors proved their ability at Swimming WA's Water Corporation Open Water Championships held at Sorrento Beach back in January. Swimming WA President Jeanette Bailey believes that their participation over the 2009/2010 Open Water Series has given swimmers valuable experience in the lead up to this event.

"It is fantastic to see so many WA competitors heading over to the Australian Open Water Championships this year. If their performance at state level is any indication to go by, WA swimmers will be sure have a strong presence at Nagambie Lakes" said Bailey.

Day 1 of the championships will include the open men's and women's 10km swim and day 2 will be the 5km swim.

Please see the listing below of all WA Open Water swimming competitors.

Men Open 10km Open Water	Women Open 10km Open Water
Jason Evans (City of Perth)	Melissa Benson (City of Perth)
Rhys Mainstone (City of Perth)	Rachael Cooper (Kalamunda)
Eric Watson (Arena)	Jenna Ward (Victoria Park)
Gene Williams (City of Perth)	Brooke Wilson (City of Perth)
Men Open 5km Open Water	Women Open 5km Open Water
Harry Child (Victoria Park)	Melissa Benson (City of Perth)
Jason Evans (City of Perth)	Jennifer Blaxill (Riverton Blue Marlins)
Rhys Mainstone (City of Perth)	Kirra Walter (City of Perth)
Eric Watson (Arena)	Jenna Ward (Victoria Park)
Gene Williams (City of Perth)	Brooke Wilson (City of Perth)
Boys 14-18 10km Open Water	Girls 14-18 10km Open Water
Elliot Grierson (City of Perth)	Caitlyn James (Kalamunda)
Michael Swaddle (Victoria Park)	Holly Child (Victoria Park)
	Jessica Murray (Baracudas)
Boys 16-18 5km Open Water	Girls 16-18 5km Open Water
Thomas Atkin (West Coast)	Nicole Sainsbury (Victoria Park)
Elliot Grierson (City of Perth)
Michael Swaddle (Victoria Park)
Harry Child (Victoria Park)
Boys 13-15 5km Open Water	Girls 13-15 5km Open Water
Jack Osborne (Riverton Blue Marlins)	Jennifer Blaxill (Riverton Blue Marlins)
William Rollo (Kalamunda)	Caitlyn James (Kalamunda)
Andrew Warnock (West Coast)	Jiorja Ralston (West Coast)
Dino Kapac (City of Perth)	Amy Barker (Westside Christchurch)
Brandon Bennier (Kalamunda)	Holly Child (Victoria Park)
	Kirra Walter (City of Perth)

Swimming WA would like to wish all the swimmers the very best of luck.