The 2010 Australian Open Water Championships concluded at Nagambie Lakes on Sunday 21^st February. WA swimmers had a strong presence at the championships with some fantastic swims from WA's up and coming open water competitors.  

19 year old Rhys Mainstone, from City of Perth, was crowned 2010 Australian Open Water Champion in the Men's Open 10km swim in what was a very impressive race stopping the clock at 1:53.53.90. Mainstone has been awarded automatic selection to the Pan Pacific Games and has also secured a place on the World Open Water team when they compete in Roberval, Canada in July.

"While it was great to win today it's a stepping stone to my ultimate goal which is the London 2012 Olympics and I am ticking off all the boxes faster than I had expected," said Mainstone. 

"I dug down really deep today and did a lot of work towards the end of the race and obviously it paid off."

WA swimmers didn't fail to impress as team mates Jason Evans and Gene Williams, also from City of Perth, competed in the 10km swim. Evans finished in 12^th position with a time of 1:58.26.20 and budding 16 year old Williams finished in 18^th place stopping the clock at 2:01.02.30. Williams was the second youngest to cross the finishing line in the 10km swim. Eric Watson from Arena finished in 24^th place with a time 2:07.10.80.

2009 World Cup competitor Melissa Benson, from City of Perth, finished in 7^th place with a time of 2:07.40.30 in the Women's Open 10km swim. Fellow club team mate, Brooke Wilson stopped the clock at 2:12.01.50 putting her in 13^th position and Jenna Ward from Victoria Park finished in 17^th place with a time of 2:16.04.80. Rachel Cooper from Kalamunda did not finish.

In the Boys 16 years 5km open water swim saw Harry Child from Victoria Park in 6^th place stopping the clock at 1:01.20.50 followed by Elliot Grierson from City of Perth in 7^th position with a time of 1:02.28.70 and Thomas Atkin in 15^th place with a time of 1:07.49.60.

Michael Swaddle of Victoria Park came 21^st with a time of 1:09.26.10 in the Boys 17-18 years 5km swim. In the Girls event Nicole Sainsbury of Victoria Park came in 15^th place with a time of 1:19.20.70.

Jack Osborne from Riverton Blue Marlins finished in 7^th place with a time of 1:08.31.00 in the Boys 13 years 5km swim followed William Rollo from Kalamunda in 8^th position stopping the clock at 1:08.52.00. Andrew Warnock from West Coast came in 12^th position with a time of 1:12.21.00.

Dino Kapac from City of Perth placed 15^th in the Boys 14 years 5km with a time of 1:05.42.00.

In the Boys 15 years 5km event Brandon Bennier of Kalamunda finished in 17^th position with a time of 1:06.48.00.

Jennifer Blaxill from Riverton Blue Marlins finished the race with a time of 1:07.36.30 putting her in 6^th position in the Girls 14 year 5km swim. Kalamunda swimmer Caitlyn James finished 20^th with a time of 1:12.38.80 and West Coast swimmer Jiorja Ralston finished 23^rd with a time of 1:13.10.40.

Holly Child from Victoria Park finished in 9^th place with a time of 1:10.00.20 in the Girls 15 years 5km swim. Kirra Walter from City of Perth finished 14^th with a time of 1:12.44.60 and Amy Barker from Westside Christchurch finished 25^th stopping the clock at 1:17.23.10.

In the Men's Open 5km swim on Sunday Gene Williams, from City of Perth, was the youngest competitor to cross the line in 6^th place stopping the clock at 56:47.00. After a triumphant win on Saturday Rhys Mainstone finished in 10^th place with a time of 56:50.60 whilst fellow club member Jason Evans finished in 15^th place with a time of 57:01.20. Harry Child from Victoria Park placed 14^th with a time of 1:02:53.50 followed by Eric Watson of Arena with a time of 1:02:58.70.

In the Women's Open 5km event, City of Perth swimmer Melissa Benson finished in 10^th place stopping the clock at 1:01:28.50. Fellow club member Brooke Wilson followed in 13^th place with a time of 1:01.34.80. Victoria Park swimmer Jenna Ward was in 24^th place with a time of 1:08:14.10 and Kirra Walter from City of Perth finished in 29^th position crossing the line in 1:12:59.80.

A superb effort from City of Perth swimmer Elliot Grierson, who placed 3^rd in the Boys 16 years 10km swim stopping the clock at 2:13.25.00. Michael Swaddle from Victoria Park did not finish in the Boys 17-18 years 10km swim.

In the Girls 14 years 10km swim Caitlyn James of Kalamunda placed 6^th with a time of 2:32.42.00.

Holly Child from Victoria Park finished in 5^th place stopping the clock at 2:30.22.00 followed by Jessica Murray from Barracudas with a time of 2:30.45.00 in the Girls 15 years 10km event. 

Swimming WA would like to congratulations all the swimmers that competed at the 2010 Australian Open Water Championships and to Rhys Mainstone for taking out the Men's Open title.

This is a fantastic effort by WA competitors and we are sure to see many of these top open water swimmers appear throughout the open water swim scene for many years to come.