Published: July 29, 2012
Large crowds turn out to watch Burnham-On-Sea's Stert Island Swim

Dozens of swimmers completed Burnham-On-Sea's gruelling Stert Island Swim on Sunday (July 29th), watched by large numbers of spectators.

A large crowd lined the jetty and seafront to watch the annual 2,400m sea race from Burnham to Stert and back, which began at high tide at 3.45pm.

The event was won by Malcolm Greenslade while the runner-up was Marcus Williams.

Sara Dykes from West Country Triathletes, which oversees the annual race, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It was a very successful afternoon and we had a very good turnout of spectators and swimmers."

Burnham's Deputy Mayor, Martin Cox, officially started the event.

He and Deputy Mayoress Pauline Pollard handed out ceremonial towels to the swimmers on the finishing line.

The event was supported by the Town Council, BARB, the RNLI, Natural England, Taunton Canoe Club and St John Ambulance Service.

The swimmers ran into the sea at the start of the Stert Island Swim

Winner Malcolm Greenslade and runner-up Marcus Williams with organiser Sara Dykes

One of the lifeboats putting out the inflatable directional buoys

Deputy Mayor Martin Cox and Deputy Mayoress Pauline Pollard with Sara

All photos courtesy of Jan Bonus