Burnham-On-Sea pensioner Roger Venner stole the limelight at Sunday’s Stert Island Swim by finishing it for a tenth year.

Crowds lined the seafront to watch the annual 2,400m Stert Island Swim from Burnham to Stert and back, which began shortly before high tide at 10.45am.

The event was won by triathlete Marcus Williams in a fast time of 27 minutes and 16 seconds.

But the loudest cheers of the day were for Burnham swimmer Roger Venner, 79, who completed his tenth Stert Island Swim in a time of 1.02.57.

Speaking afterwards, he told Burnham-On-Sea.com he had “greatly enjoyed” the swim, which was helped by warm sea water and low winds.

Martin Rogers from West Country Triathletes, which oversees the annual race, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It was a very successful event – we had a great turnout of spectators and swimmers. It worked well holding it on the same day as the rescue services day.”

Burnham’s Mayor, Martin Cox, officially started the event alongside MP Tessa Munt while both he and Mayoress Arlene Cox handed out ceremonial towels to the finishing swimmers. The event was supported by Burnham Town Council, BARB, the RNLI, Natural England, Taunton Canoe Club and St John Ambulance Service.

Burnham’s Mayor, Martin Cox, and Mayoress Arlene Cox with Roger Venner

Winner Marcus Williams finished the gruelling swim in a quick time

Third placed Lee Martin finished just in front of the fourth place Meredith Owen

The first three home were Marcus Williams, Brian Phillips and Lee Martin

Lorraine Ayres was delighted to be finishing the gruelling swim in a good time

Julie Watch from Somerset Tri Club finishing Sunday’s Stert Island Swim

Spectators on the beach during Sunday’s swim

First lady was Larisa Green and first man was Marcus Williams, seen here with organisers Martin Rogers and Celia Miall from West Country Triathletes

The 66 competitors setting off into Bridgwater Bay from the swim

Organiser Martin Rogers giving a safety briefing to the swim competitors

Mayor Martin Cox with MP Tessa Munt at the start of the swim

Swimmers getting ready for the start of Sunday’s sea swim

Burnham shop owner Phil Hemming taking part in the sea swim

Mayor Martin Cox with James Heappey and Paul Young during the event

.FULL RESULTS: STERT ISLAND SWIM 2013

01 Marcus Williams 146 Male 27.16 DB Max Triathlon Club
02 Brian Phillips 166 Male 28.13 Newport & East Wales Tri (NEWT)
03 Martin Lee 109 Male 28.49 Frome Triathlon Club
04 Owen Meredith 107 Male 28.52
05 Nik Newman 119 Male 29.32
06 James Paull 134 Male 30.01 Somerset RC Tri
07 Larisa Green 122 Female 30.13 Mendip Triathlon
08 Martin Rogers 101 Male 30.21 West Country Triathletes
09 Abbie Terrett 133 Female 30.26 Somerset RC Tri
10 Nigel Bean 142 Male 31.03
11 Steve Etchells 180 Male 31.12 Weston-super-Mare
12 Russell Brown 154 Male 31.16 Somerset RC Tri
13 Stuart Collins 117 Male 31.18 Somerset RC Tri
14 Celia Miall 149 Female 32.05 West Country Triathletes
15 Alex Clinkard 156 Female 32.46 Wells and Shepton Mallet Swimming Club
16 Robin Webster 120 Male 32.47
17 Claire Thomas 162 Female 32.51 West Country Triathletes
18 Simon Spedding 173 Male 32.58
19 Lorraine Ayres 116 Female 33.06 Somerset RC Tri
20 Carl Ward 150 Male 33.36 Somerset RC Tri
21 Darren Newman 135 Male 33.38 West Country Triathletes
22 Simon Williams 178 Male 33.55 Wessex Wizards
23 Sarah Poplar 115 Female 34.01
24 Steven Bunce 189 Male 34.03 BADtri
25 Matt Cox 125 Male 34.21
26 Dean Bird 144 Male 34.25 wsmsc
27 Andy Hayes 181 Male 34.26 Weston AC
28 Greg Howe 147 Male 34.27
29 Max Sauter 151 Male 34.30 Somerset RC Tri
30 Julian Ridgley 121 Male 34.31 Somerset RC Tri
31 Simon Philbrick 152 Male 34.32 Synergy Action
32 Jonathan Pike 105 Male 34.33 Charlton Lido SC
33 george singleton 163 Male 34.43
34 Chas Taylor 106 Male 35.08 Worcester Tri Club
35 Pete Shirvington 159 Male 35.21 West Country Triathletes
36 Julian Hodge 169 Male 35.33 West Country Triathletes
37 Simon Tee 167 Male 35.24 Newt
38 Billy Rhodes 165 Male 35.38
39 Sabrina Johnson 179 Female 35.43
40 David Casey 140 Male 35.47
41 Jennie Jones 153 Female 35.50 Bath Amphibians
42 Leigh Holloway 113 Male 35.57 West Country Triathletes
43 Tim Wheal 170 Male 37.41 West Country Triathletes
44 Ian Scott 141 Male 37.53
45 Mike Southway 172 Male 38.05 Somerset RC Tri
46 Lee Woodman 136 Male 38.39
47 Steven Rafferty 161 Male 39.05 Kingswood Triathlon club
48 Julie Watch 145 Female 39.09 Somerset Tri Club
49 Allan Burnell 148 Male 39.15
50 Paul Shergold 132 Male 39.24 Somerset RC Tri
51 Chris Rouse 177 Male 40.01 West Country Triathletes
52 Tony Seaman 112 Male 40.12
53 David Rees 124 Male 40.33
54 Jon Ellis-Smith 157 Male 41.06 Somerset RC Tri
55 Zoe Lowry 182 Female 41.59 Somerset RC Tri
56 Jeremy Hartley 155 Male 42.07
57 Simon Dawes 158 Male 42.11
58 Linda Bruce 123 Female 42.24
59 Joanna Robertson 187 Female 42.36 Somerset RC Tri
60 Tony Tapper 137 Male 43.44 Pastie Munchers
61 Matthew Bainton 128 Male 43.48
62 Philip Hemming 183 Male 46.12
63 David Coker 168 Male 47.07
64 Nicholas Stratford 138 Male 52.26
65 Clive Barraclough 175 Male 57.43
66 Roger Venner 196 Male 1.02.57

 
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