Veteran Olympian Thomas Lurz won the inaugural British Gas Great Salford Swim over Great Britain’s 2012 Olympic hopeful Tom Allen.

2,000 competitors enjoyed perfect conditions in a superb urban setting while Thomas held off the young upstart 16:44.91 to 16:46.46.

Third place went to France’s Julien Sauvage in 17:01:57 with Jack Burnell fourth in 17:02:34. British world champion triathlete Alistair Brownlee came in a respectible 10th in 17:30:38.

Thomas said, “I am very pleased to have won another Great Swim. Tom made it very tough for me and kept the pressure on all the way round. But I felt very comfortable and managed to stay just ahead, though I was aware he was right behind me, especially down the closing strait. It is a fantastic series. The atmosphere is always brilliant and it’s always a real pleasure to see so many people enjoying swimming.”

In addition to the competition, the charity portion of the event was highly successful with an estimated £50,000 raised.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones