All four events win awards from website for participants’ reviews

AN outdoor swimming events company has won four awards.

Four events run by Henley Swim were awarded Racecheck Awards, which are given to the top-performing races reviewed on the website for mass participation sports events.

Henely Swim’s 2023 Thames Marathon, Selkie Henley Classic and Club to Pub events were all awarded the top gold award and the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival was awarded a silver.

This is the best set of Racecheck awards the company has received.

The review platform invites event participants to rate their experience and the events are rated accordingly. With a Racecheck rating of 4.86 out of five, the Thames Marathon also won the “best of the best” award for swimming.

Only seven organisations have ever been awarded this across an international field.

Juliet Hume, operations manager for Henley Swim, said: “We hold the Racecheck Awards in the highest regard as they are voted for by those that come and swim at our events.

“To be told so clearly that our swimmers are enjoying what we do while feeling safe and supported is the very best feeling.

“We aim to make our events fun but challenging and very much based around the fantastic open water swimming community that we are part of.” The Selkie Henley Classic is the original route and still starts at around 4am on a Sunday.

The Club to Pub is a Saturday night swim from Henley Rowing Club in Wargrave Road to the Angel on the Bridge pub in Henley, where finishers are awarded a beer and bottle-opener medal.

The Thames Marathon is a swim between Henley and Marlow with 13km and 5.5km options.

The Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival is a weekend camping event on the riverbank opposite Temple Island with a range of swimming events, camping and food and drink.