NEXT EVENT - Burghley7| 02/03/2025
03/08/2025
Rutland Water
Whitwell
10 years of SwimRutland
Swim across Rutland Water on our epic course.
Open Water Swim in the heart of Rutland
500m, 2km, 4km & 8km
The opportunity to swim across one of the countries most beautiful open water venues.
SwimRutland is a mass participation open water swim event. We are open to all abilities, with a range of distance options.
Event Details
SwimRutland: 03/08/2025
Whitwell - Normanton Rutland Water
500m, 2km, 4km & 8km
Entry Fee includes:
Finisher Medal, Swim Hat,
Electronic timing, Instant online results, Safety crew throughout the event, Full support of medical crews, Parking, Swim floats,
Transport for 2km swimmers to Normanton.
We cover safety throughout the event with Kayaks, powerboats and stand up paddle boarders. With Rutland medical solutions on hand to ensure your safety is our number one priority.
Please note,
Swim floats must be used, SwimRutland loan floats to competitors, This is now included within your entry fee.
If you have your own already, you may use it at our swim events, subject to checks.
Minimum age restrictions apply. Swimmers must be the following age on the day of the swim.
Mini 11yrs / 2km 11yrs / 4km 16yrs / 8km 18yrs
Course Details
Our course takes you across the heart of Rutland Water, one of Europes largest man made Reservoirs
We have four distance options for all abilities.
Mini
2km
4km
8km
Click To Enlarge Image
Our course spans one of Europes largest reservoirs. Rutland Water is one of the most iconic landmarks in the midlands. As well as being beautiful it is an incredible undertaking swimming across its width. Our course is 2km across with options to complete numerous passes up to 8km. We also have our mini course as a great beginner or junior option.
500
Perfect for juniors or beginners. An amazing way to introduce everyone to the thrill of open water swimming. Our 500m course gives you the chance to enjoy the experience in a safe environment. You experience the same thrill, the same finish line, and the same event experience. The course is equivalent to 20 lengths in a standard swimming pool. We have a very simple out and back loop into the north arm of Rutland water. 250m out, around the red buoys, 250m back. £25 with 1 hour to complete your swim
2km
Conquer Rutland Water. Swim across the main body of Rutland water from Normanton church to Whitwell. The original SwimRutland distance. A fantastic boat trip on the Rutland Belle takes you to the start line on the south shore. Our 2km swimmers get a rolling start, so once you're on the south shore you can start swimming whenever you're ready. An incredible experience for all levels of open water swimmer.
£42 with up to 2 hours 15 mins to complete your swim (depends which boat you're on)
4km
Double the Distance. Swimmers complete a loop from Whitwell to Normanton and back to Whitwell. An out and back swim across the iconic SwimRutland course. Start/Finish will be in front of registration on the windsurf beach. Our most popular distance, the 4km SwimRutland course is a fantastic course. You really experience the lake in all it's glory. £42 with 2 hours 15 mins to complete your swim
8km
This is a monster undertaking and includes two passes of the entire course. Only for experienced open water swimmers. You need to confidently complete the distance within the three hour cut off time. Intermediate cut off times apply. Anyone not making 4km by 8:15am will exit at Whitwell and receive a 4km medal. (nothing to loose in giving the 8km a go) We will also have an intermediate cut off at the Normanton church turn buoy. £64 with 3.5 hours to complete your swim
Timetable
02/08/2025
Early registration 6:00pm - 7:00pm
03/08/2025
Whitwell Site Open 5:00am
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Registration Opens 5:15am
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Registration Closed 8km 6:15am
4km 6:45am
2km 6:45am
500 7:45am
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Rutland Belle trip 1 (2km only) 6:30am Times are approximate and may be
Rutland Belle trip 2 (2km only) 7:00am subject to change
Rutland Belle trip 3 (2km only) 7:30am
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Whitwell bag drop open 6:15am Mini, 4km, 8km
Whitwell bag drop closed 7:50am
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Normanton bag drop open 7:00am 2km Bags will be transported to the finish line
Normanton bag drop closed 7:35am
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8km Swim Start 6:30am Mass start
4km Swim Start 7:00am Mass start
2km Swim Start 7:00am - 8:30am Rolling start
500 Swim Start 8:15am Mass start
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Swim cut off 2km, 4km, Mini 10:00am
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8km half way cut off 8:15am You will receive a 4km medal.
8km Normanton church cut off 9:05am You need to have finished 6km by this time.
8km Swim cut off 10:00am Intermediate cut off times apply
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Prize giving As soon as possible once the podium places ahve been established
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Please arrive in good time to register.
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You must be registered, changed and ready to start at your designated start time. No late starts will be allowed.
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Safety briefings will be conducted prior to the start of each swim wave. Briefings will be given at the swim entrance for each wave.
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For 2km swimmers, Rutland Belle times are approximate and may be subject to change, please be ready to board the boat as soon as possible.
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2km rolling start - your time begins when you cross the swim entrance mat.
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Mass start - Your time begins when the gun goes off.
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8km swimmers not turning at the 4km exit by 8:15am will exit and be ranked in the 4km competition.
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8km swimmers not turning around the Normanton church turn buoy by 9:05am will miss the cut off and their swim will end.
Times are all provisional, final times are published in your race guide and on the website two weeks prior to SwimRutland
Enter SwimRutland
How to enter:
Read the terms and conditions of entry, including race cancellation agreement. Follow the links to the SwimRutland entry system.
Select your distance
Agree to the terms and conditions and our refund and transfer policy
Inform us of any medical information that might be relevant.
Submit the relevant fee.
Follow us on social media for news, information and up dates.
Carefully read your race guide the week before the swim.
Pre Race procedure:
Carefully read the swim guide prior to the race
Wetsuits
Please note the temperature ranges before entering the event.
15.9c and under = wetsuit compulsory
16c and above = wetsuit optional in all distances
23c = Advisory Non-wetsuit for 2km
24c = Advisory Non-wetsuit for 4km & 8km
500m swimmers will be offered guidance based on their ability and swim speed.
If the water temperature does not reach 16c (incredibly unlikely), this will be a wetsuit compulsory event. Please consider this when entering. There will be no transfers or refunds made because of the wetsuit policy.
The upper limit is discretional. We advise that you don't wear a wetsuit above these temperatures but acknowledge not everyone is here to swim as fast as possible and might require the extra warmth.
The policy has been agreed with the lake owners using industry best practice and our collective knowledge of the venue. Temperatures will be adhered to; no exceptions will be made. Unfortunately, we cannot make additional allowances for experience or preference. We appreciate your continued understanding.
Historic water temperatures | 2018 20c | 2019 20c | 2021 19.1 | 2022 20.5c | 2023 18c | 2024 19c
SwimRutland has therefore been wetsuit optional every year
Swim Floats
Swim floats are compulsory for this event
They are designed to make you visible without impeding your natural swimming stroke.
We loan our swim floats for free to all competitors. No need to book, no need to make any arrangements.
They will be ready to collect on the morning of SwimRutland.
We believe that they offer our swimmers the best possible safety during our event.
How to Find Us
Rutland Water
Bull Brigg Lane
Whitwell
Rutland
LE15 8BL
Sat Nav: Rutland Watersports, Bull Brigg lane, Whitwell LE15 8BL
The event takes place from the shore of Rutland Water in the Village of Whitwell, located on the North shore of Rutland Water between Barnsdale and Empingham.
Rutland water is scattered with facilities around its perimeter with Whitwell being its major hub for Watersports, Cycling and Climbing.
Getting to the site is easy and once you're there we have signposted the site to ensure a stress free visit. Just follow the SwimRutland signs to race registration.
Parking at Whitwell is available on the left and right of the entrance road. Follow the road through the ticket barrier turning right at the mini roundabout, or continuing to a left turn at the end of the road.
There is more parking on the right hand side, but the event starts in the area to your left.
At the end of the car park is the Harbour cafe. We are located behind this building on the shoreline.
Walk to the back of the Harbour cafe and you cannot miss us.
Results
Proudly Recommending Local Experts
inspire2tri is an independent business but we're very happy to recommend their services.
They host a weekly training swim throughout the summer at Rutland Water which is the perfect environment to get used to open water swimming and train for SwimRutland (or any other swim you might be taking part in).
They have multiple coaching sessions throughout the year including endless pool sessions, small coached groups in Rutland Water and one to one technique coaching available.
Please follow the links for more details.