Dan stuns Red Bull event

Welshpool swimmer Dan Jones has bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on the Wales Commonwealth Games team by winning big in Scotland this weekend.

The 21-year-old decided to try something a little different by entering his first open water swim event – The Red Bull Neptune Steps – in Glasgow and he stunned a brilliant field by winning.

In torrential weather, the 21-year-old showed his mettle by completing the tough course, which consisted of swims and seven rope-ladder climbs up canal locks, in a time of 7 minutes 19 seconds.

Incredibly, Jones had never swam open water before, telling Redbull.com after his victory that his only real aim was to get over his fear of cold water.

“I hadn’t done any training for this at all,” said Dan, who led the field of 600 swimmers home. “Considering I only do pool swimming and the temperature in there is normally about 26 degrees, to drop to 3 is quite a jump. I do have the bug now – hopefully not literally though!”

Dan narrowly missed out on Team Wales for the Gold Coast next month, but has maintained some superb form, finishing fifth in the 100m and ninth in the 50m at the British Championships earlier this month.

He has continued to train full time with Swansea Aquatics and Swim Wales, and recently returned from a training camp and competition in Florida and Texas with the Welsh Squad.

Later this month he is at the Welsh Nationals and then the British Summer Nationals in July. He is working on attaining squad times and funding times for next season. 

Dan is supported by Rikki Lloyd Butchers; Rambo and Chris from Best Kebab; and Blue Seventy who provide his kit.

Meanwhile, younger brother Morgan, 17, who swims with Oswestry Otters and was selected for the Welsh Youth Squad last September, continues to improve his times.

He made his international debut in Nice, France, in February and also competed in Edinburgh at the British Championships with his brother, recording new personal best times. He, too, will be competing at the Welsh Nationals over Easter and the British Summer Nationals in Sheffield.

PICTURES (Courtesy of Redbull.com). Dan braves the cold to win in Glasgow.