PERFECT conditions set the backdrop for the 100th year of the Dee Mile race, Chester’s historic swim race which took place on Saturday, August 6.

More than 300 swimmers took part in either the full or the half event, many swimming without a wetsuit as the water temperature was a balmy 19C.

Hundreds of supporters lined the banks and volunteers from Chester Triathlon Club (who host the event), together with Deva Canoe Club and Chester Boat Company provided safety support and motivation.

There are several idiosyncrasies about the event. Although the title suggests the race should be a mile long, it is in fact 1.25 miles (2 km). The full race starts opposite the Red House (which is cream) and finishes under the suspension bridge at The Groves.

Because participants swim downstream, the flow of the river and, consequently, the winning times vary considerably.

The Championship of the Dee is open to competitors swimming without a wetsuit, who live within five miles of The Cross in Chester city centre.

This year Richard Hines and Elisa Manzi were crowned Champions of the Dee.

Categories added more recently include wet suit swimmers, age groups and non-competitive.

Eliza Radclyffe took a historic victory for female swimmers as the first overall non-wetsuit swimmer, placing first in the All Comers’ category (non-wetsuit, living further than five miles from The Cross), with Clive Roberts following her for the men’s title.

First place in the overall wetsuit categories went to Finlay Jones-Wright (also the fastest swimmer overall) and Emma Sharpe.

Dee Mile organisers hope that, for future years, there can be greater respect for water quality in the river.

A spokesperson for the event said: "Chester is lucky to have such a beautiful river flowing through the city centre and many Cestrians and visitors enjoy activities in and on the water as well as watching the wildlife.

"However, water quality can be an issue, with swimmers sometimes reporting stomach upsets following a swim in the river, as well as detrimentally impacting aquatic life.

"It is concerning that Chester has so many points where untreated (as well as treated) sewage discharges into the river throughout the centre of Chester, including several sewer storm overflows belonging to Welsh Water.

"Scientists as well as swimmers have called for water companies to invest and update infrastructure that cannot cope with today’s ways of living."

More details about the history of the event are available on the Chester Triathlon Club website at https://www.chestertri.org.uk/our-races/dee-mile/dee-mile-history/