This is a classical race of the modern era, with a history which is very nearly continuous, going back to the first time it was held 1922. The race has several idiosyncrasies. It starts in line with the Red House (which is actually white) and the distance is actually a mile and a quarter. You swim downstream, around the Crook of the Dee to finish at the suspension bridge. Swimming with the current all the way, the course times vary considerably depending on the seasonal flow, with the winning men’s time varying from 19:48 to 33:25 and the winning women’s time from 23:57 to 35:08.

Water temperatures are typically 16 to 18 C. In 2010, the temperature was 20 C.

The race offers the chance to hold the ancient “Dee Mile Champion” title for the fastest male and female swimmers who live within 5 miles of “The Cross” in the centre of Chester and swim without a wetsuit.

Recognition is also made for the fastest male and female:

• All-comers (i.e. swimmers who don’t wear a wetsuit, but live more than 5 miles from The Cross).
• Wetsuit swimmers.

Today, both men and women are eligible to race; a “concession” first made in 1969 and then made for the full distance in 1993!

Since the Deva Triathlons started using the River Dee in 2001, the Dee Mile has become a favourite for triathletes wanting to get a taste for open water.

We try to run the event as sustainably as we can and we appreciate your help with this. The event has been running for over 100 years and we are only its current custodians. As the event is run by Chester Triathlon Club, we aren’t seeking to make a profit and we keep the cost to swimmers as low as possible. The price sometimes has to increase to cover the increased costs of running the event. We aim to bring benefits to the City of Chester and its citizens, at the same time as showcasing a beautiful city to those who choose to visit. We minimise energy use and waste where we can and try to ensure we leave the river and surroundings in as good a state as possible (if not better) when we leave.