THE Isle of Wight Marlins Masters Open Swim Meet will see an increase in entries this year.

The 24th annual event, which takes place at Medina Pool at 1.45pm on Saturday (February 8), will feature 340 entries across 38 events, compared to last year's 303.

Defending champions Bracknell and Wokingham Swimming Club will return to compete for the trophy, as will one of their individual swimmers, Jevgenijs Putans, who won 11 of his 13 events last year.

The top female swimmer, Jacqueline Patel, of London's Spencer Swimming Club, will also be taking part.

There will be representatives of The Marlins, Seaclose, West Wight, and Ryde from the Island's clubs.

Ryde Swimming Club, who came third in the 2024 meeting's relay events, will be entering eight this time around - the most of any club.

The afternoon's competition includes events in all the swimming strokes over various distances, and there is always fierce competition between the swimmers and club teams for the various trophies to be won.

Last year's event attracted 62 swimmers, but already this year, 68 have entered, with some late entries expected.

Swimmers will descend on the event from as far afield as Germany, London, South Wales, the West Country, Oxfordshire, and the Home Counties.