It took strong sprint finishes from the duo to secure gold in windy conditions at the London Regatta Centre in the heart of the Royal Albert Docks.

 

Patten was in London after a packed week of competition that saw her swim at two international meets - the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Seville and the Barcelona Mare Nostrum.

 

The 20-year-old arrived in the Capital in the early hours of this morning with team mate Keri-Anne Payne after a lengthy journey by air from Spain and then by car from Liverpool via Manchester.

 

And an unfortunate turn of events saw the pair involved in a car accident in wet conditions on the M6.

 

In the dock today, Patten and Payne, both from Stockport Metro, were amongst the leading swimmers for the duration of the 5km course, with Patten taking a body-length lead on the final straight.

 

Germany's Stefanie Biller and Anna Guseva of Russia were also in the mix over the distance and just pipped Payne for a podium spot in the home sprint.

 

Patten touched home for gold in 62min 00.72sec, Guseva won silver in 62:02.27, Biller took bronze in 62:03.56 and Payne was fourth in 62:03.87.

 

"I'm pleased with that," said Patten. "I think that's the worst preparation ever for a race.

 

"Our plane from Spain was delayed by around three hours and the weather made the driving conditions appalling.

 

"I think I might have mild whip lash from the accident.

 

"I'm not normally good over 5km, but before I got in that water someone reminded me I won the LEN event last year and that gave me an extra boost.

 

"I felt really relaxed at half way, I paced myself well and I wasn't over-anxious about not leading, which was good.

 

"I swam with Keri-Anne for a lot of the race which helped as we're not rough with each other and I'm really pleased she swam well although I'm sure she'd like to have medalled."

 

In the men's event University of Bath's Bircher was chased all the way by Bertrand Venturi of France, but managed to keep his lead despite a challenge for gold on the final sprint.

 

After losing his goggles at the FINA 10km in Seville last weekend and finishing 33rd, Bircher was keen to put in a good performance before tomorrow's 10km race.

 

Bircher won gold in 56:49.24, Venturi claimed silver in 56.49.87 and compatriot Julien Codevelle won bronze in 56:54.51.

 

"I hadn't planned to go out fast, but I lead off well from the start and just thought I'd go for it," said Bircher.

 

"I knew if I got into the lead the French and Spanish guys would just sit behind me, so I did a lot of leading out there.

 

"Before the race I decided if I was at the front I'd really go for it from the far buoy.

 

"I kicked as hard as I could but I couldn't quite shake off the French guy.

 

"I managed to get him on the final sprint though.

 

"Tomorrow will be a different ball game, it's anybody's race.

 

"I was eighth at the Worlds and I need to get back on track.

 

I've got eight months to the Olympic qualification event in Seville and I'm finally back into full training and training at the level I should be."