The two, who training partners at the Stockport Metro club, led for virtually the entire race but were overhauled in the closing stages by world champion Larisa Ilchenko, who justified her pre-race position as the favourite.

 

Ilchenko finished in a time of 1 hour 59min 27.77sec.

 

Payne, a 20-year-old born in South Africa, came home second in 1:59.29.2 with Patten finishing in 1:59.31.0, just holding off a late burst from German Angela Maurer.

 

Payne said: "To get a medal is amazing.

 

"We didn't have a tactic, we just went out and swam.

 

"We didn't talk at all out there, we're best friends, we train together and we just kind of knew when to kick at the right time.''

 

"The course was really flat and one of the best I've ever swum.

 

"But I got weeds stuck in my costume and in my face.''

 

Open water swimming was officially recognised by FINA, the world governing body of swimming in 1986, however in Britain the asa has run an open water national championship for the past 100 years.

 

Open water swimming can take place in lakes, rivers, canals and the sea and, as it does not take place in lanes like events in the pool, is much more physical and has been called "underwater wrestling".

 

Patten, a 21-year-old originally from Cornwall, revealed she had her feet tugged back by Ilchenko in the closing stages, before admitting the physical torment she had gone through during the race.

 

The two-time world silver medallist said: "I was quite annoyed, it's not sportsmanship when you pull on someone's feet.

 

"Every part of your body is hurting.

 

"Your stomach is the size of a pea, because all the blood rushes to your arms, your body is saying stop but your head is saying 'come on, keep going'.

 

"The last kilometre felt like 20km, every time I looked up the finish seemed no closer.

 

"During the final stages we could hear all our team-mates cheering us on which was fantastic.

 

"It was great to have them there.''

 

The Britons led almost from the off, establishing themselves at the head of the field early on and then working together to set the pace.

 

They turned for home in front but with Ilchenko tucked in behind.

 

The Russian, unbeaten since 2004 in this event, attacked with around 250m to go and although Payne responded well she could not hold her rival off.

 

South Africa's Natalie Du Toit, an amputee who won five gold medals at the Paralympics in 2004, finished 16th.

 

Du Toit lost a leg below the knee in a motorbike accident several years ago.