Olympic silver medallists in the marathon at Beijing 2008,  Keri-Anne Payne and David Davies pulled out at half-way of a LEN open water cup 10km off the coast of Eilat, Israel, today - just as they had planned to do.

The British pair had intended to use the Eilat event as a training test in open-water conditions they rarely face as swimmers who train in indoor pools most of the time.

"It was always the intention for them to race to half-way and pull out," said a British Swimming spokesman. "It was a low-key affair and a chance for them to test where they're at. It was a chance to test strategies and was a training swim."

Davies has qualified for the 1500m in the pool at London 2012 and is aiming to add the 10km at the last-chance saloon in Portugal next month when fighting with domestic rival Daniel Fogg (winner of the 1500m at trials in his first sub-15min effort) for the one place open to Britain.

Payne is yet to decide whether she will race at last-chance pool trials for Britain in Sheffield next month to add a pool swim to her schedule at a home Games. 

Meanwhile, the LEN 10km races saw Sergey Bolshakov (RUS) take gold among men ahead of Gergely Gyurta (HUN) and Chris Bryan of Ireland, while Eva Risztov (HUN) took the women's race ahead of Britain's Danielle Hall Jackson and Lucinda Campbell.