Golds galore as Masters clean up at the British championships

Thursday, July 11, 2013

GLOUCESTER Masters Swimming Club had a successful three days at the British Masters Championships in Plymouth.
The event, swam for the first time at the new Life Aquatic Centre in Plymouth, was attended by 11 women and seven men who between them brought home 14 gold, seven silver and 11 bronze medals.

Tony Cherrington, swimming in the 70-74 age group, had a 100 per cent record winning all five of his freestyle events between 50m and 800m.

There was a similar result for Colin Stephenson in his three freestyle events, as he won three golds. His win in the 55-59 age group 100m freestyle was also a new British record – achieved after narrowly missing the record in the 50m freestyle the previous day by only 0.08 seconds.

Hannah Paull, swimming in the 40-44 age group, won two golds in the 100m and 200m freestyle with Sue Hodge also gaining gold in the ladies’ 60-64 50m freestyle. Hodge also won silver in the 100m event.

Two swimmers with multi-event success were Jayne Ball and Sandy Jones.

Ball, swimming in the 55-59 age group, took gold in the 400m medley, two silvers in the distance freestyle 800m and 1500m events and three bronze medals in the 200m medley and the 200 and 400 medley freestyle.

Jones, in the 45-49 age group, took her gold in the demanding 200m fly, silvers in the 50m and 100m freestyle events and bronze in the 200 medley.

In the freestyle events, Esther Murray won silver in both the 1500 and 200m distances and bronze in the 400m and 100m, having earlier achieved fourth place in the 800m freestyle.

Recently returning to competition, Gillian Ferris was encouraged by her performances in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke winning the bronze medal in each. Ferris was also fourth in the 50m butterfly and ninth in the 400m freestyle.

Owing to work commitments, Kate Nimmo was only available to attend on the final day of competition. She won bronze medals in both the 200m and 800m freestyle and secured fourth place in the 200m individual medley and 50m breaststroke respectively.

Competing in the 55-59 age group, Stephen Weston won a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke, and was fourth in the 50m and fifth in the 200m freestyle events.

There were further commendable performances from Anne Nicholls, Niki Gill, Jane Brown, John Anderson, Nick McDowall, Brian Armstrong and Russell Peak.

Swimmers will be competing in the Netherlands at the end of August in the European Masters Championships followed by The National Short Course Championships in Sheffield in October. New members wanting to swim for fitness or competing in open water events as well as pool swimming are always welcome to join the club. Visit the club’s website at www.gloucester masters.com for details.

From an article in thisisgloucestershire.co.uk