| Another productive
year in more ways than one for Barnet Copthall
Masters.
The “baby count” is
now up to 11 with another 2 due to arrive in
April 2007. I am happy to report that the rate
of swimming records far exceeds the birth rate
at this time.
Let’s try to keep it that way, please!
I have listed below some
of the main events in the Masters’ busy
calendar. There are many more competitions
up and down the Country and indeed international
competitions where our Masters Team represent
and promote Barnet Copthall Swimming Club.
Our main priority however
is always our three Home Meets wherein we promote
all events in the National and International
Masters swimming repertoire. These events would
never take place were it not for a small band
of extraordinarily dedicated people who work
tirelessly to organise and run the meets. Jeanette
Squires, many of you will know puts in so many,
many hours to make our meets so very special
and popular with visiting Master teams from
quite literally, all over the world. The kind
comments we receive about our competitions
are mainly down to Jeanette’s
organisational skills. All our visitors are made
to feel at ease and relaxed. Unstressed swimmers
swim well and that’s what makes so many
come back year after year. “Swimmers come
first”.
In addition to Jeanette,
I couldn’t do
what I do without the support of Paul Bowe who
is often left to “mind the shop” while
I am away at competitions. Without his support
covering the training sessions whilst I am away,
we could be lost. Similarly, at our home meets,
he runs the computers for us to ensure the smooth
flow of the meet management software, many times
producing results before the competitors have
finished their swim down. Fred Westphal is someone
else very special to Barnet Copthall. He has
been operating the timing system for as long
as I can remember and he has worked many, many
long hours keeping the timing system operational.
Not a formal member of the club, he has pushed
hard to help obtain the correct equipment via
GLL and keep things working. Carol Allchorne,
Sarah Lawlor and Bev Stuttard are three ladies
without formal Masters connections but nevertheless
all work hard to support the Masters meets thoughout
the year. Ladies – thank you all very much.
Your time is always appreciated.
Joe Twyman is the extraordinary
designer and editor of the club websites. The
Masters website contains regular articles and
a humorous, sometimes irreverent, outlook on
the swimming world that keeps the readership
involved, enthralled and most importantly coming
back time after time. It is one of the most
visited swimming websites in the country and
we attract many enquiries about Masters swimming
from around the world. Competition information,
entry forms, meet results etc are all “pounced
upon” as
soon as they are loaded.
NB:- Joe tells me that
the hits on the regular club website have doubled
since Bev has been running and regularly updating
the “e-bulletin” page.
Well done Bev!
You should be familiar
with the regular club website address:- www.barnetcopthall.com.
Very easy to remember. The Masters site can
be found by clicking on “masters” at
the bottom of the home page. Even old people
can have fun.
Home Meets
BCSC 1500m Freestyle—November
2005
Traditionally I start my home meets report with
our 1500m Freestyle. This competition usually
takes place just after the AGM. If you weren’t
there you missed some excellent swimming including
a new British Record for Disability swimming
and a new masters record for New Zealand. This
event always attracts a healthy entry even
though the National Masters competition takes
place in late October at Sheffield. The 120+
swimmers reflected the wide range of ages and
abilities within Masters swimming.
BCSC Distance
Meet—July
2006
To celebrate the long awaited arrival of our
new scoreboard, no fewer than four WORLD RECORDS
were broken at the meet. Always a popular competition
with masters swimmers from around the UK and
overseas, this year’s event was no exception
but we can always handle more entries.
BCSC Sprints Meet—September
2006
Hot on the heels of the FINA World Masters
Championships in August, we still maintained
a healthy entry level. About 900 “splashes” plus
relay teams ensure success all round. No records
this time but Masters swimmers use this meet
to remind them that summer holidays are over
and it is time to get serious about training
again.
BCSC Masters 1500m—November
2006
128 entries over both days.
A European record claimed on Saturday plus
a World record on Sunday were the highlights
of the weekend littered with record claims.
IPC (paralympic) World and British records
were also broken by several swimmers with disabilities.
Saturday evening, seven swimmers from two teams
in Portugal, one team from
Lisbon, the other from Viana, enjoyed their competition
and left for home with three Portuguese records.
The Royal Navy were “in town” on
the Sunday and their twelve swimmers performed
well with all bar one making massive improvements
in time.
We have received a large
number of very kind comments from swimmers
attending the meet wishing to pass on their
congratulations and thanks to the officials
and helpers. Well done everyone involved. In
light of the success this year, we have been
asked to have all our Masters events to be “IPC Approved” for
next year.
Fina World Masters
Championships Stanford, California – August
2006
One hears the “awesome” used so
often it really loses its impact. Well it is
the only word to describe the facility at Stanford
University, San Francisco. The two 10 lane 50m
pools placed end to end. By the side of one racing
pool, a spectacular diving tank with the full
compliment of platforms and springboards. Alongside
the other racing pool is another all deep water
tank for water polo and synchronised swimming.
This came with its very own covered spectator
seating. In the Californian sunshine – truly “awesome”.
In total our small team of seven swimmers returned
from this fantastic venue with nine “top
ten” finishes, one GOLD, one SILVER and
two British Records. Mike Fibbens picking up
the Gold and Silver medals in 50m Freestyle and
50m Butterfly respectively in the 35-39 age group.
Mark Reynolds finished 6th in the 100m Freestyle
and 9th in the 200m Freestyle but broke his own
British Records in the events for 40-44 years
age group.
We all returned safely
despite the unfortunate security problems around
that time. Some flights were delayed but I
ask you, which side of “the
pond” would you have preferred to be stuck?
There were no leaking tents in the car park at
San Francisco International!
“Thank you”
The swimmers racing in Stanford would like to
thank the Committee for their support with
registration fees and expenses of the competition.
It was very much appreciated. Thank you.
Another year? Another “Width” for
Kevin “King of the Channel” Murphy.
Congratulations once again
to Kevin Murphy. 2006 saw his 34th crossing of
the English Channel. He did plan on another crossing
this year, but unfortunately bad weather prevented
No.35. Maybe next year? Most certainly!
Definitely next year Carlos Fresco will be back
for another try after narrowly failing his first
attempt in September. Better luck (and weather)
next time, Carlos.
ASA Masters National Championships
- Ponds Forge, Sheffield. October 2006
Our small but perfectly formed team produced
two European Records and a further three British
Records over the weekend. 11 Gold, 8 Silver and
10 Bronze medals made an impressive haul with
our relatively small team.
Setting the team up for a great weekend was Elaine
Blower who broke the 1500m Freestyle EUROPEAN
Record in Session One of the Championships. Our
other EUROPEAN Record was set with our Men’s
160-199 years Freestyle relay. Ages have to average
40+ years for this relay and our team of Mike
Fibbens (24.16), Mark Reynolds (24.52), Jim Hobsley
(25.47) and Sean McQuaid (25.11) reduced the
record to 1min.39.26secs.
A slight change of personnel in the Medley team
saw the British Record broken in the same age
group. Fibbens (Back 28.37), Hobsley (Brst 33.01),
Duncan Hartley (Fly 28.11) and Reynolds (Free
24.33). Excellent stuff!
Individual British Records were broken by Mark
Reynolds (40-44) in the 50m Freestyle at 24.53secs
and Mike Fibbens (35-39) in 50m Butterfly 25.73secs.
Other medalists were Judy Alden, Jeanette Benn,
Vicky Breeding(Akers), Lisa Dawson, Duncan Hartley,
Jim Hobsley, Walter Lief and John Rittenhouse.
Added to this, a number of spectacular best times
(some life time bests) made the weekend a truly
great success. Well Done to the whole team – especially
Becky Hartley – who once again produced
another baby just in time to compete at the Meet
and perform so well in the mixed relays. That’s
what I call race planning!
Special thanks Bev “Bullitt Blogger” Stuttard
for keeping everyone up to date with results
information on the website “e-bulletin” board.
Finally – I would
like to thank the Committee and the many other
people I may have forgotten for their help
and support. Thank you very much. You are appreciated.
Wishing everybody at BarnetCopthall SC every
success in 2007
Ian Woollard
Long Suffering Coach
Barnet Copthall Masters
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