This weekend, Black Country n Potteries members took part in the West Midland Masters Championships, achieving 16 first-place finishes and four county records (subject to ratification).

Our first place finishers were:

• Justine x 1
• Lionel, Kath, Richard W, Jen x 2
• David x 3
• Lindsey x 4

Our new Staffordshire record holders are:

• Lionel Spittle 800 Free 13:01.35 Age 70+ set a mark not previously held
• Lionel Spittle 200 Free 3:04.99 Age 70+ broke his own record
• Jennifer Powell 200 Back 3.03.53 Age 55+ set a mark not previously held
• David Blakemore 1500 Free 24:48.11 Age 40+ set a mark not previously held

All you Staffs record holders are to be congratulated! You are amongst Olympians. Nick Gillingham set a Staffs 200 Breast stroke record in 2010 The same event he won World (short course), European and Commonwealth gold! AND I notice a gentleman who has joined us this year, Robert Pullan holds a 200 Fly Staffs Record set in 2008. Wonder when will we see him compete for BCPM?

Lionel has performed remarkably well since becoming a Guinness World Record holder with club mates Caroline and Di. Swimming the channel in a mixed relay has improved his times amazingly. He knocked 8 secs in 2 years from his 800m free time and 5 secs from his 200 free in just a year! Quite remarkable!