Black Country n Potteries Masters produced a World Record breaking performance at Blackpool In the North West Masters Championships on Saturday 22nd February. Their 280 plus Women’s Swimming 4 x 200m freestyle relay squad of Alyson Fordham Barbara Boxall, Lindsey Gowland and Kath Tunnicliffe demolished the existing mark by 25 seconds. The swim of 11.29.12 beat the 2022 time set by a team from Sarasota, Florida, USA.

Earlier in the day the same four came within 3 seconds of the World mark in the 4 x 100 Medley Relay, setting a new European and British records of 5.57.65. The squad ages range from 68 to 73 years. The foursome have their sights set on some more records at the Derbyshire County Masters in 3 weeks, the same events but in a long course pool. With more to come (they hope) in National Masters competitions at the London Aquatic Centre and Sheffield Ponds Forge later in the year.

Lindsey Gowland and Kath Tunnicliffe competed in the European Masters Championships in Belgrade in June.

Lindsey gained Gold in the 65-69 yrs 50m Butterfly with Bronze in the 50m Freestyle.

Kath achieved a clean sweep of Golds in the three (50/100/200m) backstroke events for 70-74-year-olds with a couple of Bronzes on the 50 and 100m freestyle.

Here’s the stats…

14 first places

Justin and Harry, 3 each

Kath and Ian, 2 a piece With Ian setting a new Staffs record in the 200 Free 2:19.16!

Sharon and Roger both gained a 1st place

The 200+ Ladies Freestyle (Kath Justin Caitlin Sharon) won

The 160+ Mixed Medley (Ian Justin Harry and Sharon) won with a new club record time of 2.18.47

In addition the 160+ Ladies Medley ( Kath Justine Caitlin Di) set a new club record time of 2.35.20

Well done Justin you seemed to be a the heart of … everything!

At the 2023 short course Masters Nationals in Sheffield nine Black Country n Potteries swimmers competed. They didn’t come home empty handed winning two relay events and six golds, two silvers and four bronze medals in individual events.

The 4 x 50 Female Medley Team: Jen Powell, Justine Doody, Lindsey Gowland and Barbara Boxall won the 240 plus race, beat all the 200 plus teams, and set a new club record!

The 4 x 50 Female Freestyle squad of Sharon Evans, Kath Tunnicliffe, Jen Powell and Lindsey Gowland had stiff opposition but managed a second victory in the same age group in another club record time.

Individual honours:

• Gold Kath (5) Lindsey (2)
• Silver Lindsey (2)
• Bronze Barbara (2) Athene (2)

Whilst, with some confidence, I can say we had 13 individual wins, this does not equate to Midlands champions as several of our swimmers were beaten by athletes from outside the region, and would have medalled as district champions.

Can’t be sure I can accurately report individual championship performance so I’ll highlight the Staffordshire County Record breakers (subject to ratification)

Congratulations to all, particularly Ian who produced some excellent swims!

Our relay teams included all squad members, and came in 2nd and 3rd in their respective age groups.

Our 160+ teams:                                   
Medley = Leah, Justine, Martyn, Ian H
Freestyle = Leah, Jen, Martyn, Ian H set club record’s, as  it’s the first time we’ve managed to field a squad in this age group

Our own club member Tony Ward played a significant role in the Allianz World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester from 31 July to 6 August.

As Technical Delegate he was one of the chief organisers and was given the honour of presenting five sets of medals on Day Five of the world event. Our club chair Caroline Jones also helped out as an NTO.

In preparing for the meet Tony was involved in coordinating the staging, lighting, TV camera’s, commercial branding and the important work of para classification.  

The competition involved nearly 550 competitors from 67 Counties and  resulted in the setting of 22 New World Records and 168 Championship or Regional Records. 

No rest for Tony his next trip is already booked … the World Para Series in Egypt this November.

Black Country n Potteries Swimmer Kath, 71, scooped six world titles at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka Japan.

Kath won gold in the 70–74 years 200 and 100 backstroke, 100 and 50 freestyle, the mixed 280–319 years Medley and Freestyle Relays, with a Silver in the 50m backstroke.

Competing for Spencer they set two British and a European record in their relay victories. Kath also set an improved her own mark in breaking the British Record in the 200 back.

Just three Black Country n Potteries Masters Swimmers made the British Long Course Championships in Sheffield on the first weekend in June. Between them they collected 11 medals.

In the 70-74 yr age group Kath achieved wins in all three backstroke distances (50/100/200) along with wins in the 50 and 100 freestyle.

25 year old Sadie Turner reached silver in highly competitive 50, 100 free and 50 fly races, two of her swims were lifetime bests, and she claims the improvement is just because of weight training!

Lindsey Gowland has had a bit of a layoff and her two silver and one bronze suggested she’s getting back to form.

Next racing for club swimmers is the Calverton and Bingham meet next weekend, and there’s still time to enter Stockport on 15th July.