Eleven Black Country n Potteries Masters performed at Wolverhampton in the Shropshire County Masters on May 21st.

Between them they combined to win 18 individual titles, set 8 Staffs County Records and win both the 120+ Mixed Freestyle and 200+ Mixed Medley relay events.

The record breakers were:

1500 Freestyle

• 45-49 Diane Asbury*  22.28.45
• 55-59 Craig Edwards  22.50.12
• 65-69 Martyn Finney  25.36.11

800m Freestyle

• 45-49 Diane Asbury*  11.42.78
• 55-59 Craig Edwards 12.04.88

400m Freestyle

• 35-39 David Blakemore 6.02.24
• 50-54 Justine Doody 5.23.36

400 IM

• 40-44 Athene Brown 7.04.09

* Diane is considered (by me … Kath) to be THE swimmer of the meet with two outstanding ‘personal best’ performances (anyone would think she’s training for a channel swim!!!!!!)

PS Justine, consider yourself runner up, brilliant 400m swim to beat your own county record!

For many the Staffs Masters at Stafford provided the first opportunity of the season to compete.

Sixteen Black Country n Potteries members took part, with newcomers Roger, Ian, David, Steve and Athene swelling the ranks, and Sharon making a welcome return following a lengthy absence from the pool events.

Martyn Finney and Lionel Spittle led the successes, with Martyn claiming 3 new Staffs records and 3 wins, Lionel set 3 new records and provided 2 wins. New recruit, Roger Crannage made the record administrator open a new age group category, as the nimble 83 year won 2 events, both were recorded as county records in a newly created 80-85 year old age group. Another newbie, Ian Hicks showed his form by winning 2 events and setting a new 100m IM county record.

Jacq Mann led the women’s successes with 2 wins and 2 records, with Justine and Kath both lowering their own records set last year. Diane (6) and Justine (5) racked up a host of events each towards the prestigious National Women’s Decathlon competition.

BCPM relays teams provided another 4 wins, bringing the grand total to 26 county championship titles. Not a bad day at the office!

Sadie Turner put Black Country n Potteries Masters centre stage when she blasted the women’s skins invitation event at Etwall’s 2022 meet. She repeated a series of wins to navigate the rounds and land the trophy, exhausted but triumphant! She also added three more individual victories and was part of a winning club record-breaking quartet in the 120+ Mixed Freestyle along with Richard H, Justine and Ben.

Not to be outdone Lindsey Gowland came away form the Derbyshire event with seven individual wins and a glorious six new meet records, and helped Kath, Martyn and Lionel to a win the 240+ Medley Relay.

Other bright sparks were Ben and Kath they won all three of their individual races, Kath set new meet records in her events, Lionel and Richard H chalked up two individual wins apiece. Justine gained an impressive win in her 100 breast and alongside Diane added valued points to the women’s national decathlon team event. Martyn was part of a club record breaking 160+ Mens Medley Relay squad alongside Richard H, Ben, and Lionel.

After a two and a half year break BCPM were finally able to compete in a (much condensed) Midlands Masters in Coventry. Eight swimmers represented the club. 

Here’s a rundown:

• Lionel Spittle 1st 1st 2nd 4th and 200 free Staffs Record
• Ben Roberts 1st 1st 1st and 50 fly Staffs Record
• Martyn Finney 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th!
• Richard Woodall 3rd 4th with a 200 Breast Staffs Record
• Lindsey Gowland 1st 1st 1st 1st and a 100m free Staffs and West Midlands Record
• Kath Tunnicliffe 1st 1st 1st plus 50 Breast and 50 Free Staffs Records 
• Claire Porter 3rd 3rd 
• Sadie Turner 1st 2nd including 50 Free Staffs record 
• 240+ Freestyle Relay (Kath Richard Lindsey Martyn) 1st
• 200+ Medley Relay (Ben Claire Lindsey Lionel) 5th (out of 8 teams in extremely competitive race!)  

Congratulations on a fine set of results from team BCPM!

Now for a bit of self indulgence – my ‘moments of the meet’ by Kath Tunnicliffe:

First, the 27.83 produced by ‘newbie’ Sadie Turner in the 50 Free. Her start was amazing and took half a metre from the opposition. I never thought we’d see a club member swim that fast this season – Woweee!

Second, and equally as ‘stunning’, the 28.41 from Ben Roberts in his 50 backstroke (his other swims were just as impressive). It’s wonderful to have these two ‘sparks’ in the club and ‘just hoping’ it is the beginning of a new era for BCPM and helps bring in more new members from the younger age groups. Also I think Ben and Sadie would have done some real damage at the Nationals this year had they entered. However,  I hear they are now going to start a bit of training!!!!!!!!!

Third nomination is for the 240 plus freestyle relay team which came up against the likes of Kenilworth and Camp hill. A tried and tested format: Kath Richard Martyn and Lindsey prevailed.

Next competition is the National’s  in three weeks, Inter Counties 13th Nov then Etwall 26th November.

Lindsey Gowland does it again – another British Record for 2022!

At the Stockport meet this evening she lowered her own 50 fly record with a time of 36.25.

Swim England Chair Jim Wilks presented Lindsey with the female swimmer of the meet trophy in recognition of her fabulous swim.

Lindsey Gowland, Jacqui Mann and Kath Tunnicliffe all competed at the British Masters Long Course Championships in Aberdeen at the weekend weekend.

Kath took on the 100 Back on day one, with all three swimmers looking to sprint the 50m pool in the shortest freestyle event this evening.

Kath took the backstroke win in a time of 1:34.33, almost two seconds ahead of the silver medal swim. The ladies were on fire in the 50 Free too; Jacqui took 5th in the 50–55yr age group in 31.06 seconds. Lindsey took second place in 32.19 seconds (a time under the previous British Record) in the 65–69yr age group. Kath stormed to Gold in a time of 35.20 in the 70–75yr category.

Thoughts of challenging the British record in the Women’s 240+ Freestyle and Medley relays have had to be ‘put on hold’ because our fourth member – Barbara Boxall – is back at home recovering from a couple of fractures in her arm! All the best to Barbara and the rest of the squad!

Day two saw a very special swim from Lindsey as she took a new European Record in the 50 Fly. Her swim took over two seconds off the previous British Record.

Jacqui took to the pool for the 50 Back and 50 Fly, achieving 6th and 4th place respectively for her swims. Kath had a clean sweep of 1st place finishes for her day two races: 100 Free, 50 Back and 200 Back. And Lindsey took 2nd in the 100 Free, setting a fantastic if short-lived British Record!

The good news is that Masters swimming is alive and well and we would love you to join in the action. It really isn’t too early to think about your plans for 2022 and begin to plan a program to get ready for competition. Here are a few pointers to get you started…

The Black Country n Potteries website gives ALL the information you need: https://blackcountrynpotteries.co.uk

The governing body Swim England site has a lot of advice at: https://www.swimming.org/masters/

One of our BCPM members, Phil Carpenter, runs an excellent Masters training scheme from Bridgnorth pool. Further info: https://sssa.co.uk/. If that’s not convenient, contact us through our website and we’ll try to help with other suitable training opportunities in your area.

Check our Events Calendar for a draft schedule of competitions in 2022.

Day one of the National Short Course Masters at Sheffield saw drama, trepidation and glee. Kath, Lindsey and Richard were all at Ponds Forge whilst Martyn Finney battled every constraint to reach the venue on time. Frozen to a standstill on the M42, Martyn looked to have no hope whatsoever of reaching the poolside for the 5.00pm deadline. However, given the smallest of chances, Martyn broke all legal (+illegal) means, parking his car, catching a tram and running the final lap into the pool. Congratulations Martyn, a true team player. To cap it off, the squad were delighted with their bronze medal in the the 240+ Mixed Medley.

Elsewhere in the arena Kath won gold in the 100 free and within the hour followed up with a win in the 50 back in a tight finish. Lindsey won bronze in the 100 free and swam an excellent 50 breast to achieve silver in grand style.

Mid way through the National Masters Championships in Sheffield and Richard Hinsley started his account in the pool with a couple of very respectable swims. 2.37.57 in the 200 free and 5.30.36 in the 400 metres. Kath had to be at her best to take the crown in the 50 Free. In a highly competitive field she broke the 34s barrier with a 33.89, a season’s best. Lindsey followed up with an excellent bronze in her 50 Free with another seasons best of 31.34. Later Kath was disqualified in her 200 back for a technicality on her final turn.

The relay squad Kath, Richard Woodall, Martyn Finney and Lindsey, battled throughout their 240+ Freestyle Relay to gain a bronze behind a strong Barnet Copthall team and close to Trafford Metro. Thanks to Richard and Martyn for travelling to the meet just for club relay swims.

Best call the final Sunday of the National Masters Championship in Sheffield ‘Brilliant Butterfly Day’. Lindsey Gowland claimed a scintillating victory in the 50 Fly in 35.55; her nearest rival was nearly 5 seconds behind. Richard Hinsley was well pleased with his own 50 fly with a time of 35.02. Kath Tunnicliffe finished her weekend with Silver in the 100 Backstroke. A great meet and BCPM swimmers were certainly in the mix, well done guys!