Black Country n Potteries own Sadie Turner at 27 years old, has burst onto the international Masters scene with three fantastic swims at the European Masters Short Course Championships in Lublin, Poland.
Racing against the very best in Europe, Sadie delivered a superb set of results – 4th, 6th and 8th place finishes, top Brit in every race, and an incredible two lifetime PBs. As if that wasn’t enough, she also smashed three Staffordshire records and one West Midlands record along the way!
What makes this even more impressive is that Sadie achieves all this on just two high-quality pool sessions a week with Walsall Swim Squad, combined with regular weight training to build strength and power.
Sadie – everyone at Black Country n Potteries Masters salutes you Outstanding sprint speed, huge progress over the past year, and performances you can be incredibly proud of. We can’t wait to see what comes next!
Earlier this year, the ladies from Black Country n Potteries set new relay records at the British Masters Championships in Sheffield in an impressive showing at the three-day event. The ladies set new records in the 280+ age group in the 200m Freestyle and Medley, as well as the 400m freestyle.
200
Womens
Medley
280+
2:34:03
Kath, Alyson, Lindsey, Barbara
25.10.25
British Masters Championships (SC)
Sheffield
1st
400
Womens
Freestyle
280+
4:59:59
Barbara, Kath, Alyson, Lyndsey
25.10.25
British Masters Championships (SC)
Sheffield
1st
200
Womens
Freestyle
280+
2:12:37
Lindsey, Barbara, Kath, Alyson
26.10.25
British Masters Championships (SC)
Sheffield
1st
The ladies also improved a previous record in the 160+ age group in the 200m freestyle
200
Womens
Freestyle
160+
2:10:18
Sadie, Laura, Jacky, Sharon
26.10.25
British Masters Championships (SC)
Sheffield
8th
Congratulations on the new records. Here’s looking forward to setting new records next year.
Lt to Rt: Alyson Fordham, Barbara Boxall, Kath Tunnicliffe, Lindsey Gowland
The Black Country & Potteries Masters 280+ women’s relay squad have completed all ten of their record attempts for 2025 – five short course and five long course – and what a year it has been!
Their story is as inspiring as their results. Of the four swimmers, only one (Alyson) represented her country in her youth. Two reached county level before taking 30-year breaks from the sport, while one didn’t start competing until her 40s.
Between them they manage hip replacements, diabetes monitoring, and busy family lives (a combined eight children and ten grandchildren!). Only one trains regularly in a coached group – the others fit their sessions into public swimming times, supplementing with weights, Pilates, and the occasional dog walk.
And yet… look what they achieved.
Every single European and British record in the 280+ category – broken.
Five brand new World Records – established.
It’s a story of determination, teamwork, and proof that age is no barrier to excellence.
Details of their records are listed below, but the headline is clear: 2025 will go down as a year of breathtaking achievements for this incredible team.
World Records
16.3.25 Derby LC 4 x 100 Medley 6.12.16
16.3.25 Derby LC 4 x 200 Freestyle 11.41.75
13.6.25 Stratford LC 4 x 100 Freestyle 5.04.66
25.10.25 Sheffield SC 4 x 100 Freestyle 5.59.59
26.10.25 Sheffield SC 4 x 50 Freestyle 2.12.37
European and British Records
22.2.25 Blackpool SC 4 x 100 Medley 5.57.65
22.2.25 Blackpool SC 4 x200 Freestyle 11.29.12
16.3.25 Derby LC 4 x 100 Medley 6.12.16
16.3.25 Derby LC 4 x 200 Freestyle 11.41.75
13.6.25 Stratford LC 4 x 100 Freestyle 5.04.6613.6.25 Stratford LC 4 x 50 Freestyle 2.15.57
14.6.25 Stratford LC 4 x 50 Medley 2.37.01
25.10.25 Sheffield SC 4 x 50 Medley 2.34.03
25.10.25 Sheffield SC 4 x 100 Freestyle 5.59.59
26.10.25 Sheffield SC 4 x 50 Freestyle 2.12.37Lt to Rt: Alyson Fordham, Barbara Boxall, Kath Tunnicliffe, Lindsey Gowland
The Black Country & Potteries Masters 280+ women’s relay squad have completed all ten of their record attempts for 2025 – five short course and five long course – and what a year it has been!
Their story is as inspiring as their results. Of the four swimmers, only one (Alyson) represented her country in her youth. Two reached county level before taking 30-year breaks from the sport, while one didn’t start competing until her 40s.
Between them they manage hip replacements, diabetes monitoring, and busy family lives (a combined eight children and ten grandchildren!). Only one trains regularly in a coached group – the others fit their sessions into public swimming times, supplementing with weights, Pilates, and the occasional dog walk.
And yet… look what they achieved.
Every single European and British record in the 280+ category – broken.
Five brand new World Records – established.
It’s a story of determination, teamwork, and proof that age is no barrier to excellence.
Details of their records are listed below, but the headline is clear: 2025 will go down as a year of breathtaking achievements for this incredible team.
World Records
16.3.25 Derby LC 4 x 100 Medley 6.12.16
16.3.25 Derby LC 4 x 200 Freestyle 11.41.75
13.6.25 Stratford LC 4 x 100 Freestyle 5.04.66
25.10.25 Sheffield SC 4 x 100 Freestyle 5.59.59
26.10.25 Sheffield SC 4 x 50 Freestyle 2.12.37
European and British Records
22.2.25 Blackpool SC 4 x 100 Medley 5.57.65
22.2.25 Blackpool SC 4 x200 Freestyle 11.29.12
16.3.25 Derby LC 4 x 100 Medley 6.12.16
16.3.25 Derby LC 4 x 200 Freestyle 11.41.75
13.6.25 Stratford LC 4 x 100 Freestyle 5.04.6613.6.25 Stratford LC 4 x 50 Freestyle 2.15.57
Never seen so many club swimmers (17) at a meet And Di was missing for the photo!
We were winners before we got wet!
Loved meeting newbies Lynne, Rachel and John plus a triumphant return for Sadie
Stat’s!….
Championships firsts….
Four = Lindsey
Three = Roger, Sadie, Lynne
Two = Lionel, Athene, and the 280+ Relay squad (RichW, John, Tony Kath and Lindsey)
One = Rich H and W, John, Di, Kath, Shaun
Places and relays Rachel, Craig, Ian, Justin and David
Photos below
Justine and David in the Breaststroke
Plus
Pretty certain county records will be added by Ian Hicks (3) Lindsey Gowland (1) and (drum roll) ….Roger Crannage who is laying down the gauntlet by setting three 85 years plus county records for all you gentlemen to chase in the decades which follow!!!
Please, please, please (sounds like a song title!) check out county records and if you better them CLAIM right away!
Black Country n Potteries record-breaking 280-plus women’s relay squad were in action again at the British Masters Long Course Championships at the iconic London Olympic pool
They began an onslaught of three European and British long course records by adding a World record for the 4 x 100 m Freestyle event with a time of 5:04.66. There were two other relay successes in the 4 x 50 Medley and Freestyle events. The squad of Barbara Boxall, Kath Tunnicliffe, Alyson Fordham and Lindsey Gowland are pictured with Olympian Ben Proud.
The meet got off to a splendid start with a trio of wins from Richard H, Ian, and Lionel in their 200 free age group events, whilst at the end of the day Craig, John, Lionel and Roger went one better and won four in a row to bring the meet to a conclusion in their respective 25m Freestyle races.
Overall stats:
Sadie 5 wins, Rich H 4, Ian 2, Lionel 3, Justine 4, Roger 4, Jen 3, John 2, Craig 1
Total 28
Staffs records were set by Sadie 3, Roger 3 and Jen 1
Relays…….
Record Breaking relay swims…….
160 plus Men’s Medley 1st 2:23.39
Sean, Craig, Ian, Richard
160 plus Mixed Freestyle 1st 2.01.52. Sean, Jen, Sadie, Ian
280 plus Men Freestyle 1st. 2:46.75
John, Lionel, Roger, Tony
Here’s a precious moments from the competition…. the 160 plus Mixed Freestyle.
BCPM: lane 5, Cheadle: lane 6, Dove Valley: lane 7.
Shaun and Jen took out the first two legs, Sadie cut Dove Valley’s lead to just 3 seconds and managed to overtake Cheadle’s third swimmer to edge slightly ahead of them. The final leg, was over to Ian, at the 25m mark all three swimmers turned together, 12 metres from the finish Dove Valley were beaten, but Cheadle looked like they had it, that was until Ian’s super blast to the wall took effect……he grabbed the win …somehow, with an incredible 27.40 split, helping to set a new club relay record mark……. exciting especially as the two other teams were in the younger 120 + age group, but that didn’t matter to Ian, he was racing!
Many of you will know we have members far and wide. I asked Joanne, who is Essex based, to share her extraordinary story…
We have a number of members who are perhaps wondering whether they will ever return to compete again – this is for you!
I wasn’t a masters swimmer before the accident. I had swum competitively as a child but gave it up when I was a teenager when we moved into the country. I still swam a lot but just for fun, in the pool, sea and river. I kept this up as an adult and was swimming about 1k a day at the time of the accident, purely for fitness with a little dabble in triathlon.
I was riding my horse with a friend – we went for a canter and my horse fell over. I was catapulted into the air and landed standing. I smashed my right tibia, fibula and my calcaneus (heel). I dislocated my ankle and all but severed my foot. Amazingly it didn’t hurt when I did it; apparently it’s the adrenalin.
Air Ambulance came and I was put roughly back together on the field by the doctor on board, who was on loan from the Canadian forces and had been in Afghanistan so he was ace at my type of injury.
I spent a long time in hospital. I went in at beginning of August and came out at the beginning of October. In that time, I had 5 or 6 operations, including having a plate and nails in my leg and my foot put back on using spare parts from my left leg – reconstructive plastic surgery is amazing.
I used a wheelchair for a year and crutches for another year. Once I was water tight, I got back in the pool and kept swimming from there on. I couldn’t stand in the pool until I was allowed to stand up on land so I did a lot of floating, and I wasn’t allowed to push off the wall so swam round at each end.
Once I could stand I tried riding again but I didn’t feel in control, so I’ve given that up. I also ski with Disability Snowsport UK, and they suggested I do the swim for a para team at the Superhero Tri – I did and loved it. The next step was to go on a Triathlon training camp with Judith Brand (Dr J) and she suggested I try Masters, which I did. I really enjoyed the training.
It’s taken from 2019 to date to really see improvement, I was doing 100m free in 2:47 at the start, as I couldn’t kick. I’ve just hit a post accident PB of 1:38. I can’t track start because I physically can’t flex or push off with my right foot, but I can dive standing off the blocks. I have little power in my push off the wall, so I don’t bother tumbling as it makes me slower – it’s open turns all the way. I can now kick, which is making all the difference.
Recuperation – I was told it would take 2 to 3 years to mend and 3 to 5 years to get to where I would be, but I’m still improving and it’s 9 years this August. It’s important to do the physio religiously even if it’s a bore, time consuming or painful. The physios really do know what they are talking about! (Amazingly 🤣). Being fit at the time of the accident really helped with recovery.
I’ve decided not to go for a para rating, I’ll be in the 65-69 age category next year, and chatting to other swimmers everyone has something that’s being a bother. There were several swimmers comparing hip replacements and their recoveries from surgery at one meet, and knee problems crop up on a regular basis.
I’m looking forward to keeping on improving and to see where I can get my times to, and I’d like to get to meets in places I haven’t been to yet. I know I use up more oxygen catching up with old friends and making new ones than I do swimming at meets but this is definitely part of the pleasure of competing.
I can’t wait to actually meet Joanne in person (we’ve spoken on the phone). She says she hopes this helps – Think I can say a great big YES from all of us at Black Country n Potteries Masters.
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.
The short course Nationals 2024 saw the return of Tony Ward to help BCPM secure two 280-plus age group relay golds, with team mate Lionel Spittle claiming four podium finishes!
It was a fast and furious event at Sheffield between October 25th and 27th.
Tony not only oversaw the meet logistics in his role as head official but came out of retirement to claim two golds, part of a victorious 280 plus club mixed relay squad
Lionel joined forces in the relay victories, he also secured bronze medals in the 400 and 800 m freestyle for 70-plus-year-olds.
The 4 x 50m 240 plus women’s squad won their freestyle relay narrowly missing a club record and gained a Bronze in a thrilling medley event.
Jen Powell found the benefit of regular commitment to the training pool and was amply rewarded with three Bronzes, all in new Staffs record times.
Kath won her three back crawl swims with an unexpected victory in the 100 free and a Silver in the 50m free by a thumbnail (5/100’s).
Lindsey was unbeatable in the 65+ 50m Fly with Silver in 50m Free and Bronzes in the 100m Free and 50m Breast.
Barbara secured Bronze in the 200m and 400m Freestyle.
Here are the full results:
100m Back Kath Gold Staffs and West Midlands record; Jen Bronze Staffs record; Ian 4th 2.31.04
50m Fly Lindsey Gold
4 x 50 280+ mixed freestyle relay Gold (Tony, Babs, Lionel, Kath) 2.24.89 setting a new club record
100m Free Kath Gold Staffs record; Lindsey Bronze; Barbara 5th; Shaz 1.13.21
Black Country n Potteries Masters Swimming Club 