Masters’ Team triumph in Germany
Ten of our masters’ swimmers made the trip over to Flensburg in Germany to compete in the 38th Forde Masters in February – the only UK club out of the 36 competing. Debbie Taylor, Carole Jepson, Jess Thorpe and Elaine Fitchie made up the female contingent with Chris Hamer, Chris Horne, Matt Burrows, Matt Houghton, Lee Williams and Grant Thompson making up the mens’ team.
Despite an early start and a long journey the team arrived in Flensburg on the Friday afternoon and took up the offer to use a lane of the 50m pool on the University of Flensburg campus for a pre event training session. Up early the next morning they were raring to get underway. First off were Debbie and Carole in the 50m Breaststroke. Debbie swimming her first major pool sprint event in some time still managed to secure 7th place in the 40-44 age group. Carole swam a season best time to finish 2nd in the 35-39 age group and 12th in the overall FINA points out of a field of 40 swimmers.
Next up was the 4 x 50m Mens’ Freestyle relay where the team were led off by masters’ novice Grant, Matt B followed handing over to Matt H and the anchor leg was swum by masters’ veteran Chris Hamer. They swam an amazing race against younger teams to finish 1st in their age group and also took 1st in the overall FINA points in a new competition record time. A fantastic result!
The mens’ individual races got underway with Chris Hamer (45-49), Matt B (40-44), and Grant Thompson (25-29) in the 50m Breaststroke. Chris swam a season best of 33.88 to take 1st in his age group and a very creditable 7th in the overall. Grant was competing in his first major masters’ event, having not swum for six years. He went out with the bit between his teeth and just out-touched his nearest opponent by 0.13 to take 1st place in his age group and 3rd place in the overall FINA points.
Next up was the big race that the team had been waiting for. Jess, in the 100m Backstroke. Knowing she had some stiff competition from two German champions she had her race-head on from the start and stormed off leaving the field behind. She kept her lead throughout to come home in a new event record and season best time, taking 1st place in the overall FINA points and her age group.
Team mate Lee Williams followed in the Mens’ 100m Backstroke and, in his first major event since being an age group swimmer in his youth, he continued where he left off. He set a new personal best time and took 1st position in his age band but also finished a very creditable 10th in the overall FINA points.
The next event was the 50m Freestyle where Jess and Elaine were representing Barracudas. Elaine in the 60-64 age group was off first and did a season best time to secure 1st place in her age group. Jess followed with another season best time to also take 1st place in her age group.
The last event before the lunch break saw Chris Horne (50-54), Matt B (40-44), Grant (25-29), and Matt H (25-29) all flying the flag for the Barracudas. Chris Horne was just 7/100ths shy of setting a new season best but still secured 1st in his age band. Matt B improved the time he set last year in the event and finished 3rd in his age group. Matt H was in the fastest heat of the day and finished 5th in his age group and 9th in the overall FINA points from a field of 63. Grant went in an earlier heat and was well ahead of the field so had to race the clock to stand a chance of securing a podium for the overall FINA positions. He judged it to perfection securing 1st place in his age group and 3rd in the overall FINA points in a time 24.49 secs. The swim also gained him the accolade of one of the best male performances in the event.
A quick break and the afternoon session was underway with Elaine and Jess in the 50m Backstroke. Both took 1st in their respective age groups with Jess beating close rival Saskia Bogs from German club SV Neptun Kiel and also took 2nd in the overall FINA rankings.
Chris Horne, Matt B and Matt H represented the team in the Mens’ 50m Backstroke. Chris finishing 4th in his age group (50-54) in a season best time. Matt B 2nd in his age group (40-44) and Matt H improving his submitted time by some way to secure 3rd in his age group (25-29).
Lee was up next in the 100m Individual Medley where he also improved his submitted time to secure 2nd place in his age group (45-49) and finished a well deserved 12th in the FINA rankings out of a field of 21.
The 4 x 50m Individual Medley relay was an event where teams consisted of two male and two female members with the combined ages determining which age band they competed in. Barracudas’ had two teams in the event – one in the 200+ age group and the other in the 100+ group. First off were Elaine, Debbie, Lee and Chris Horne in the 200+ event where they beat off a much younger team from Hamburg to finish 3rd. The 100+ team were led off by Jess followed by Carole , Grant and Matt H. In an exciting race seeing them all swim good times they were nudged into 2nd place by a younger team from Danish club Esbjerg Svommeklub.
The 100m Breaststroke saw Debbie (40-44) finishing 4th and Carole (35-39) setting a season best to secure 1st place in her age group and a very creditable 6th in the overall FINA points against younger opposition. Chris Hamer went in the Mens’ 100m Breaststroke and also set a season best to take 1st in his age group (45-49).
The 50m Butterfly saw Elaine take 1st in her age group in a season best time and Matt B taking 2nd in his age group (40-44).
The final event in the programme was the 100m Freestyle where Chris Horne (50-54) take 3rd in his age group and Matt H (25-29) 2nd in his age group and 6th in the overall FINA placings.
So, as swim events go, this is one of the most enjoyable events in the Masters’ calendar and definitely something the team want to take part in again. With a fabulous 14 x 1st; 6 x 2nd and 4 x 3rd age group winners and a total of 6 FINA podium finishes the team certainly did club and country proud. We are now keen for the team from Flensburg to visit Leyland so that we can return the hospitality and organise an event to celebrate Masters’ swimming in the County.