12/11/11 - British Gas ASA National Masters and Senior Age Group Championships

A team of Masters Swimmers from Long Eaton Swimming Club made the short journey up the M1 to Sheffield this weekend to compete at the British Gas ASA National Masters and Senior Age Group Championships. They returned with a haul of 3 Gold, 7 Silver and 3 Bronze medals along with a Record Breaking performance.

The  Ladies 120 plus age group team of  Rebecca Fox, Elizabeth Simpson, Laura Marinelli and Helen Akers went one better at these short course Championships, by swimming to a British and  European short course  Record in the four by 200metres freestyle relay, adding it to the British long course Record they achieved in the event earlier in the year. They also won Gold in the same age group in the four by 50m relay and silver in the four by 100m relay in a time inside the old British Record. As lead off swimmer in this event, and therefore able to set an individual time, Rebecca was also able to claim the British Record in the 30-34 years age group for the 100 metres freestyle.                     

Rebecca and Helen joined Greg Cherry and Colin Prescott to take Silver in two very close finishes, in both the mixed freestyle relay at 400 and 800 metres in the 120 years plus age group. It was also Silver for the  200 years plus team of  Maggi Tuck, Mary Holland with Julie Phillips and Fiona Starbuck, neither of whom had swum competitively for many years, in the 200m freestyle  relay.

The team entered a total of 15 relay teams across the weekend and in addition to the European record many performances bettered the existing British Records, only to be pipped into second place.

Mary Holland was the only individual Gold medal winner and this came in the 100metres freestyle in the 65/69 years age group. Elizabeth and Colin, swimming in the 35-39 years age groups each took Bronze in the 200metres individual medley and it was another medal for Elizabeth, this time Silver in the 400metres freestyle and in the same event, a Silver for Mary too.  Pete Irving took Silver in the 45/49 years age group in the 200metres backstroke.

Chief Coach Spencer George said he was delighted with the performance of the Masters Squad at this three day event proving that, across the board from the Development Squad to the Masters Squad, the club is improving at a rapid pace and is set to become one of the most successful clubs in the Region. He had a special mention for ladies who achieved the European record and congratulated all the swimmers on their performances and for helping to raise the profile of swimming in Long Eaton.

Masters Coach, Dave Akers, had high expectations of the swimmers after a very successful training cycle and he was not disappointed. As well as record breaking and medal winning performances all of the swimmers rose to the occasion and produced some outstanding swimming with many masters personal best times along with a handful of lifetime best times. ‘I was particularly happy with the way that the group came together as a team and encouraged and promoted great performances. To be able to take fifteen relay teams onto the national stage and come away with a number of medals is an indication that Long Eaton Masters swimming is on the up and will continue to grow and become a major force in UK masters swimming. Indeed, I am looking to take a team to the World Masters Swimming Championships in Riccione in Italy in the summer of 2012.

16/10/11 - National Arena Swimming League

Long Eaton Swimming Club started their campaign this weekend, in the National Arena Swimming League, with the A Team travelling to the Pingles Leisure Centre in Nuneaton for the first round. Competing in Division One brings the team up against some of the best swimmers in the West Midlands Division and Saturday was no exception, being drawn against five teams that finished above them in the League last year. Finishing above two of these teams on Saturday, and just nine points behind another, was a massive achievement for all the swimmers who fought bravely for every point. The overall points do not reflect the closeness of most of the races and on another day the touches could have gone to Long Eaton swimmers. Winners on the night were Krissy Tomlinson (2) and Kay Goulden.

The B Team who compete in Division 3, travelled to the Snowdome pool in Tamworth. Competing against other clubs’ A teams, the team came away with a well-deserved third place. Fighting for every point, this team showed that the club is now growing in strength and depth. Winners were Helen Akers, Elizabeth Simpson and Callum Henley. Katherine Williamson, Chloe Blaydon, Laura Marinelli and Hannah Dowell joined Helen and Liz to win the Open Ladies freestyle relay. The 13 year old girls’ team of Erin Dilks, Lucy Parsons, Chloe Blaydon and Bethany Dennis joined forces to win their medley relay. With many other encouraging performances from swimmers experiencing their first taste of this level of team competition, the team are looking forward to the second round in November.

Chief Coach Spencer George praised both teams for their performance and was pleased with the commitment shown. He said this showed how far the Club had come and if the swimmers continued this steady improvement the club can look forward to winning these galas in the not too distant future. The team spirit in the Club is a credit to all the swimmers and Coaches and they can be proud of these two amazing performances.

10/10/11 - The new season starts....

Long Eaton Swimming Club had their season’s first round of competitive galas this weekend. With the club involved in three levels of competition, from C grade all the way to Level 1. The swimmers are currently in heavy training and had not tapered for the weekend, however they still managed to gain a lot of Personal Best Times and some came home with speeding tickets for being too fast for the level of competition they were at, along with a trophy case full of medals and awards for Top Boys and Girls in their age group. The winning of “Top Club” Trophy at two galas the same weekend was an incredible start to the season and bodes well for the new season. Several swimmers gained Regional Qualifying Times and some National Times, and  Head Coach, Spencer George, said, "It is pleasing to see the swimmers swim so fast under the circumstances, with many of them averaging over 3500m an hour in training at the moment. What was also pleasing was the attitude of the swimmers; they were courteous and professional at all three galas and handled victories with the same grace as they would have handled defeats, showing great sportsmanship and maturity. They are a credit to the club, it's coaches and themselves.

The squad in action at the Derventio Level 2, two day meet at the Queen’s Leisure Centre in Derby, stepped up to the challenge and all made an impressive start to the season. With medals for the first three in each age group in each event, gold medals were won by 11year old Krissy Tomlinson (10), 13 year old Oliver Davidson (8), 15 year old Kevin Wallbank (4), 12 year olds Kay Goulden, William Foster, 14 year old Tyler-Anne Black, 10 year old Katie Salone and 9 year old Maddison Walker. With more top three places for these swimmers, added to by medals for 12 year old Elle Pryce, 15 year old  Mischa Menzies,15 year old Ben Goulden and 11 year Sam Frearson, all swimmers contributed to the points tally that saw them receive the Top Team Trophy presented by the ASA East Midland Region President Terry Bream.

For 9 year old Maddi Walker (pictured below) it was a brilliant first Open Meet. Not being able to compete until reaching her ninth birthday, Maddi was nine just a week ago and to come away with four medals including Gold at this level of Meet certainly marks her out as a real prospect.

Whilst these swimmers were at Derby, another team were at the Rykneld Graded Open Meet at Clay Cross. Again with almost every swimmer taking part getting at least one trophy for finishing in the top six, it was a very fired up squad who carried off the Top Club Trophy. Helping to add to the final points tally it was five first places each for Joshua Halford and Jacob Hunt, 9 year old Lana Dilks, 11year olds Imogen Marshall (2), Oliver Tipping and Lydia Marshall, 12 year old Kathryn Parsons, Kyle Hazelton and Ruth Witten, 13 year olds Lucy Parsons (3) and Vaughan Bryan. With more top six finishes for these swimmers and also 9 year old Mimi Roberts, 10 year old Esther Halford, 11 year olds Natasha Pearson, and Laura Wilcox, 12 year old Katie Tew, 13 year olds Christopher Stray and Isobelle Heath, it was a very successful first gala of the season for these swimmers, many who will looking to step up their level of competition during this season. At graded Meets, swimmers who go faster than the upper limit time are awarded speeding tickets. This usually occurs where swimmers have improved significantly since their entry was submitted and for Imogen, Ruth, Christopher and Kyle there were speeding tickets to add to their trophies.

A small number of swimmers travelled to Sheffield’s Ponds Forge to the Robin Hood  Level 1 meet where they gained valuable experience in a Long Course, 50 metre, pool.

Next weekend sees the first round of the National Arena League where two teams are fielded and certainly there is an excited expectancy amongst the Club members of how they can progress through the three Regional rounds.

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