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Basingstoke set sixth world record of this year’s Championships

Basingstoke’s 160+ Years Women’s 4x200m Freestyle team broke the fifth world record of the 2023 British Masters Championships.

It was evening packed full of relay record but it was the Basingstoke quartet that stole the show at Ponds Forge.

Basingstoke’s quartet of Elizabeth Godfrey, Sarah Hunt, Alex O’Kelly and Fleur Turner recorded a new world’s best time of 9:17.25.

That knocked just 1.08 off the previous best and an even more off the former best British and European time of a 9:23.07.

The groups dominance on the day saw them come away as the as gold medallists by a margin of 18.25.

In the same heat, Gateshead & Whickham’s 240+ Years team set a new European record.

Their group of Judith Pearson, Verity Dobbie, Joan Edwards and Nuala Muir-Cochrane became the first European team to finish the race in under 11 minutes.

They set a time of 10:52.10 that was more than 15 seconds faster than the former European record.

Harrogate joined in on the European record fun in the 200+ Years.

Their team of Karen Graham, Julie Hoyle, Philippa Rickard and Jo Beardsworth added to the club’s impressive meet so far with a time of 10.08.34.

In the Men’s 4x200m Freestyle three British records were set.

Trafford Metro (160+ Years), Harrogate (240+ Years) and Otter (320+ Years) all set new national best times.

Harrogate’s quartet of Lyn Hughes, Stuart Hoyle, Paul Bowman and Stephen Allen were the first to shatter ten-minute mark in their event with a 9:59.49.

That gave them a new British best by almost four seconds.

Whilst Trafford Metro’s teams continued their form thanks to Paul Barnard, Rob Arnold, Joseph Keeley and James Simpson setting a 8:42.36 which knocked just over two seconds from the former top time.

Otter’s team of became the first to set a time in the age group as they recorded a 16:05.02.

Their four was made up of Robert Thomas, Anthony Ray, Derek Parr and Roger Lloyd-Mostyn.

Woking’s 200+ Years teams continued their dominance across the weekend as they achieved their third European record of the meet.

This time it was in the Mixed 4x100m Medley team event where David Bryant, Michelle Ware, Michael Hodgson and Jennie Clark teamed up to achieve the feat.

They knocked just over three seconds off the previous record time which was also the British best effort.

Their time was a 4:33.51 compared to the former best time of 4:36.62.

Not to be outdone, Trafford Metro got a European world record of their own.

They did it in the 100+ Years contest thanks to a time of 4:16.68.

The proficient team of Jonathan Altoft, James Simpson, Louisa Zolkiewski and Victoria Cunningham teamed up to beat the previous European best by 0.51.

To sum up their success the former British record time was 4:30.14 which they bettered by nearly 14 seconds.

Four ‘Splash and dash’ European records

Four European records were set in the 50m Freestyle events to add to make it seven on the night as a whole.

Two of the European bests came in the women’s competition with Alyson Fordham and Dawn Kissack putting their names into the record books.

Fordham was first into the pool as she set a 30.56 as she became the first European to swim under 31 seconds in the 65-69 Years contest.

The Bishop Stortford swimmer took 0.57 off the previous European and British record time.

Fordham has been regularly amongst the records at the meet so far. She added her second individual record of the day after she broke the British Women’s 50m Backstroke record in session five.

Kissack then took to the pool in the very next heat to break the European top time in the 60-64 Years race.

She smashed through the half a minute barrier to set a 29.29 which was almost a second faster than the former top time.

It gave her a first record of the meet in a phenomenal showing from the Carnoustie swimmer.

Chris Dunn set the only European record in the Men’s 50m Freestyle.

He swum a 30.11 to become the fastest Brit in the 75-79 Years event.

Dunn dominated his race as he finished a massive 8.64 faster than his nearest challenger to win gold.

The time bettered both the previous European and British top time by 0.21 as the Hatfield swimmer punched the air as his record breaking time was announced.

Two domestic records also fell in the Men’s 50m Freestyle thanks to Ian McKay and David Emerson.

Emerson actually broke his own British record from yesterday by just 0.01.

The East Leeds swimmer dropped the record by 0.42 yesterday during the 4x50m Freestyle event but lowered it even further after another strong swim.

McKay (Warrender Baths) got his first individual record as he lowered both the Scottish and British best times.

He set a 27.54 compared to the previous mark of 27.86.

Three new British bests were also recorded in the Women’s event.

They went to Georgina Heyn, Michelle Ware and Elizabeth Woolner.

Woolner was first to set a new benchmark with her 29.29 in the 55-59 Years race giving her a new record by just 0.04

Ware became the first British woman to swim faster than 28 seconds in the 50-54 Years event.

She set a time of 27.89 which was 2.31 faster than her nearest rival as she won the gold.

Heyn (Teddington) swam narrowly faster than Ware to break the record for the 35-39 Years age group.

She finished in 27.52 which was 0.18 faster than the previous record pace.

There were also two Welsh records broken with Helen Gorman swimming a 29.28 in the 50-54 Years Women’s 50m Freestyle and Julia Buchanan touching the wall in 37.49 un the 65-69 Years age group.

Grossman sets third British record

Wellingborough swimmer Steve Grossman set his third British record of the meet after beating the old record by 1.42.

His time of a 2:52.20 was quick enough to see him become the fastest British 70-74 year-old in the event.

It added to a weekend full of records for Grossman after his British best swims in the 100m backstroke and the 50m backstroke throughout the meet so far.

You can see all the results here and check out all the medallists below with our medal roll of honour.

Image – Morgan Harlow

Day Two, Session Three, Medal Roll of Honour

Mixed Open 4x100m Medley Team

72+ Years

1. West Suffolk, 4:27.02

2. Trafford Metro two, Trafford Metro, 4:27.22

3. Trafford Metro, 4:40.52

100+ Years

1. Trafford Metro, 4:16.68

2. Wycombe District, 4:30.49

3.  Birmingham Masters, 4:31.68

120+ Years

1. Birmingham Masters, 4:36.34

2. City of Sheffield, 4:48.17

3. Preston, 4:58.54

160+ Years

1. Borough of Kikrlees, 5:09.10

2. Spencer, 5:23.75

200+ Years

1. Woking, 4:33.51

2. Crawley, 5:23.09

240+ Years

1. Team Anglia, 5:49.96

2. Hemel Hemp, 5:54.75

280+ Years

1. Spencer, 6:42.61

Women’s 200m Backstroke

18-24 Years

1. Danielle Horner, Eston, 2:33.73

2. Suzannah Klimaszewska, Birmingham Uni, 2:36.01

3. Francesca Crocker, City of Sheffield, 2:36.49

25-29 Years

1. Lara Charlton, Hart, 2:57.53

2. Caitlin Rees, Warrender Baths, 2:39.74

3. Francine Kidd, Wycombe District, 2:40.55

30-34 Years

1. Hannah Nicol, Barnet Copt, 2:34.00

2. Kelly McIntosh, Silver City, 2:37.14

3. Megan McDonagh, Otter, 2:39.55

35-39 Years

1. Sara Holman, KSK, 2:47.50

2. Jennie Clarke, Woking, 2:47.64

3. Sally Norman, Boston, 3:01.16

40-44 Years

1. Jo Mitchinson, Team Luton, 2:43.52

2. Tara Stroud, Hadleigh, 2:48.38

3. Sara Lang, Southport, 3:02.36

45-49 Years

1. Lisa Dawson, Barnet Copt, 2:53.26

2. Rachel Wood, Bristol Nor, 2:55.60

3. Andrea Coombs, Farnham, 2:59.03

50-54 Years

1. Jo Corben, S D Trojan, 2:30.17

2. Sarah Fitzgerald-Smith, Reading, 2:52.88

3. Sarah Lock, TigersharksW, 2:55.35

55-59 Years

1. Adele Parham, EXE Masters, 3:12.52

2. Suzanne Welham, St Albans Masters, 3:14.18

3. Hilary Coulson, Hemel Hempstead, 3:29.44

60-64 Years

1. Julie Hoyle, Harrogate, 2:48.76

2. Blanaid Walker, Aer Lingus, 3:13.80

3. Carolyn Irvine, Borough of Kirklees, 3:17.62

65-69 Years

1. Amanda Heath, Spencer, 3:15.51

2. Audrey Cooper, Silver City, 3:18.94

3. Kathleen Bidnall, Mid Sussex, 3:29.32

70-74 Years

1. Kathleen Tunnicliffe, B C & P Masters, 3:30.06

2. Margaret Bickley, Dartmouth SC, 3:55.76

3. Sally LeLean, Diss Otters, 4:14.83

75-79 Years

1. Helen Frances Jenkins, Southport, 3:39.56

2. Rose Dudeney, Mid Sussex, 3:56.07

3. Elaine Blower, Barnet Copt, 4:12.52

80-84 Years

1. Janet Masters, South Beds, 4:16.10

85-89 Years

1. Maureen Fakley, Hythe, 6:51.66

Men’s 200m Backstroke

18-24 Years

1. Myles Turner, West Suffolk, 2:10.98

2. Matthew Gray, City of Peterborough, 2:21.63

3. Samuel Wortley, City of Derby, 2:23.84

25-29 Years

1. Matthew Evans, Walsall, 2:12.71

2. Rubens King, Woking, 2:14.58

3. Augustus Veasey, Chelmsford, 2:15.18

30-34 Years

1. Kalon Veale, Totnes, 2:11.88

2. Fraser J McKane, Swim-IT, 2:35.79

3. David Smith, Aberdeen Dolphin, 2:47.10

35-39 Years

1. Scott Lathrope, Kenilworth Masters, 2:16.69

2. Ben Felton, City of Sheffield, 2:29.31

3. Aiden Dunne, Camden Swiss, 2:29.95

40-44 Years

1. Jonathan Audis, TigersharksW, 2:24.61

2. Gye Whitlam, DerbyPhoenix, 2:31.65

3. Guy Armstrong, MwayMaritime, 2:43.21

45-49 Years

1. Simon Joyce, Kidlington, 2:43.91

2. Samuel Fox, Flitwick, 2:51.18

50-54 Years

1. Keith Dunnett, Silver City, 2:44.26

2. Simon Berrey, Spencer, 2:46.45

3. Nick White, Loughborough, 2:49.39

55-59 Years

1. Simon Wintle, Gloucester Masters,2:31.86

2. Hugh Taylor, KingstonHull, 2:41.25

60-64 Years

1. Alec Johnson, Trafford Metro, 2:36.15

2. Stephen Bottomley, Borough of Kirklees, 2:44.33

3. Stephen Allen, Harrogate, 2:50.76

65-69 Years

1. Michael Whitehead, Aylesbury, 3:14.15

2. Keith Parkin, Barnet Copt, 3:36.36

3. Godfrey Admans, Spencer, 3:38.75

70-74 Years

1. Steve Grossman, Wellinborough, 2:52.20

2. Eddie Riach, Milingavie &B, 2:52.70

3. Alan McMullan, Bangor Ni, 3:17.01

75-79 Years

1. Chris Jessup, Salisbury, 4:30.92

Women’s 50m Freestyle

18-24 Years

1. Zoe Cawsey, Plymouth Leander, 26.69

2. Bethany Walker, Gainsborough, 27.17

3. Georgina Wright, Borough of Kirklees, 27.46

25-29 Years

1. Victoria Cunningham, Trafford Metro, 27.26

2. Sadie Turner, B C & P Masters, 28.11

3. Molly Ollington, Newmarket, 28.30

30-34 Years

1. Holly Booth, Trafford Metro, 27.87

2. Ruth Sutherland, Hearts of Midlothian, 27.89

3. Kellyn Caldwell, Wycombe District, 27.99

35-39 Years

1. Georgina Heyn, 27.52

2. Kimberly Saddler, EXE Masters, 28.91

3. Natasha Lane, Kidlington, 29.05

40-44 Years

1. Nicola Charlesworth, Basingstoke, 27.89

2. Anna McCall, Birmingham Masters, 28.31

3. Rebecca Smith, TigersharksW, 28.75

45-49 Years

1. Susan Teale, Borough of Kirklees, 28.83

2. Gina Hobson, Otter, 28.98

3. Katherine Hislop, TigersharksW, 29.18

50-54 Years

1. Michelle Ware, Woking, 27.89

2. Helen Sadler, Trafford Metro, 28.54

3. Helen Gorman, City of Cardiff, 29.28

55-59 Years

1. Elizabeth Woolner, Team Anglia, 29.29

2. Joanna Collins, Wrexham, 31.60

3. Lindsay Kelly-Onay, Didcot & Bar, 32.74

60-64 Years

1. Dawn Kissack, Carnoustie, 29.29

2. Suzanne Linton, Kenilworth Masters, 31.09

3. Debbie Matless, East Anglian, 31.65

65-69 Years

1. Alyson Fordham, Bishop Stortford, 30.56

2. Lindsey Gowland, B C & P Masters, 32.83

3. Julia Buchanan, Caldicot, 37.49

70-74 Years

1. Kathleen Tunnicliffe, B C & P Masters, 32.95

2. Diana Groat, Aylesbury, 42.70

3. Marianne Davey, Redhill & R, 46.05

75-79 Years

1. Alison Gwynn, Mid Sussex, 37.99

2. Elizabeth Savidge, Kings Cormorant, 42.80

3. Pauline Cooke, Birmingham Masters, 43.79

85-89 Years

1. Jenny Ball, Ryde SC, 56.64

Men’s 50m Freestyle

18-24 Years

1. Adrian Ting, Birmingham Uni, 23.69

2. Finlay Ryan, West Norfolk, 24.60

3. Michael Eagling, Manchester Tri, 25.07

25-29 Years

1. James Simpson, Trafford Metro, 23.90

2. Clive Marquis, Portsmouth Northsea, 23.91

3. Jamie Cunningham, Woking, 24.66

30-34 Years

1. Paul Laffan, Cork Masters, 23.91

2. Joseph Keeley, Trafford Metro, 24.44

3. Richard Ayre, East Leeds, 24.57

35-39 Years

1. Warren Barrett, EXE Masters, 24.49

2. Leon McKenzie, Crawley, 24.99

3. James Wardle, Kenilworth Masters, 25.19

40-44 Years

1. Christopher Aust, Kidlington, 25.25

2. William Roberts, Otter, 25.69

3. Chris Knee, East Leeds, 25.92

45-49 Years

1. Craig Bransby, Enfield Swim Squad, 26.28

2. Anthony Du Preez, Guildford City, 26.37

3. Dean Blackman, Woking, 26.50

50-54 Years

1. Spencer Turner, Basingstoke, 26.72

2. Martin Lane, Basildon Phoenix, 26.74

3. Ken Flett, City of Sheffield, 26.75

55-59 Years

1. Michael Hodgson, Woking, 25.61

2. Marcel Scholten, Modernian, 26.96

3. Sean McQuaid, Barnet Copt, 27.36

60-64 Years

1. David Emerson, East Leeds, 26.18

2. Gary Taylor, Haslemere, 26.74

3. Rune Larsen, Trondhjems S, 27.49

65-69 Years

1. Ian McKay, Warrender Baths, 27.54

2. Colin Stephenson, Gloucester Masters, 28.34

3. Martin Jennings, Borough of Kirklees, 29.93

70-74 Years

1. Peter Gulyas, Torokbalint, 31.21

2. Steven Folsom, Teddington, 32.39

3. Alan McMullan, Bangor Ni, 33.46

75-79 Years

1. Chris Dunn, Hatfield, 30.11

2. Daniel Roberts, City of Sheffield, 38.75

3. Bob Blane, Nottingham Leander, 41.40

80-84 Years

1. Tony Cherrington, Gloucester Masters, 36.59

2. Roger Lloyd-Mostyn, Otter, 37.03

3. Roger Billing, Guildford City, 38.44

Multi-Classification by British Para-Swimming Points

1. Joseph Seage, City of Sheffield, 28.18, 555 points,

2. Scott Hadley, City of Coventry, 34.43, 397 points

Women’s Open 4x200m Freestyle Team

72+ Years

1. Preston, 10:04.82

2. Birmingham Masters, 10:44.34

3. Deepings, 11:25.02

100+ Years

1. Trafford Metro, 10:05.82

120+ Years

1. S D Trojan, 10:38.79

160+ Years

1. Basingstoke, 9:17.25

2. Gloucester Masters, 9:35.58

3. Spencer, 11:09.47

200+ Years

1. Harrogate, 10:08.34

240+ Years

1. Gateshead and Whickham, 10:52.10

2. Silver City, 12:02.03

Men’s Open 4x200m Freestyle Team

100+ Years

1. Dartmoor Dartes, 8:07.74

120+ Years

1. Preston, 9:13.10

160+ Years

1. Trafford Metro, 8:42.36

2. Borough of Newham, 9:00.30

3. EXE Masters, 9:58.36

200+ Years

1. Gloucester Masters, 9:14.10

2. City of Sheffield, 9:19.73

240+ Years

1. Harrogate, 9:59.49

2. Spencer, 11:53.84

320+ Years

1. Otter, 16:05.02

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