MASTERS WORLD RECORD FALLS ON FINAL DAY
The wait for a long overdue World record was finally ended
on the last day of this year's ASA National Masters 25m Championship
at the Ponds Forge Pool.
Two days have been and past with plenty European and British
records having tumbled, but incredibly, having seen 10 World
records fall at last year's event, none had been toppled this
year.
But Judy Hattle, a former Scottish junior international, was
the hero of the hour with a record-breaking swim in the 100m
Butterfly in her 45-49 years age-group.
The 45-year-old Hadrian Masters swimmer clocked a time of
1min 07:65secs, shaving the previous best by just 15 hundredths
of a second.
Understandably setting a new World record was very rewarding
for Hattle, but there was more satisfaction on the way when
she discovered her powerful display in the pool had broken
a record which had stood for nearly ten years.
Back on the 13th October 1996, United States swimmer Laura
Val registered a time of 1min 07:80secs to secure her place
in the history books for the 100m Butterfly discipline.
"It's very nice to break records, but it's extra special
to break a World record which has stood for nearly ten years,"
said Hattle.
"Masters swimming is a lot more competitive than it used
to be. The challenge for me is to always keep testing myself."
Hattle started swimming when she was 11-years-old, but 34
years on she is still going strong.
"I've been swimming for most of my life," added
the mother of two. "I got back into Masters Swimming
in 1997 after a bit of break - and I've been competing ever
since then.
"I train with Carlisle Swimming Club, but for big competitions
I join up with Hadrian Masters. Everyone pulls together and
gives each other great support and encouragement.
"It really improves the atmosphere when you are swimming."
No more World records were broken on the third and final day,
but three more European records were bettered.
Soundwell's Eric Henderson swam a time of 1min 04:37secs to
set a new European record in the 55-59 years 100m Butterfly,
toppling the previous standard of 1min 04:55secs, while the
Hadrian Masters 200m Medley Relay team also tasted sweet success.
Swimmers Keith Millican, Graham Pearson, Ian Wallwork and
Wilson Mills combined to register a time of 1min 57:59secs
and set a new European and British standard, bettering the
previous record of 2min 02:08secs.
Gloucester Masters also made their mark in the 200-239 years
200m Freestyle relay with a record-breaking time of 1min 48:16secs.
There were 22 more British records broken as the competition
drew to a close, with Judy Brown (Warrington Dolphins, 200m
Individual Medley, 40-44 years), Kathy Clapp (Connahs Quay,
200m Individual Medley, 80-84 years), Ewan Martin (Loughborough
University, 200m Individual Medley, 19-24 years), Aimee Ramm
(Loughborough University, 100m Butterfly, 19-24 years), Wallwork
(Hadrian Masters, 100m Butterfly, 50-54 years), Derek Parr
(Otter, 100m Butterfly, 60-64 years), Mark Reynolds (Barnet
Copthall, 200m Freestyle, 40-44 years), Arthur Lowe (Birmingham
Masters, 200m Freestyle, 70-74 years), Sarah Rickwood (Loughborough
Town, 50m Backstroke, 19-24 years), Mike Brett (Nottingham
Leander, 100m Individual Medley, 40-44 years), Simon Veale
(Totness, 100m Individual Medley, 45-49 years), Thomas Walker
(Southport, 100m Individual Medley, 70-74 years) and Jim Hobsley
(Barnet Copthall, 50m Freestyle, 45-49 years) all record-breakers.
British records also fell in the 200m relays with Loughborough
University (76+ years), Hadrian Masters (160-199 years), Spencer
(280-319 years) and Kenilworth (160-199 years) successful.
The 200m Freestyle relays saw Loughborough University (76+),
Kenilworth (160-199 years), Spencer (280-319 years), Swindon
Dolphins (120-159 years) and Barnet Copthall (160-199 years)
all re-writing their own slice of history.
This year's championships failed to eclipse last year's high
standards, but with competition fierce as ever before, a total
of one World, 13 European and 61 British records was just
rewards for some starring performances in the pool.
Last year saw 10 World records, as previously mentioned, 31
European and 115 British records broken.
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