RECORDS SET TO TUMBLE AS MASTERS GATHER
Expect records to tumble this weekend as the cream of Masters
swimmers descend on Manchester for this year's British Masters
Championship.
More than 780 competitors will be looking to make a splash
at this year's three-day competition at the Aquatics Centre,
home to the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Competitors aged between 18 and 90-years-old will be looking
to meet old friends, renew old and new rivalries - and most
of all try to set new World, European and British records
in the city's pool.
Last year's competition at the Tollcross Leisure Centre in
Glasgow saw a whole string of new records broken.
And with more competitors competing this year than in 2005,
there's every chance this year's record tally could topple
that of last year.
This year's oldest competitor is ladies' swimmer Willy Van
Rysel, a hugely successful Masters swimmer who has high hopes
of setting new records.
Swimming for Spencer, Van Rysel is still going strong at a
sprightly 90 years of age, and with other veteran Masters
swimmers such as Judy Wilson (Heart of England), Frances Penwarden
(Croydon) and Hadrian Masters star Judy Hattle all in action,
this year's competition could be the best yet.
In the men's event watch out for Harold Dodd, the Trafford
Metro swimmer still looking to break records aged 87, as well
as a host of other well-known names.
Many of this year's swimmers have an added incentive to do
well at this year's tournament, with the World Championship
in Stanford, California (August 4-11), just around the corner.
Many of those swimming in Manchester will be heading to the
United States to see if they can make a name for themselves.
"Masters swimming is one big happy family - and I expect
this year's tournament will be no different," said Emma
Langham, this year's Event Organiser.
"Swimmers come to meet old friends and enjoy themselves,
but they'll also be trying to break lots of records.
"It's great to see so many entrants for this year's tournament.
I'm sure lots of records will be broken and the spirit and
camaraderie to be as good as ever."
Competition starts on Friday morning at 2pm, followed by an
evening session which starts at 6pm.
Saturday's session times are 9.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm, with
Sunday having two sessions - 9.00am and 1.00pm.
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