MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS KICK OFF WITH NEW WORLD RECORD
The British Masters Championships 50m and Senior Age Group
Championships kicked off in Manchester today with a new World
record in the pool.
Spencer Swim Team member Amanda Heath swam in the 50-54 age
group in the 200m individual medley and the 200m breaststroke
event. In the last event of the day, Heath claimed the first
World record of the competition in the 200m breaststroke.
She smashed the record in a time of 3:03.11 seconds.
In the 200m individual medley she claimed a new European
and British record in a time of 2:48.87 seconds.
"My main aim for today was to claim records in my events
and I gained a World and European record," she said.
"I wanted to go faster in the 200m breaststroke but I
still got the record and that is great. I am very pleased.
"I came here aiming to claim records and I will be looking
to build on this performance over the weekend. The two records
are all I could have asked for on my first day of competition."
Penny Webster, who swims for Kingston Royals, smashed the
European and British Record in the
65-69 age group with an impressive swim in the 1,500m freestyle.
She took the record in 24:31.20 seconds beating the previous
record by 12 seconds.
Webster was thrilled with her time and her new European record.
"I am absolutely delighted with my swim today,"
she said. "It was a brilliant swim and a great way to
start the weekend. I have broken Jane Asher's record for the
1,500m and I am really happy with that. I train with her and
I know she will be happy for me.
"I actually swam better than I was expecting because
I never expected to smash the record by that much."
The men's 200m breaststroke saw a new European and British
record claimed in the 25-29 age group by Chris Jones (Swindon
Dolphins).
"That was a great swim," he said. "I am very
pleased, I am looking forward to the European Masters Championships
in the summer. However I am currently focussing on the rest
of the weekend and I am aiming to claim a world record."
In the men's 200m individual medley Simon Veale claimed a
new British record in the 50-54 age group in a time of 2:26.81.
"I am really happy to have claimed a record in my first
swim of the weekend," said Veale. "I feel I swam
better than last year but I feel I have more to give. I am
looking to improve over the weekends and hopefully claim more
records. I am competing in the 200m freestyle tomorrow morning.
It is going to be tough but I know what I have to do."
King's Cormorants swimmer Jane Asher started her weekend
with a strong swim in the 75-79 age group in the women's open
200m individual medley. She completed the race in a time of
3:38.78 seconds, finishing just outside of world record time.
"I found it hard work today," said Asher. "I
am pleased but I found myself in a tough heat, I wanted to
go out easier this year as I worked so hard last year. I have
had a problem with my shoulder and I think this may have slowed
me slightly. But it is a lovely pool to compete in and I am
really looking forward to the rest of the weekend."
Tomorrow sees the anticipated return of Willy Van Rysel (Spencer
Swim Team) swimming in the 90-94 age group, she swims in the
50m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke
and the 800m freestyle.
On Day two session one starts at 9am, session two starts
at 2pm and session three starts at 6pm.
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