Britain’s best Masters swimmers descended on Sheffield at the weekend for the British Gas ASA Masters and Senior Age Group Championships at Ponds Forge. PSUK fielded a strong team of 20 in what was set to be a tough weekend of swimming.

With the recent introduction of extra distance relays it meant that some of the squad would compete in no fewer than 9 relays along with their usual individual events. Despite the extra events the team rose to the challenge albeit with a little understandable reluctance. The team put in great performances despite three days of heavy competition. Great Britain Police’s 120+yrs relay team took no prisoners in the Mixed 800m Freestyle Team event, lowering the existing World record by nearly eight seconds with their 8:30.70. And the quartet of Matthew Adamson (Staffs), Aimee Ramm (Leicestershire), Teresa Dray (Sussex) and Brian Steatham (West Mids) were delighted with their achievement, especially as they had taken part in 9 relays across the three days. “It’s a nice finish to the weekend,” said Dray. “When Matt put us in the lead we just felt obliged to keep it! And it was great to break it by eight seconds.” Ramm added: “It was especially nice breaking a record that already stands.” “Especially considering we are full time workers with the police,” concluded Adamson. 

A further two World Records were broken in the 400m Mixed Freestyle Team event, Great Britain Police’s Brian Steatham, Aimee Ramm, Victoria Standen (West Mids) and Nigel Gaskin (West Mids) took the World Mark for the 100+yrs age group with 3:52.76. And Ramm and Steatham teamed up with Rachel Vallins (Dorset) and David Morgan (Gwent) to set a World’s best in the same category for the Mixed 400m Medley team in 4:21.05.

The records did not stop there! There were also European records for: Aimee, Vic, Claire Thorn (West Mids) & Teresa in the 120+yrs age group Womens 800m Freestyle Team in 9:20.95. British records were set by Ryan Long (West Mids), Hayley Bird (West Mids), Laura Chidgey (Devon & Cornwall) and Nigel Gaskin in the 072+yrs age group Mixed 800m Freestyle Team in 8:37.08.

The team also put in some exceptional individual performances: Aimee Ramm (25-29 age group) won both her 100 freestyle and 4x1 individual medleys races and took silver in both the 50 freestyle and fly. Teresa Dray (35-39 age group) won both her 400 freestyle and 100 fly and silver in the 200 freestyle and 50 fly. Hayley Bird (18-24 age group) gave outstanding performances winning the 100 freestyle in 58.66 breaking the golden minute for the first time and 3 silver medals in the 50 backstroke, freestyle and fly. Chris Jones (South Wales) (35-39 age group) won the 200m backstroke and picked up a silver medal in the 4x1 individual medley. Brian Steatham (25-29 age group) won the 100m freestyle event and came 3rd in the 100 breastroke.

Other medalists were:

Laura Chidgey (30-34 age group) won 2 silver medals in the 100 & 200 breastroke; Matt Adamson (30-34 age group) won 2 silver medals in the 200 freestyle and 100 fly; Dave Morgan (35-39 age group) won a silver in the 50 and a bronze in the 100 breastroke events. Alison Willis (West Mids) (35-39 age group) came 2nd in the 4x1 individual medley; Geoff Boddie (Merseyside) (35-39 age group) came 2nd in the 200m breastroke; Nigel Gaskin (30-34 age group) took 3rd in the 100m freestyle and Claire Thorn (35-39 age group) 3rd in the 100m breastroke.

The GB Police’s relays continued to dominate in the pool with the following results:

Gold medals were won by the Womens 200m freestyle team – 100+yrs age group of Aimee, Rachel Vallins (Dorset), Vic & Laura; the 72+yrs age group took silver (Hayley, Alison, Claire & Teresa) and Mens team 120+yrs age group also took silver (Nigel, Matt, Dave & Brian). Mixed 200 freestyle 72+ (Ryan/Hayley/Laura/Dave) and 100+ age groups (Brian/Aimee/Vic/Nigel) both won gold. The GB Police showed their strength in the 200 Medley relay teams winning two of their events, in the Mens 120+ age group it was Chris, Brian, Matt and Nigel; and the womens 100+ age group Rachel, Caroline Bell (Lancashire), Aimee & Vic that took victory and the 72+ age group with Hayley, Laura, Teresa & Ali taking silver. In the Mixed 200 medley relay the 100+ age group Rachel, Brian, Aimee & Matt took gold and in the 120+ age group Chris, Geoff, Teresa & Laura took silver.

Silver medals were also won by the mens (120+yrs age group) consisting of Chris, Dave, Matt & Brian and womens (100+ age group) 400m medley relay of Rachel, Laura, Vic & Aimee. Nigel, Matt, Brian & Ryan Long (West Mids) won a silver in the Mens 800 freestyle 72+ age group. The Mixed 400m medley 72+yrs age group of Ryan, Teresa, Hayley & Matt and the 400m freestyle team of Hayley, Caroline, Ryan & Nigel both picked up silver medals. As you can see the team had a massive amount of swimming to do and it is a credit to them that they performed so well. Team Manager, Claire Thorn said, “I am extremely proud of the team’s performances over a very hard weekend of swimming and happy for the swimmers themselves. The Championships have been the best the team has ever had racking up 7 gold; 15 silver & 6 bronze individual medals and 10 gold & 10 silver relay medals. Well done to everyone.”