Newsletters 2009

Issue 1

This is the first attempt at a Newsletter for SBM, and in it I hope to include news, bits and pieces of information that hopefully will be of interest to you all, fixtures, results, decathlon news, and much more.

Decathlon

The British Masters Decathlon is free and automatic, and is updated by swims achieved at Masters meets where electronic timing is in operation. It is a points based & age related competition, which basically means the faster you swim, the more points you will gain, and the older you are, you will gain more points than someone younger swimming the same time. The full eighteen events are divided into six sections: - Sprint Freestyle consisting of 50m, 100m and 200m; Distance Freestyle with the 400m, 800m and 1500m; Breaststroke 50m, 100m, and 200m; Backstroke 50m, 100m, and 200m; Butterfly 50m, 100m, and 200m; Individual Medley 100m, 200m and 400m.

Your Top Ten point scoring events are counted, but you can only have two counting events from the same section. It is a system that encourages Masters swimmers to enter events that they would not normally swim. I have set a target for the club this year, to finish in the Top 50 in both the Mens, and the Womens Club Points tables.

Click on the ASA website link for results and explanation of the decathlon competition including the base times, and formulas for working out the age conversion points.

Currently, after only three Masters meets this year, we are in second place in the Ladies team, and 53rd in the Mens. A team consists of the top four point scores in the club. Chris Ayers is in second place in the Ladies competition, but there is a long way to go before the final lists are completed.

Results

We had six swimmers at the South East Region Long Course at Crawley, and we won 19 medals, 8 Gold, 7 Silver, and 4 Bronze. Pride of place went to Christine Ayers who won all six of her events in the 55 to 59 age group. There were also two golds for Iris Bellis in the 65 to 69 age group, and also a good first Masters meet for Rachel Buckingham, her first competition for 12 years.

Rotherham Metro Long Course Masters Meet at Sheffield. Only three swimmers this time, but once again in the medals, 4 golds and 2 silvers, and this time it was the turn of Iris to win all three of her events in the 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyle. For a complete list of all swimmers results with times and positions, follow the link to Results.

Records

We have started our own club records, both Long Course and Short Course. A full list is available on the website under Records.

We are also making an attack on the East Region Masters Records. These Region records were started a couple of years ago, when the new Regions were set up. The Short Course records were started with time standards taken from the 2005 Nationals at Sheffield, some were pretty tough, and some were easy. The Long Course records did not have any standard times, the first East swimmers to swim an event, just claimed them. Currently we hold just two Short Course records, but have 26 Long Course records, the most held by a single club. To be honest, a lot of our Long Course records were first time claims, but as they say, you have got to be “in it to win it”.

Fixtures

Feb 28th Aylesbury Inter Club. The invitations have all gone out, and our team is now finalized, so good luck to everyone.

April 24/26th Midland Masters at Leamington Spa. Pool 25m.

Events: 50m, 100m, 200m, all four strokes. 400m Freestyle, 100m, 200, & 400m Ind. Med.

This is a nice friendly meet, and would be an ideal first Masters meet for those of you who are not yet members. I will be trying to twist a few arms in the coming weeks.

May 9th Essex Masters at Blackshots Pool, Grays.

Events: 50m and 100m all strokes, 100 Ind-Med. 200m & 400m Freestyle.

 

If you have any comments, please contact me.

John B