Press Releases

South East Region Long Course Masters Championships, K2 Crawley, January 2010

South Beds Masters Swim Team had seven swimmers entered into the first meet of 2010, the South East Region Long Course Championships at the K2 Centre in Crawley Sussex.

The team won twenty two medals between them, with the best performances coming from 70 year old Janet Masters.

Janet, swimming in the 70 to 74 age group, won all six of her events setting new East Region Long Course records in all of them.

In the 65 to 69 age group, Iris Bellis picked up three silver medals in her three events, the 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle, while in the 60 to 64 age group, Chris Jessup, making his debut for the team, won the 200m Breaststroke and the gruelling 200m Butterfly, the latter being a new East Region record.

In the 55 to 59 age group, Christine Ayers entered eight events over the weekend, winning four gold and four silver medals, setting new Region records in the 400m Individual Medley and the 100m Freestyle events.

The 40 to 44 age group, saw Keith Spence also set a new region record in the 400m Individual Medley when picking up the silver medal, and in the 30 to 34 years age group, there were new club records for Joanne Ayers, in the 800m freestyle, and for Rachel Buckingham there was a silver medal in the 100m Backstroke and a bronze in the 100m Breaststroke.

The club continues to grow, and now trains at both the new Bletchley Leisure Centre, and Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre in Leighton Buzzard.

If anyone is interested, or would like to know more about Masters swimming, then please contact John Bellis on 01908 377601

South Yorkshire Masters Championships, Ponds Forge, December 2009

South Beds Masters Swim Team had just three swimmers attending the South Yorkshire Masters, the last meet of the year, at the Ponds Forge centre in Sheffield.

Swimming in the 40 to 44 age group was Keith Spence. Keith, who normally swims Breaststroke, had a change and swam three Freestyle events. He achieved three personal best times knocking 1.4 seconds off of his 50m time, 2.4 seconds off his 100m time, and a whopping fourteen seconds off his 400m time, the swim being good enough for the bronze medal.

In the 50 to 54 age group, Christopher Marshall won two gold and two bronze medals, with his gold medal performances coming in the 50m Backstroke and the 100m Individual Medley.

Competing in the 55 to 59 age group Peter Iles won all five of his events, with his best performance coming in the 400m Freestyle event, where he knocked 10 seconds off of his existing club record, recording a time of 5 minutes 23 seconds.

Barnet 1500m & South Bucks Masters Championships, November 2009

In a busy couple of weeks for the South Beds Masters Swim Team, the club had swimmers competing at the Barnet 1500m Meet in North London, and at the Berks and South Bucks Masters at Maidenhead.

At the Barnet 1500m Freestyle, Christine Ayers, competing in the 55 to 59 age group, continues to re-write the East Region record book, winning the event in 23.07.90. In the men’s 35 to 39 age group, Howard Gell finished in a creditable second place, in what was his first 1500m swim for 14 years and in the men’s 45 to 49 age group, Peter Wade, who was swimming in his first master’s meet finished in sixth place.

The following weekend at Maidenhead, the club had eight swimmers competing in the Berks and South Bucks Meet.

In the 25 to 29 age group, Sarah Pearse won three gold medals and one silver medal, with her time of 37.16 seconds in the 50m Breaststroke breaking the meet record. Sarah’s other wins came in the 50m Butterfly, and 50m Freestyle, while in the 100m Breaststroke, she was just pipped by 0.06 of a second into the silver medal position.

In the 30 to 34 age group, Rachel Buckingham won a silver medal in the 100m Backstroke, and picked up bronzes in the 100m and 200m Freestyle events. Also swimming in this age group, and making her Masters debut was Joanne Ayers. Jo had four top eight finishes in her events, with her best result coming in the 200m Freestyle, where she finished in fifth place.

For the men in this age group, Bryn Sharp won two silvers and a bronze medal. His silvers coming in the 50m Breaststroke and in the 200m Individual Medley, with his bronze coming in the 100m Backstroke.

In the 40 to 45 age group, Lesley Bellis won a bronze medal in the 100m Breaststroke and although just out of the medals, Keith Spence set a new personal best and club record in the 200m Individual Medley.

In the 55 to 59 age group, Christine Ayers won all four 50m events, with her times in the 50m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle setting new meet records.

In the 65 to 69 age group, Iris Bellis won both the 100m and 200m Freestyle.

ASA National Masters Championships, 23rd-25th October 2009

South Beds Masters had four swimmers competing at the ASA National Masters at the Ponds Forge Centre in Sheffield, and those swimmers had a host of records and personal best times.

In the 25 to 29 age group Sarah Pearse had four excellent swims, breaking her own club records in all of them. Her best results came in the Breaststroke events, with a quick time of 36.91 seconds in the 50m event seeing her finish in sixth place, and a 1.24.07 time in the 100m event placing her in eleventh place. Sarah also swam a 30.48 in the 50m Freestyle and 1.17.48 in the 100m Individual Medley.

Competing in the 40 to 44 age group Keith Spence broke five club records, with his best performance being in the 200m Breaststroke where Keith knocked over four seconds off of his best time to finish in eighth place.

The 55 to 59 age group saw Peter Iles dip under 30 seconds in the 50m Freestyle with a time of 29.56 seconds, but only good enough for ninth place. Peter also set new club records in his other four swims.

For the ladies in this age group, Christine Ayers continued her fine form, with five medals in her six events, and also setting five new east region records in the process. Chistine's best performance came in the 800m Freestyle where she gained the silver medal, and her other medals, all bronze, came in the 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke, and in the 100m Individual Medley.

East Region Open Masters Championships, October 2009

A small group from South Beds Masters Swim Team travelled to Newmarket for the East Region Short Course Masters Championships and came away with 27 medals.

Leading the charge, in the 25 to 29 age group, was Sarah Pearse who won the 50m Breaststroke in 37.02 seconds. Sarah also won the 100 Breaststroke, and picked up silver medals in the 50m, 100m and 200 metre Freestyle events.

In the 30 to 34 age group Rachel Buckingham won the 200m Individual Medley and the 50m Backstroke events, both in new club record times.

The 40 to 44 age group saw Keith Spence win the 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley, and Lesley Bellis won the 50m Breaststroke. Lesley then set personal best times in the 50m, 100m and 200m Freestyle events.

In the 55 to 59 age group Christine Ayers continued in her record breaking ways, breaking her own East Region records in both the 400m Freestyle and in the 200m Individual Medley. Christine also won the 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Freestyle.

The 65 to 69 age group saw a one-two for South Beds in the 100m Freestyle, with Janet Masters winning, and Iris Bellis coming in second. Janet also won the 50m Freestyle, and came second in the 100m Individual Medley, while Iris won the 200m Freestyle, and also came second in the 50m Breaststroke.

Barnet Copthall Sprint Meet, September 2009

The South Beds Masters Swim Team had eight swimmers competing in North London at the popular Barnet Copthall Masters Sprint Meet. Although only having one winner, the swimmers had a host of top three placings, winning twelve silver and three bronze medals.

Continuing in her record breaking form, 56 year old Christine Ayers broke two of her own East Region Masters Records, when winning Bronze in the 100m Individual Medley and silver in the 50m Breaststroke. Chris also won silver in both the 50m Freestyle and the 100m Breaststroke.

The teams only win came from Peter Iles. Swimming in the 55 to 59 years age group, Peter's win came with a personal best time in the 100m Individual Medley. Peter also won four silvers in the 50m and 100m Freestyle and in the 50m Backstroke and Butterfly events.

In the 40 to 45 age group, Keith Spence picked up a bronze in the 50m Breaststroke, and then knocked nearly eight seconds off his own club record in the 100m Butterfly, but the time was only good enough for fourth place. Also in this age group Lesley Bellis had three Personal best times, with her best result coming with a bronze medal in the 50m Breaststroke.

In the 35 to 38 age group, Howard Gell won himself a silver medal in the 100m Individual Medley, and Nicola T Murtagh won three silvers in the 50m backstroke, the 100m Individual Medley, and the 100m Breaststroke.

The 30 to 34 age group had Rachel Buckingham setting new personal best times, and new club records in both the 50m and 100m Freestyle events, and finishing just outside the medals in fourth place in the 100m Breaststroke.

The 25 to 29 age group saw 27 year old Sarah Pearce setting personal best masters times in all of her three swims, with her best result coming with a quick time of 37.92 seconds when winning the silver medal in the 50m Breaststroke.

The teams next competition will be next month at Newmarket for the East Region Masters Short Course Championships.

Barnet Copthall Distance Meet, July 2009

Five swimmers from South Beds Masters SC, based at Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre in Leighton Buzzard, travelled to North London to compete in the Barnet Copthall Distance Masters Meet.

In the 35 to 39 years age group, Nicola T Murtagh won all three of her events, the 100m Breaststroke, 100m Backstroke, and the 200m Freestyle, and Howard Gell picked up medals in all three of his events, with his best performance coming when winning to 200m Backstroke. Howard then went on to pick up the silver in the 100m Breaststroke, and then the bronze in the 400m Freestyle.

In the 40 to 44 years age group, Lesley Bellis won the silver medal in the 100m Freestyle, bronze medal in the 100m Breaststroke, then finished the meet off with a personal best time when finishing fifth in the 200m Freestyle.

In the 55 to 59 age group, Peter Iles won all three of his events, and his winning time of 1.18.81 in the 100 metre Butterfly broke the excisting East Region Record. Peter's other winning events were the 100m and 200m Freestyle. Also competing in the this age group, Christine Ayers continued with her record breaking form, breaking three East Region records. The first was in the 800m Freestyle, then came the 200m Individual Medley, and she finished off by breaking her own record in the 200m Breaststroke.

Essex Masters Championships, May 2009

Six swimmers from the South Beds Masters SC, based at Leighton Buzzard, competed in the Essex Masters at Grays, and came away with eighteen medals between them.

Competing in the 55 to 59 age group, Christine Ayers won four Golds, all in new meet record times. Her wins came in the 100m Breaststroke, 50m and 200m Freestyle, and in the 50m Backstroke. Christine also picked up a Silver in the 50m Butterfly.

Also in this age group, Peter Iles swam in four events, and won medals in all of them with his best performances coming in the 100m and 200m Freestyle where Peter won Silver medals. Peter picked up Bronze medals in the 50m Freestyle and in the 50m Butterfly.

In the 45 to 49 age group Jackie Maycock set a personal best time when winning the Bronze medal in the 100m Breaststroke, and was just outside the medals in the 100m Individual Medley, when finishing fourth.

The 40 to 44 age group had Lesley Bellis, who won Golds in both the 50m and the 100m Breaststroke events. Lesley also finished fourth in the 50m Freestyle & all three swims were personal best times.

For the men in this age group, Keith Spence had four swims, but was just outside the top three in all of them.

In the 30 to 34 age group, Rachel Buckingham won three Silver medals, with personal best times coming in the 100m Breaststroke, and the 200m Freestyle, but was just outside her best time in the 50m Breaststroke. Rachel also finished fourth in the 100m Freestyle.

A week later Keith Spence travelled to Norwich to compete in the Norfolk Masters where he set new best times when finishing in the Bronze medal position in the 100m Individual medley, and seventh place in the 50m Freestyle. Keith also finished fourth in the 50m Breaststroke, just outside his best time.

Midland Masters Championships, April 2009

The South Beds Masters Swim Team, based at Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre in Leighton Buzzard, had thirteen swimmers competing at the Midland Masters at Leamington Spa, and came away with seventeen medals, with over half the team competing in their first ever masters meet.

In the 25 to 29 years age group, Sarah Pearse just got pipped in the 50 metre Breaststroke event, winning the silver medal in 37.99 seconds. Sarah also finished fourth in both the 100m Breaststroke and in the 100m Individual Medley events.

In the 30 to 34 age group, Rachel Buckingham also won silver in the 50 metre Breaststroke, and recorded personal best times in her other five events, the best being a fourth place in the 100m Individual Medley.

Also swimming in this age group, and making his masters debut, was 31 year old Bryn Sharp. Bryn had three excellent swims picking up Bronze medals in both the 50 metre Backstroke and 100m Individual Medley.

The team had three swimmers in the 35 to 39 years age group and in the men's 100 metre Backstroke had the first two finishers, with ex Norwich Penguins swimmer Howard Gell winning the Gold, and ex Leighton Buzzard swimmer Paul Cheval winning the Silver. Howard also had a fourth in the 50 Butterfly and a fifth place in the 200 Freestyle, while Paul also had a seventh place in the 50 Butterfly.

For the Ladies in this age group, 38 year old Nicola Murtagh, swimming in her first ever masters meet finished fourth in both of her events the 50m Breaststroke and in the 100m Individual Medley.

In the 40 to 44 age group Lesley Bellis picked up a Bronze in the 50m Freestyle and followed this up with a fourth place finish in the 100m Breaststroke event.

For the men, Keith Spence had a 25 second personal best time in the 400m Freestyle event but it was only good enough for seventh place, and then had an excellent swim in the 200m Breaststroke winning the Silver medal.

In the 45 to 49 age group Jacqui Maycock had a busy weekend, but not all in the swimming pool, for having made her masters debut on Friday evening in the 400m Freestyle event and finishing in fifth place, Jacqui then travelled to London early on the Sunday morning to run in the London Marathon, finishing just outside her best time in 4 hours 33 minutes.

Also making her masters debut, and competing in the 50 to 54 age group, was Paula Heywood, who finished in fourth place in the 400m Freestyle.

Also in this age group, and making his debut for the team was Christopher Marshall who had a busy weekend, swimming in six events, winning Bronze medals in three of them, the 200m Freestyle, 200m backstroke and the 100m Individual Medley.

In the 55 to 59 age group Peter Iles only swam in two events, but medalled in both of them picking up Bronze medals in both the 50m and the 400m Freestyle events.

For the Ladies, Christine Ayers continues in her record breaking form, setting four new East Region Masters records over the weekend and winning a Gold, two Silvers and a Bronze medal. Her Records came in the 400m Freestyle (Fourth) the 100m Individual Medley (Bronze) and in the 50m and 200m Breaststroke. Her other medal came when winning the 100m Freestyle in a time just outside her own East Region Record.

Bracknell Open Masters Meet, March 2009

Two members of the South Beds Masters Swim Team travelled to Bracknell for the 2009 Bracknell Masters Meet.

43 year old Keith Spence competed in five events, with his best performance coming in the 200 metre Individual Medley where Keith knocked a massive twelve seconds off of his personal best time, this time however was only good enough for fifth place. Keith did win medals in his speciality stroke, the Breaststroke, where he won the 200 metre event, and gained the bronze in the 100 metre race, both races in seasons best times.

Also competing was 56 year old Christine Ayers, who also swam in five events in the 55 to 59 years age group. Christine was on top form, winning all five events, with four of them being new East of England Region Short Course Records. Christines record events were the 50m, 100m and 200m Freestyle, and the 100 metre Breaststroke.

Rotherham Metro Masters Meet, Ponds Forge, February 2009

South Beds Masters Swim Team were in record breaking form at the Rotherham Metro Masters meet at the Ponds Forge complex in Sheffield.

In the 40 to 44 years age group Keith Spence broke the East Region long course masters record in the 200 metre Individual Medley, and then set long course personal best times in the 50 and 200 metre Breaststroke events and in the 50m Backstroke.

In the 55 to 59 years age group, Christine Ayers continued her record breaking form breaking the East Region long course records in both the 400metre Freestyle and in the 200 metres Breaststroke. In both of these events Christine was beaten into second place by the current British record holders.

In the 65 to 69 years age group, Iris Bellis won all three of her events, the 100m, 200m and the 400 metre Freestyle races, setting new Regional records in both the 200m and the 400 metre events.

South East Region Long Course Meet, K2 Crawley, January 2009

South Beds Masters Swim Team started their 2009 season with six swimmers attending the South East Region Long Course Masters Championships at the K2 pool in Crawley.

55 year old Christine Ayers completely dominated the 55 to 59 year age group, winning all of her six events, the 50m and 100m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke, 200 Individual Medley and the 50m and 800m Freestyle events. Also competing in this age group was Peter Iles, who picked up medals in all four of his events, winning silver in the 50m and 400m Freestyle, and bronze medals in both the 200m Freestyle and in the 50m Butterfly.

In the 30 to 34 age group, Rachel Buckingham made her Masters debut, after a gap of twelve years, with her best result coming in the 200m Freestyle event, where Rachel picked up the bronze medal. Rachel’s other swims were Fifth places in the 50m Butterfly and the 100m Breaststroke, and Sixth places in the 50m Breaststroke and in the 50m Freestyle.

The team had two ladies in the 65 to 69 age group, Iris Bellis won both the 100m and the 200m Freestyle events, and picked up silver medals in both the 50m and 100m Breaststroke races, and won the bronze medal behind team-mate Janet Masters in the 50m Freestyle. Janet also won silver medals in 50m and 100m Backstroke events, and had an impressive swim when picking up the silver in the 50m Butterfly.

In the 40 to 44 age group, although just outside the medals, Keith Spence had long course personal best times in all of his three swims, with his best swim coming with a fifth place in the 50m Breaststroke.

Masters Shine in Sheffield, December 2008

The newest swimming club in Bedfordshire, the South Beds Masters, is for swimmers aged 18 years and older. With just a small membership, three of their members travelled to Ponds Forge in Sheffield for the South Yorkshire Masters.

Competing in the 55 to 59 age group, Peter Iles swam in four events, winning them all. The 50 Butterfly, and 50, 100 and 200 Freestyle events. In the 65 to 69 age group, Iris Bellis won the 100 freestyle, but her better swims came in both the 200 and 400 freestyle events, where although finishing in second place, Iris broke the East of England Region records in both events.

Also competing was Keith Spence, who was competing in the 40 to 44 age group. Although just out of the medals in his four events, Keith’s time in the 400 metre Freestyle was a personal best time.

If anyone aged 18 or over, is interested in Masters swimming, then contact Club Coach John Bellis on 01908 377601, or come down to Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre in Leighton Buzzard on a Wednesday evening to the Swim Fit session from 8pm to 9pm.