Future Masters events
Suffolk Masters. This is at Sudbury on Sunday 19th Feb and is similar to the Herts Masters except it is open to allcomers and they are introducing 100m events as well as the usuasl 50m events. Closing date for entries is FRIDAY JANUARY 20th 2012 and it seems that posting the form(s) is the only/best way to enter as they need signed forms. Entry form is here. Last year's results are here. The event is over two sessions with the first starting mid-morning. Sadly I cannot see any mention of relays.
Worlds Masters Italy 2012
The Worlds Masters is held every two years. Two years ago in Sweden, this year Italy, Canada in 2014. Seize the opportunity while it is on our doorstep - the entry times are quite relaxed and we will hopefully have a few entries - enough for a relay or two? The whole event covers all aquatic disciplines from 2nd to 16th June in Riccione, Italy. The core dates for the pool racing are 10th to 16th June. Here is a link to the Fina website, here is a link to the Fina website that has more detail and here is a link to the Gottenberg results from two years ago. Some have booked their flights already. Then accommodataion and someone to carry your bags and cheer you on...
Crawley Long Course 28/29 Jan
Entries for this are now closed and we understand that John and Daryl managed to enter. Good luck and we look forward to hearing the results. Details here.
Herts Senior League
Herts Senior League was on Saturday 26th November at Bishop's Stortford. It was team gala that can include parents and helpers as well as regular masters swimmers. Last year we entered two teams and had a great time. This year we entered one team and although there were many great swims we came sixth out of nine teams. There were only 10 points between 6th and 3rd places so it was quite close. The results for our swimmers are here. Here is a link to some of the pictures. Many thanks to the officials who made it all possible.
Here are the points:
1. Bishop Stortford A 194
2. St Albans Masters A 178
3. Hatfield 149
3. Berkhamsted Sports Centre 149
5. Hemel Hempstead SC 143
6. Potters Bar 139
7. St Albans Masters B 80
8. Bishop Stortford B 70
9. Hartham Masters 67
Barnet Copthall Masters Sprints
Barnet Copthall Masters Sprints was on Sunday 4th September 2011. Some good results for our swimmers: Wray, Nicola, Dani, Jonathan, Ian and Simon B. Results are here. The full results (so you can see how many we were up against in our age groups!) are here.
Herts Masters 2011 - what we were all waiting for
This year's Herts Masters was be held on Saturday 25th June at the Venue in Borehamwood. It is a great competition suitable for all abilities and ages from 18 to 80. Here is the information summary from the organisers.
There was a mix-up this year in that the races were seeded by age rather than entry time. Next year it will be back to entry time.
Here is the link to the results from June 2010.
Information for Masters Swimmers
PBSC has an active Masters section (currently around 50 members),catering for swimmers from 18 years upwards including some in their 70s. Most masters swim one ot two nights per week and there are facilities for more time for the very keen. Apart from public holidays we swim all year through. Swim times are:
Monday 8.00pm to 9.00pm at Queenswood School pool
Wednesday 8.15pm to 9.15pm at Furzefield
Friday 8.15pm to 9.15pm at Furzefield
Sunday 7.15pm to 8.15pm at Furzefield (Novice Session)
If you want to try it out then come along on Monday to Queenswood for 8pm as we use all four lanes and the lanes are grouped by ability - so there will be a lane to suit you. Our abilities range from "chuggers" to current national record holders, so there is always someone there to offer advice.
The Masters try to enter a few competitions each year. The annual Herts Masters took place on 26th June 2010 and there was an Eastern Region open Masters on 2nd October 2010.
There was a team gala on 27th November 2010 for which we entered two teams. The information from the organisers is here.
If you have any questions just ask Andy or Ian
Herts Masters 2010 Success Link to article in Welwyn Hatfield Times
A team of 18 Masters swimmers from Potters Bar SC enjoyed a successful evening at the Herts Masters held at the Venue in Borehamwood. This year the electronic timing was working and the whole event had a great atmosphere.
The team notched up 18 first places, 6 seconds and 5 thirds. John Cunningham took two championship records in the 50m free (25.37) and fly (27.02). The fly is also an East Region record. John moved into a new agegroup this year so he gets a fresh run at the records!
Jackie Jackson also took two championship records in the 50m back (52.05) and free (40.92) and the free was also an East Region record. One of these records was broken by over 20 seconds!
The "boys" 4 x 25m freestyle (total ages over 165) clocked an amazing 48.55 seconds which was also a new championship record. The team here was John Cunningham, Chris Andrew, Daryl Mason and Wray Shewell-Cooper.
There were also 17 personal best times recorded across our team, and for many Masters, just matching the previous year's time is quite an achievement.
We entered as many as we could in all the relays and although a bit frantic working out where and when we were swimming a great time was had by one and all. Even the spectators and supporters enjoyed it (I think our supporters get the prize for most numbers and loudest cheering).
Summary results of PB swims here.
Total results for all swims here.
Hearty congratulations to all those who took part. Below is a brief explanation of how it works - mainly for those who might be tempted to start preparing for next year.
The meet is open to swimmers registered with a Hertfordshire swimming club. The Masters age groups are in 5-year bands starting with 25 to 29 (as at 31st Dec of that year). There is a "Seniors" grouping for 18 to 24 year-olds that have all the individual strokes plus a set of Seniors relays. Individual races are 50m each for back, breast, fly and free plus a 100m IM. The oldest competing swimmer this year was 82 years old. More details in this information letter.
For individual events your entry time determines which heat you swim in - so you will be swimming with people of similar speed but not necessarily same age. Some choose to do all events and some pick their preferred strokes. Your recorded time will put you in a position within your agegroup. If you did not compete this year you might like to look at the total results document to see where you might have come.
We try to assemble as many relay teams as we can and there is a mixed (gender) medley relay that is rather fun too.
The points goes something like this: 8 points for first place in your agegroup, 5 for second, 4 for third and so on. I presume points are equivalent for relays.
With our team of 18 swimmers we did brilliantly this year coming 4th out of 13. Just think what we could achieve with 36 swimmers!
And it was Cate's birthday:
