In preparation for the LEN European Aquatics Masters Championships in May this year, 3 Guernsey Swimming Club ladies swam in the South East Regional Masters Long Course Competition held at the K2 centre in Crawley last weekend. The aim was to get some long course (50m) practice and to better qualifying times required for the Europeans which will be held at the pool used in the 2012 London Olympics at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It seemed like many UK Masters had the same idea, as the competition was oversubscribed a month beforehand.
Claire Le Prevost competing in the 25-29 age group got a gold in the 400m freestyle with a time of 5.56.01, a silver in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 3.31.72, 5th place in the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1.38.39 and came 8th in the 200m individual medley with a time of 3.13.71.
Claire Hyland competing in the 40-44 age group got a bronze in the 200m freestyle in 2.36.21, a bronze in the 200m individual medley in 3.03.10, a bronze in the 50m butterfly in 37.06 and came 5th in the 100m freestyle in 1.10.30.
Pauline Hogg competing in the 55-59 age group gained a gold in the 200m backstroke in 3.21.64, a gold in the 100m backstroke in 1.34.40, a gold in the 50m backstroke in 44.29, a bronze in the 100m freestyle in 1.21.05, came 4th in the 50m freestyle in 35.88 and 6th in the 50m breaststroke in 49.92.
The event was definitely exciting with many UK, British and World Master Records broken. The formidable Jane Asher broke another world record in the 85 to 89 age group for 100m backstroke and Jo Corben broke one in the 45-49 age group for the 200m backstroke that has been held since 2007.
At the event the Guernsey ladies met up with a couple of ex-Guernsey Island Games swimmers who are also aiming for the Europeans. Sophie Castle who has competed in 7 Island Games from 2003-2015 and Cate Jackson who competed in the very first games in the Isle of Man in 1985.
Many comments were made from UK Masters about how they so enjoy coming to Guernsey to compete in our Masters event which this year will give everyone yet another chance to better their times before the Europeans. The G4S 25th Open International Masters Open Meet will be held on the 15-17th of April at Beau Sejour.