Masters News

Masters make a splash at the Swim England Short Course National championships 

One of the most anticipated events in the Masters calendar is the Swim England Short Course National championships held in Sheffield every year. The weekend of October 28 -30 saw nine Marlins swimmers head north to compete amongst the best in the country. This isn’t an opportunity to see how our training has gone, but a weekend to catch up with swimming friends from across the country. Friends out of the water, and fierce competitors in the water.  

Rose Dudeney made a splash on the first day by winning the ladies 75-79 years 1,500m freestyle. Opening up a medal rush on day one for, Kathy Bidnall gold 100m backstroke (65-69 years), Mary Johnson silver 100m backstroke (70-74 years), Alison Gwynn silver 200m freestyle (70-74 years) and Sally Mills gold 100m fly (65-69 years). The ladies 280+ years relay teams also become champions in 200m freestyle and 800m freestyle teams. Lisa Mills also opened her weekend of competition in 50m breaststroke.  

Day two saw more medals won with four golds, two silvers and a bronze. Well done to Kathy (gold, 50 back), Sally (gold, 200m fly), Mary (silver, 50m backstroke), Rose (gold, 100m IM; bronze 200m breaststroke) and Alison (gold, 50m free; silver, 400m free). Saturday also saw our two men in action, Mark Salway in the 100m breast and 50m freestyle, and Matt Disney in 100m and 200m breaststroke. Along with Sarah Davison (45-49 years, 50m free and 50m back) and Lisa back in action (100m IM and 100m breaststroke). 

The final day of the competition didn’t disappoint with more medals and club records. Well done to Mark in the last event of the day in the 800m freestyle breaking the club record in the 50-54 year age group. Rose also in the same event, managed not one but three records in one swim! Breaking the 200m and 400m club record on the way to breaking the 800m record in the 75-79 years age group. Other medal winners of the day were Mary (gold, 200m back; bronze 100 free), Sally (silver, 50m, fly), Kathy (silver, 200m IM), and Alison (silver, 100m & 800m freestyle). The final session saw Kathy, Matt, Mark and Sarah come 8th in the 200+ years medley relay, where the winning team smashed the British and European records.  

Well done to the small team of nine swimmers who came 26th best club out of 265 clubs. A great effort by all the swimmers.  

Final medal total: 12 Golds, 8 silver, 2 bronze 

Marlins masters club records: 8 

Marlins team competing: Alison Gwynn, Kathy Bidnall, Lisa Mills, Mark Salway, Mary Johnson, Matt Disney, Rose Dudeney, Sally Mills, and Sarah Davison. 

For the full results visit: Results of Swim England Masters National Championships 2022 (MAS992) 2022 – By Club – Mid Sussex | Swim England (swimmingresults.org)