March kicked off with a double header on the competition calendar with the Bracknell Masters and Welsh Masters Championships. Spencer was represented at both meets, and our swimmers were in good form, producing some excellent performances.
At Bracknell, the team welcomed Annabel Barker to pool side, finding her way back into competition. She had a busy schedule with individual races, and she also played a significant role in the team’s relays, including the unconventional canon event. Annabel produced a personal best of 39.88 in the 50m backstroke and two excellent performances in her 50 fly and 100 IM, both new events for her.
Annabel showed some of the more tenured swimmers the value of focusing on the underwaters, setting an example for us all to follow.
Out of town members, Matthew Taylor and Simon Berrey were both on deck too. Simon took gold in the 200m backstroke (2:41.94), silver in the 200m IM, and bronze in the 200m freestyle. Matthew came away with a PB in the 50m fly (31.98), 2 golds (50/100m back), a silver (50m free), and a bronze (50m fly). Simon was competing in the 50-54 male age group and Matthew in the 55-59 male age group.
Barbara Halls continued her return to form after a long layoff from competing, harvesting 4 gold medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, and 100m and 50m freestyle. Barbara was back on the podium to collect a silver for the 50m breaststroke.
Godfrey Admans produced some good swims with a 39.2 for the 50m backstroke, 34.14 for the 50m freestyle, and 1:27.12 for the 100m backstroke. On the day, Godfrey topped up his medal cabinet with several golds, silver and bronzes in the 70-74 male age group.
Emily Hayter delivered one gold in the 50m fly and two silvers, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle. These results added to great relay performances, contributing to the 4x50m fly and the canon relay. Emily was competing in the 35-39 female age group.
Joining Simon in the 50-54 male category were Luca Milana, Karl Simpson and Daniel Cotton. Luca competed strongly in the 100m breaststroke, getting pipped to the bronze medal position. Karl Simpson secured a bronze in the 50m freestyle and a silver in the 200m freestyle after getting beaten in a very close head-to-head race. Karl also took silver in the 100m freestyle, ensuring that Spencer secured a one/two, with Daniel Cotton taking gold in the same event in a new event record time of 57.74.
Dan achieved two other gold-winning record times, 100m IM in 1:04.15 and 50m backstroke 29.01. These performances won Dan the ‘best male swimmer of the meet’ award.
Overall, it was a superb day of swimming, with the team collecting a total 15 gold, 8 silver and 4 bronze medals. More importantly, a good time was had by all with great team spirit on show.
Swim Wales Masters Championships 2025
Spencer was represented by Diane Ford and Amanda Heath at the Welsh Masters Championships, which started on a very sunny St David’s Day in Swansea. World record holder in the 80-84 age group on breaststroke, Di unsurprisingly won the 50m & 100m breaststroke and then added the 50m & 100m freestyle titles to her medal haul. Amanda (65-69) also won 4 golds – 50m, 100m & 200m breaststroke and 400m IM, with silvers in the 200m IM and 200m fly.
Out of towners Tony Cherrington and Alan Parkins, swimming for their home clubs, were undefeated in their races, with Tony winning the 80-84 men’s 50m, 100m and 200m free, and Alan winning the 65-69 men’s 200m & 400m IM and 50m & 100m fly.
