Tick, tock…boom. On a weekend when we saw the clocks go back, Spencer swimmers had their eyes fixed on the times flashing up on the jumbo scoreboard looming over the competition pools at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, during the 2024 GoCardless Swim England Masters National Championships. 

The swim meet produced an outstanding level of swimming with an incredible 119 British records, 44 European and 17 World records, many exciting races, inspiring swims, and countless personal achievements by 1600 swimmers across all age groups. 

The Spencer team contributed to the records tally thanks to the explosive performances of Daniel Cotton, who was in imperious form, claiming four gold medals, all in British record times, plus a silver medal in the 200m freestyle (2:02.77). Becoming National Champion in the 50-54 age group in 200m backstroke (2:11.09), 200m IM (2:14.86), 100m backstroke (1:00.92), and 400m IM (4:49.20) – makes him the most successful male swimmer from Spencer at the meet and crowns a great 2024 in the pool. 

Amanda Heath, who is no stranger to British and International records, once again showed her versatility and excellence with an equally impressive medal haul, winning gold medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke (yes, the triple), 200m IM, 200m backstroke (age group best time) – all season’s best times. To add to this impressive collection of golds, Amanda also stepped onto the podium and collected silver in the 200m freestyle, and bronze in the 100m backstroke in the women’s 65-69 age group.   

But the team was performing well, and medals were collected elsewhere, with Matthew Taylor bagging himself a well-deserved bronze in the men’s 55-59 age group with a master’s lifetime PB of 2:37.95 in the 200m backstroke. He narrowly missed out on medals, collecting fourth spots in 100m (1:12.45 – PB) and 50m backstroke (33.40). He also carried his freestyle form through from Crawley recently to produce a 2:21.88 in a master’s lifetime PB. 

After a lengthy hiatus, Spencer Coach Graham Huntingford was back in competition mode, in only his second competitive swim as a master’s swimmer. After contributing to the relays, Graham put it all together in the 50m freestyle to swim an impressive 26.3 seconds in the male 45-49 age group. 

Relatively new Spencer member Alex de Tullio also flexed his competition muscles again as he continued working towards finding his best form after returning to the pool earlier this year. Playing an outstanding team role in the men’s relays, Alex was also showing some remarkable form in his individual events too, swimming the 50m (30.91), 100m (1:06.83) and 200m (2:31.90) breaststroke in the men’s 30-34 age group. We’re all excited to see Alex get stronger and faster in the months ahead. 

Another recent and very welcome addition to the Spencer team is Lauren Willcox, who delivered some excellent swims. A string of season’s best times, including 2:12.88 in the 200m freestyle (women’s 35-39 age group) secured her gold, as did 4:42.51 in the 400m freestyle and a 1:10.00 in the 100m backstroke meant she would narrowly miss out on gold and collect silver. 

Moving into the 60-64 women’s age group this year, Diane Ridings took just 1:30.98 to scoop a fantastic silver medal in the 100m breaststroke. She then backed it up with a bronze medal performance in the 50m breaststroke, touching in 41.18 seconds. 

On the meet’s final day, Frances Baker saved the best until last, winning silver in the most enduring of contests, the 400m IM. Frances swam an impressive 7:10.61 in the women’s 60-64 age group, some 11 seconds ahead of the bronze medallist.  

Having had a head-scratching first day in the 1500m freestyle and 200m back (losing to a childhood clubmate), Simon Berry did what all good athletes do. He returned the following day and left it all out there in the 800m freestyle to come home in a very satisfying 10:35.80 in the men’s 50-54 years, recording a season’s best time. With belief restored, Simon was back on Sunday, where he replicated his good form with a 5:10.37 in the 400m freestyle. 

Robyn Le Friec placed second in women’s 30-34 age group for 200m fly in a very impressive 2:30.77 and in the 100m fly, showed the importance of a strong finish by claiming bronze by two one-hundredths of a second in 1:08.00. 

Moving into the 70-74-year-old men’s age group this year, Godfrey Admans delivered some of his best times for several years, with a superb 1:25.78 for the 100m backstroke, earning him a silver medal and 38.9 seconds in the 50m backstroke, seeing him just off the podium in 4^th place. 

Suzanne Maidment hauled in a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle in a time of 5:38.93 in the women’s 55-59 years age group after a strong weekend of swimming across all her events. 

In the 75-79 age group, Peter Stevens seemed to be Spencer’s busiest swimmer, taking on team relay duties and an extensive individual program. Peter managed medals of all colours in the following races: 800m freestyle (bronze), 400m freestyle (gold), 200m breaststroke (silver), and 1500m freestyle (bronze).  

With the assistance of some intense physio work, Guy Emerson shook off the effect of a back injury that prevented him from swimming during the first two days of competition to claim a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke in the men’s 60-64 age group. 

Karl Simpson produced master’s lifetime personal best times in the 50m freestyle (28.7), 100m fly (1:16.19), and 200m freestyle (2:20.26) and equalled his PB in the 100m freestyle (1:02.7). In the final session, after a strong weekend, he came home in the 400m freestyle in a season’s best time. 

Elsewhere, the team performed impressively in the relays without winning any medals. Also, breaststroke specialists Rebecca Pritchard and Fiona Wiggins delivered impressive swims across the meet, achieving PBs in several different events. Rebecca wiped 4 seconds off her 200m PB. Helen Cumber achieved four PBs and slipped just out of the medals in the 50m backstroke. Luca Milana and Sally Ritchie both showed encouraging signs of their best form in their selected events, too. 

It was a monumental three days of competitive swimming, with many incredible individual performances. The medals and times are the rewarding dividends of many months of hard training. But it isn’t only about podiums and personal bests, as many other accomplished goals don’t appear on the scoreboard, and every master’s swimmer goes home proud of their achievements. It was a privilege to be part of such a great community of passionate swimmers giving their all, and hopefully, many more Spencer swimmers can enjoy the fun experience in 2025. 

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Report by Karen Bassett/Willem Heskes

A small in numbers, but great in ambition, Spencer team travelled to Swansea for three days of racing at the Wales National Pool. This was a long meet: starting at 8.25am on Friday morning and finishing at 5pm on Sunday afternoon.

The racing was very competitive and fast, as expected, with Spencer swimmers raising up to the challenge and coming back with 18 gold, 13 silver and 10 bronze medals.

Spencer swimmer of the meet was the incredible Dan Cotton who broke three British Records, 200 back, 200 free and 200 IM. Notable mentions include Guy Emerson, who after a long journey back to fitness won a fantastic gold in the 50 back. And our legendary Amanda Heath who won 5 golds, 200/100/50 breaststroke, 200 IM and 400 IM.

There was success in the relays too with golds and silver medals.

A superb meet, and a great chance to race together as a team. Looking forward to the next competition!

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The recently finished World Aquatics Masters Championships Kyushu 2023 in Japan, saw a strong Spencer squad compete superbly, winning a total of 23 medals: 11 gold, 11 silver and 1 bronze. The medals were won across a multitude of events, ranging from open water, relays and individuals.

Starting with the 3k Open Water events, on day 1, we saw Amanda Heath win silver (65-69), Tony Cherrington win silver (80-84), Peter Stephens came 5th (75-79 ), and finally Alan Parkins was 11th (60-64).

Day 2 of the pool swimming delivered 3 golds and a silver for Spencer. Kath Tunnicliffe won both 200 back and100 free (70-74) Amanda and Esther were 1-2 in the 100 breast (65-69) Tony Cherrington 4th in 100 free (80-84), Peter 22nd (75-79)

Day 3 of the pool swimming and a deja-vu with another 1-2 for Amanda and Esther, this time in the 400 IM. In the 200 free, Tony Cherrington won silver, Peter Stephens was 10th and Suzanne Maidment 13th. Then it was silver for Jack Marriott in the 50 fly and 20th for Alan Parkins

Day 4 of the pool swimming, 8th August. Esther and Amanda swam different events, still taking gold (Amanda 200 IM) and silver (Esther 100 fly). In the 50 free Kath won gold, Tony was 9th and Suzanne 24th

Day 5 was relay day. Men’s 280+ 4×50 free took silver. Guy Emerson, Peter Stevens, Tony Cherrington, Alan Parkins. Same team were 4th in the 4×50 medley. Mixed 280+ 4×50 free winners, Alan Parkins, Kath Tunnicliffe, Tony Cherrington, Esther Iseppi.

Day 6 had all events delayer by 4 hours due to a typhoon passing close by. When things resumed, we saw 3 more golds for the girls: Amanda in the 200 breast and 200 fly, and Kath in the 100 back. Esther took silver in the 200 breast and bronze in the 200 fly (to make sure she had the full set!).

Day 7, 11 August, was the final day. Tony won another silver in the 400 free and Kath won silver in the 50 back. Suzanne Maidment took 16th place in the 400 free and Guy Emerson 11th in the50 backstroke.

(All photos and text provided by Amanda Heath, edited by Willem Heskes)

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AGM

The Club AGM and fun gala took place last Saturday 13 November. After an energetic 90 minutes of relays, expertly coordinated by Steve, we gathered to complete the administrative necessities of the AGM, followed by all important Pizza and presentation of our annual awards.

At the AGM, our Committee for the next year was elected. We’re very pleased to welcome them to their new roles:

Chair – Michael Barnett

Treasurer – Sara Luder

Club Secretary – Emma Sweetland

Membership Secretary – Laura Kerrigan

Team Manager – Olegas Petrikas

Kit Secretary – Tracy Wheeler

Communications Officer – Willem Heskes

Social Secretary – Vacant 

We’re still seeking a volunteer for the role of Social Secretary – if you think you could arrange a fun night out please consider volunteering. If you’re interested, email spencerswimteam@gmail.com

Awards

We awarded a short list of four awards this year, in recognition that this year has had slightly less swimming than we would have liked.

Dave Mace Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Club: John Gordon (Posthumous), Club Founder

Irving Dixon Award for Freestyle Swimmer of the Year: Georgina Quayle, for 4 medals (3 individual, 1 team) at Nationals

Outstanding Performance of the year: Fran Baker, for 5 individual national medals including 3 golds.

Open Water Swimmer of the Year: Rachel O’Riordan for circumnavigating the Scilly Isles!

Congratulations again to all of our winners.

Inter Counties Champs 2021

Spencer swimmers were seen racing for four different County teams this Sunday (14 Nov) with Amanda Heath for Berkshire and South Bucks, Di Ford for Hampshire, Clive Benson for Sussex, Sue Lauder and Abba Newbery for Surrey. The racing was fast and furious, 50m only, and with most also racing at least 4 relays. Di Ford’s Hampshire took home the Cup.

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John Gordon was simply one of the most intense, enthusiastic and committed swimmers and coaches that you will ever meet.  His very sudden death, at the age of 76, has been a great and tragic shock to many.

John Gordon was the founder of Spencer Swim Team, based at Spencer Park School Adult Education Complex in Wandsworth, where John was a tutor. From the humble beginnings of a 20-yard training pool, John grew the club in a few short years to become one of the most successful Masters clubs in Britain, if not the World.

John was an outstanding swimmer and very hard trainer in pool and gym.  He represented England at Commonwealth and Empire Games in Jamaica 1966 where he recorded 7^th in the 440 yards Individual Medley in a time of 5.15.

John was an individual medley swimmer who excelled at Backstroke.  

As a young swimmer he was swimming 30,000 metres plus a week without the use of goggles and most of his training was on his own.  A major feat of physical and mental commitment and strength.

John was a pioneer of Masters swimming, taking Spencer Swim Team to the US Short Course Masters, Hall of Fame pool, Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1980 and 1982.  The team included Dave Mace, Tony Pearce, John Gordon, Godfrey Admans, John Middleton and Jack Hale. In 1978, John, together with Vic Lohr and Tony Pearce, made Spencer Swim Team the first British Masters Team to compete at an overseas Masters Meet at Brown University, Rhode Island.

An enthusiastic competitor in Masters swimming from the outset, he consistently won World, European and National medals of all colours and set records including at:

• Blackpool 1987 (E), G 100 and 200 Back.
• Casablanca 1998 (W) S B S 200 100 50 Bk respectively. G 4 x 50 Mixed Medley Relay. (Pictured below with Amanda Heath, Carol Fellows, Tony Cherrington)
• Mallorca 2001 (W) G 200 IM, S 200 Bk, B 50 Bk 55-59.

As examples of his national dominance, at the inaugural British Long Course Championships, in Aberavon, John won the 50, 100 and 200 Back and took silvers in the 50 and 100 Free, setting the British record in the 50 back. In 1990, John won 7 events at the GB Masters in the 45-49 age group, 50, 100 & 200 Back and Free and 200 IM, and he continued to break British records as he moved into the 50-54 and 55-59 age groups.

John had a love of cars and was easy to spot in South-West London in his Rolls Royce, Jaguar and later other sports and classic cars back in the day and in later years spent much of his time in Thailand.

His contribution to Spencer Swim Team cannot be underestimated as founder and early driving force.  

Dave Mace trophy winner, Godfrey Admans, and John Middleton met John Gordon for a social drink only two weeks ago and John looked in good health.  His passing is therefore even more shocking.

Update – 6 October 2021

John Gordon’s funeral has been arranged for Monday 25th October at 9:20am. The funeral will take place at North East Surrey Crematorium, Morden.

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Coaches Report from Steve Baker

The second staging of the Brockwell relays took place on Thursday 22^nd July 2021 with a team of 10 Spencer swimmers.

As the winners of the inaugural event in 2019 we had expectation and objective to retain the trophy.

I am personally delighted that we were able to mix members of longer vintage with new swimmers and of course mixing from various venues. The morale and spirit lift that this offers to swimmers and the club is massive. Of course, a round of tonic water helped in the pub also.

The event was competitive and we did not have every race our own way.  It was also good to know that whilst we did not win every front crawl race, we smashed the other strokes.

We also had fewer swimmers than Serpentine, Windrush and the Clapham Chasers so well done on the stamina.

Well done Olegas for stepping up to management duties and the assistant manager, Agne.   Thanks also for the long-distance travelers, Georgie from Hertfordshire and Mel from South Wales!!

Swimmers.

Over 120                                                                                  Under 120

• Lisa Hibberd                                                                  Sarah Tripp
• Sue Swaine                                                                    Georgie Quayle
• Emily Hayter                                                                  Mel Thomas
• Rebecca Pritchard                                                         Thomas Holmes
• Willem Heskes
• Luca Milana

Results.

O120 Free           2nd                                          U120 Free           2nd 

O120 Br               1^st Dead Heat                           U120 Br               1st

O120 Med          1st                                            U120 Med           1st

Cannon                2^nd

OVERALL 1^st

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