Southampton Masters rally for Regional Short Course

2022 saw a stellar medal haul from Southampton Masters at the annual South East Regional Championships, and with several new faces to welcome at the K2 Centre in Crawley once again, hopes were high for getting close again to the record number Regional titles being secured by the Reds. As always, the host town brought its A-Game across all three sessions (including the final evening hours of frantic relay swimming), but joined by the pedigree of both High Wycombe and Woking Masters...and let's not discount fellow Hampshire ASA Masters compatriots Basingstoke Bluefins and South Down Trojans!

The opening event of the 200m FC got Southampton off to a fantasic start, with three podium peak finishes - Fiona Carroll (30-34yrs) defending her title (02.16.62), Carl Halford (30-34yrs) building on his successful County performance (02.06.16) and in some what of a surprise following a week of Open Water 'Hever Fever' (just Google it!), Coach James MacTavish (40-44yrs) clocking a Season's Best (02.14.41) to complete the hat-trick. Carroll (04.47.16) and Halford (04.29.37) would later double-down over the 400m FC, with both claiming Gold in Season's Best times, Halford also securing the Championship Record. 

Adding to the glitter was sprint regular Melissa Dolby (25-29yrs), getting the better of fierce rival Sammy Wilson of Rushmoor Royals over both the 50m FC (00.27.81) and 100m FC (00.59.50) for two more titles, a final third coming the 28-year-old's way in the last race of the day, the 50m Butterfly (00.29.73). From a quick splash and dash to an epic 200m Fly slog, Matt Nash (25-29yrs) threw everything at the eight-length marathon for a solid Silver (02.42.44), never one to be deterred however, a neat 100m Butterfly (01.06.16) and 100m FC (01.02.62) gave Nash two more linings, still chasing that elusive Gold...but it will come!

Peter Riddle (35-39yrs) and Annie Belasco (35-39yrs) continue to prove welcome additions, Riddle opting for the favoured FC Sprints and notching Top.10 finishes in the 50m FC (00.28.18) and 100m FC (01.01.85), the latter shaving a tenth off his County time from earlier in the year. Belasco battled over the same events, 50m FC (00.33.32) and 100m FC (01.13.37) falling just shy of the medals, but a well deserved Bronze was snatched across the 100m IM (01.27.26). Similar story for sprinter Terence Holness-Wright (30-34yrs), in a very tough age-division for the two length dash, but covering each stroke and each time just shy of the podium, spare a sharp final 10m on the 50m Backstroke (00.33.58) and a fingertip touch for Bronze. 

Eight regional titles won, matching 2022 success..but very nearly a record with Kim Tarrant (55-59yrs) touching in a Personal Best over the 100m Breaststroke (01.38.38) but missing out on Gold by the very narrowest of margins to Dover Masters' Donna Wickens. Great to see the veteran back under the 1.30 minute mark once again!

The third and final relay session saw improved cadence compared to last year (where we had the odd scenario of only one-two teams in each heat due to drop outs)...Southampton Masters keen to defend a few team titles of their own. The polished quartet of Halford/Riddle/Carroll/Dolby swam both the 4x100 FC and 4x50m FC Mixed relays (120yrs+) but pipped on both by home favourites (and relatively fresh arms and legs!) Crawley and High Wycombe respectively. The 4x50m Medley Mixed of MacTavish/Tarrant/Nash/Belasco found the going tough against the same, somewhat more 'millennial' teams (our quartet only two years' shy of the next age band of 160yrs+) but pleased with a Fourth. 

Another strong platform ahead of Swim England Short Course Nationals come the end of the month in Ponds Forge...the year really has been flying by!

MEDAL TALLY

GOLD : 8

SILVER : 8

BRONZE : 2

TOTAL : 18

James MacTavish

City of Southampton Masters Coach