Southampton Masters see Hampshire / Channel Islands defend Inter-County title

A delight to return back to the London Aquatics Centre for 2023 and the annual South East Region Inter-County Masters Championships...a definite draw for the best and boldest 'retirees' of the sport, but judging by the standard of sprinting, you wouldn't know this featured an age-range of nearly 80 years (yes, a 92 year old swam against an 18 year old!) 

Hampshire and the Channel Islands had a title to defend, and with hosts Middlesex coming in a close second in 2022, knew it was going to be a tough affair. As always, there were a few last minute amends to the team sheets (trying to co-ordinate travel from across the mainland county, the Isle of Wight and then the small archipelago off the coast of Normandie is far from easy!) and as the wear and tear of relentless 50m sprints took its toll on the true veterans, relay line ups became a bit of a fluid affair, but everyone more than rose to the challenge. 

Southampton Masters added much-needed pedigree in National Champion Kieran Beckett (18-24yrs), completing in a stacked 50m Butterfly (00.25.19) for a third place finish behind former Fareham Nomad Chris Finch of Surrey. Amanda Rush and Kim Tarrant (55-59yrs) added to the points tally with a second in the 50m Backstroke (00.37.76) and fourth in the 50m Breaststroke (00.43.39) respectively, whereas Sarah Aldridge (50-54yrs) claimed another third place finish over the 50m Breastroke (00.39.82) in the age-division below...Inter-Counties complexingly working to 10-year age bands as opposed to the usual five! The Red quartet also produced some fine swims across several age-group relays, Hampshire proving dominant over our nearest rivals Surrey with a near 70% win-rate - snappy takeovers and not one disqualification (that Team Captains James MacTavish and Martin Bennell knew of at least!) 

A final points tally over the Four-hundred mark for the first time had the Red/Yellows (Gryffindor colours...should anyone forget, or wish to spectate) seize victory over neighbouring Surrey by just over seventy points. But more importantly, all Seven of the South East Region counties pulled together brilliant teams and made the afternoon a real treat. The fact it is (and will hopefully, continue to be) hosted in one of the most prestigeous venues in Britain is a bonus - even though next time, we'll hopefully avoid home match day for West Ham FC!

FINAL POINTS*:

Hampshire + Ch.Is : 407

Surrey : 335.50

Middlesex : 311

Berkshire + Buckinghamshire : 280

Sussex : 260.50

Kent : 260

Oxfordshire : 185

*Final National rankings to be confirmed once all County Regions have been declared. 

James MacTavish

City of Southampton Masters / Hampshire + Channel Islands Masters Secretary