Making a splash in Swansea for Southampton Masters

It was the Welsh turn to host the British Masters Championships this year, and as is now commonplace, the City of Swansea stepped up for duty. Their Performance Centre Pool is perennial popular, hosting not only the provincial Championships for Age-Groupers, but also a successful Masters event over the Saint David's Day weekend. Very supportive officials and volunteers from across Wales and West England ensure such competitions run smoothly and are welcoming. 

Every year, British Masters appears to improve in terms of quantity and quality of athletes...and in just the past decade, such events have gone from basic entry-level swimming to the playground of former World, Olympic and Commonwealth performers (there were two Commonwealth medalists from 2006 in Melbourne I spotted in one heat alone!) As a result, the event witnesses many National, Continental and Global records fall, 2024 certainly no expection...and wonderful to see Hampshire be at the forefront of record-breaking! From South Downs Trojan's Jo Corben (50-54yrs) over her prized 200m Backstroke, to the formidable Basingstoke Bluefins quartet of ladies in the 4 x 100m Medley relay (160yrs+), the County claimed a good handful of new records over the weekend - probably the most successful of any other British region. 

City of Southampton Masters not quite on the same record-breaking par of course (something to aim for though!) - but some fantastic swimming from our own quartet that made their way to the Welsh Riviera. In comparison to the previous year in Ponds Forge, the addition of Matt Nash (25-29yrs) allowed for a few relay entries for the first time since pre-COVID (which oddly enough, saw CSSC claim Gold in the 100yrs+ Mixed Medley Relay of 2019). Sadly our superstar distance swimmer Fiona Carroll (30-34yrs) was forced to withdraw with injury, leaving Kim Tarrant (55-59yrs) embarking on a rare 200m FC in what is usually a fiesty 120yrs+ division in the 4 x 200m FC. Combined with James MacTavish (40-44yrs)...and a little help from duel registered swimmer and Southampton alumni Laura Kerrigan (35-39yrs)...the quartet successfully replicated their golden moment from five years' ago to claim the Red's only National title of the weekend. Got to be in it to win it as the saying goes! 

It was fair to say our relay swims were set to be Southampton's best chance of securing podium places - with individual attempts, as strong as many were, a litte drowned out by the high caliber of British Masters pedigree. Tim O'Brien (70-74yrs) had other ideas, as the newcomer struck Silver over the 200m FC (02.51.60) to gain the upper hand over Lincoln's Ian Urquart, but held off Gold by the talents of regular Septuagenarian Steve Grossman of Wellingborough. Long Course Personal Bests followed over the 100m FC (01.15.14) and 50m FC (00.34.18) for Top.5 finishes in an even more crowed field. 

MacTavish replicated his 2023 programme on middle-distance, battling his way to a Top.5 finish in the 200m FC (02.18.88), but securing a surprise Silver in the 200m IM (02.37.48) behind Rugby's veteran Ross Turner. Kim Tarrant ensured her continued success over the 50m Breaststroke (00.45.49) and 100m Breaststroke (01.39.85) for more Top.10 finishes in a stroke dominated by Wrexham favourite Kim Collins. 

All being well, 2025 will see a return to the normal Summer slot of June, sans the Olympic Programme that always pushes the event up a few months...and Scotland is the next host, which usually means a trip to the sunny East Coast and Aberdeen! Not the easiest of places to get to, but hopefully those clubs on the South Coast will be eager to make the trip North and seek to defend many a title justly won.

MEDAL TALLY:

Gold : 1

Silver : 2

Bronze : 0

TOTAL : 3

James MacTavish

City of Southampton Masters