National podium placing for Southampton Masters in London

For the very first time, the annual British Masters Long Course Championships secured its venue in the captial...and not just any venue, a venue of Olympic proportions! The iconic London Aquatics Centre became home for the three days of veteran competition, and as expected only a few months' out from Worlds in Singapore, a medley of Britsh, European and World records were struck. Once the announcement was made that Queen Elizabeth Park was to be playing host, entries swarmed - despite challenging Phase One qualifying times across all age divisions - leaving precious space come Phase Two and the loosening of threshold. This meant several Southampton Masters did sadly miss out, but thankfully with a touch of 'fastest finger first' on the relay entries (!), many names got their chance to shine in the somewhat subduedly lit pool...yes, apparently our entry fees would have been a whole £5 more if the centre was to switch the lighting on!

Spearheading the podium charge on a solo level was Tim O'Brien (70-74yrs), with a packed programme ranging from 100m Breaststroke (01.36.76) to 400m FC (06.21.68). That latter earned O'Brien his first of two Bronze individuals, the second coming over half the distance and the 200m FC (02.57.81)...be it four lengths or eight, over 50m distances both felt like a marathon for the Seventy-Two year old, yet the Breaststoke events together with a sprint 50m FC (00.34.18) brought Season's Bests and Top.5 finishes. 

Alistair Garmendia (40-44yrs) dusted off his Sotonian colours for what was perhaps the most brutal of two day programmes from the Ten-strong red contingent. A 200m Backstroke (02.46.46) secured a well-deserved Silver, whereas the unforgiving 200m Butterfly (02.50.31) claimed a Top.5 placing and a firm round of applause from teamates in awe of anyone even finishing the distance! A solid 200m IM (02.40.62) rounded off Saturday evening. 

Melissa Halford (30-34yrs) stepped into her new age-division and first Long Course sprint for many a year. Whilst little could be done to eclipse the formidable Rebecca Guy of Bristol Penguins over the length-long dash, a frantic dash over the last five metres of the 50m FC (00.28.34) delivered another Bronze for Southampton. Husband Carl Halford (30-34yrs) challenged equally firm opposition over the 400m FC (04.45.33) and 200m IM (02.32.11) for Top.10 finishes, the former race of the two a close call come the final 25m, sadly just on the wrong side of the metal. 

No stranger to the highest levels of World Masters events, Tom Williams (25-29yrs) came away with a Season's Best over the 100m Butterfly (01.03.39), age-division compatriot Cameron Hooton (25-29yrs) accelerating over the same distance for freestyle, a 100m FC (00.56..61) impressive, but in a stacked group of sub-55 second swimmers, falling just outside the Top.10. 

Coach and Team Lead (no easy task when it came to entering relays and ensuring correct age tallies over a forever changing quartet!) James MacTavish (40-44yrs) held on over a swift 200m FC (02.20.81) heat for a Top.10 placing before going stroke-for-stroke next to teammate Garmendia over 200m IM (02.38.68), close on the final 50m, but again, just outside the Top.5 and placing Sixth. Kim Tarrant (55-59yrs) secured a spot in the 50m Breaststroke (00.45.01), a near-full second quicker than last year and sneaking inside the Top.10 despite suffering injury. 

As always, relays provided a second chance to shine. Such was the fevered entry process, Southampton Masters did well to nab a spot across the many disciplines, especially the popular Mixed events. Day one was initially set to feature two 4 x 200m FC teams, one 100yrs+ and one 200yrs+, but a few last minute scheduling conflicts and injuries towards the end of the working week saw the former scratched. The 200yrs+ (O'Brien/MacTavish/Tarrant) had regular Amanda Rush (55-59yrs) help the Team take its second Silver of the weekend, well in the wash of a European Record setting Basingstoke Bluefins. The seasoned team switched O'Brien for Garmendia over 4 x 50m Medley and a very respectable Fifth placed finish. Our younger Masters added Annie Belasco (35-39yrs) and Matt Nash (25-29yrs) to bring home our final medal of the championships over the 4 x 100m Medley (M.Halford/Williams/Nash/Belasco), another Bronze for the collection. C.Halford and Hooton brought strong pace to the 4 x 50m Medley and FC relays for closing Top.5 finishes. 

Whilst no outright National title winning swims this year, undoubtedly a much higher level of performance at these Masters Long Course Championships than in years' previous...I'd say probably the fiercest of events, Long or Short, for a good six years. Illustrates just what a popular venue with good transport facilities can do for the discipline, even if costs err on the more expensive-side! My congratulations to the Squad for so many excellent performances and camaradarie! 

MEDAL TALLY:

GOLD : 0

SILVER : 2

BRONZE : 4

TOTAL : 6

James MacTavish

City of Southampton Masters