Contents
Introduction
Masters Programme for 2014

ASA National Masters at Sheffield 24/26 October 2014
County Masters Short Course Records
Beds Masters Decathlon Challenge 2014
The National ASA Masters Conference 2014

Introduction
This is the "three-quarter stage/nine month" issue of the newsletter and a little bit behind the latest news. Beds Masters were well represented at the ER Championships at Newmarket and theNationals. County Masters Records continue to be broken in amazing numbers. There has been significant changes at the top of the Beds Masters Decathlon Challenge table.

Masters Programme for 2014
The following are coming up:-
East Region Round, Masters Inter-County Competition, Newmarket (25M)
- Sunday 16^th November 2014
John Bellis is selecting the Beds Team and is contacting swimmers.
The National ASA Masters Conference at SportPark in Loughborough
Saturday 1st November 2014 (See details below)

ASA National Masters at Sheffield 24/26 October 2014
A total of 42 swimmers from 7 Bedfordshire clubs swam at this years nationals at Sheffield, a record attendance I think. Between the 42 swimmers, a total of 48 new County records were set, plus 5 new county relay records.

The most outstanding swimmer was 22 year old Lawrence Palmer from Putteridge, who had four swims, and won all four of them in some exceptional times. Best swim was the 100 Breaststroke where his time of 1.01.39 was a new British record in the 18 to 24 years age group. Lawrence's other Breaststroke swims were also impressive with a 27.84 50 metre swim and a 2.16.13 for his 200 Breaststroke. Lawrence also won the 200 Individual medley. Following Lawrence home in the 50 Breaststroke was fellow team mate Jordan Batson, who gained the Bronze medal. Also from Putteridge, and swimming in the Senior's age group of 18 to 24, was Hannah Bennett, who won the Silver medal in the 1500 Freestyle. Also from Putteridge, swimming in the 60-64 age group, Paul Brignell showed that it was not only the youngster at the club who could win medals. Paul picked up the Bronze in the 50 Breaststroke.

From Modernians, Marcel Scholten won the 200 Breaststroke, and then finished in the Silver medal position in the 100 Breaststroke, and finished the meet of with a Bronze medal in the 50 freestyle.

For Team Luton, Graham Powell was their most successful swimmer. Swimming in the 55 to 59 age group, Graham won five medals. Gold's in the 100 Butterfly and in the 100 backstroke events. Silver's in both the 200 backstroke and 200 Individual Medley, and a Bronze in the 50 backstroke.

Liz Woolner from Flitwick Dolphins, swimming in the 45 to 49 age group, was the busiest swimmer from Bedfordshire over the three day event, swimming in nine individual events, and gaining medals in seven of them. Three Gold's, one Silver and three Bronzes. Liz's wins came in the 100 Individual Medley, the 50 Butterfly, and the 100 Butterfly, with some impressive times in the Butterfly events for a 47 year old, hitting the pads in a time of 30.75 in the 50 and 1.08.81 in the 100 metre event. Liz won her only Silver in the 200 Backstroke, and followed this up with three Bronzes in the 50 and 100 backstroke, and in the 200 Individual Medley.

Most successful County club, in terms of numbers of medals, was the 17 strong contingent from South Beds Masters. They picked up 13 individual medals and another four in relay events. In the 70 to 74 age group, Iris Bellis won two Bronzes in the 400 and in the 800 freestyle. In the 65 to 69 age group, also two Bronzes for Andrea Minor in distance events, the 400 and 1500 Freestyle. In the 60 to 64 age group, Peter Iles picked up three bronze medals in the 200, 400, and the 800 Freestyle events. Also in this age group, Christine Ayers won the 100 Individual medley, gained two silvers in both the 50 Breaststroke and in the 200 Individual Medley, and finally a Bronze in the 100 Breaststroke.

In the 30 to 34 age group, two silver medals, one for Carla King in a quick time of 27.33 in the 50 Freestyle, and an East Region record for Sarah Pearse in the 50 Breaststroke with a another quick time of 34.89.

In the relay events South Beds won four medals, in the 120 to 159 year age group, the team of Jo Holder, Sarah Pearse, Sam Hammond and Carla King gained the Bronze medal in the 200 Medley relay breaking their own East Region record by two seconds that they set at Newmarket three weeks previous. The same four Ladies then went one better to win the Silver in the 200 Freestyle relay with a time of 1.56.09.
South Beds other relay medals came in the Mixed 72 years plus 200 Medley team of Kaz Melvin, Jack McGarry, Louis Bell, and Emma Irvine, and in the Ladies 72 years plus Freestyle team of Emma Irvine, Laura Lewindon, Kaz Melvin, and Kate Robinson.
Apologies to swimmers who broke records that I have not mentioned.

(Report by John Bellis)

County Masters Records
Just to remind you, to send Beds ASA record claims to John Bellis: email john.bellis123@btinternet.com . His postal address is on the claim form which is on the Beds ASA website. Please do not send claims to the Beds Exec Secretary.
At Newmarket for the East region Championships, we had 10 new individual records, plus 7 new relay records. One thing that was pleasing was that five Bedfordshire clubs entered relay teams in this meet. At the British Gas / ASA National Masters Champs at Sheffield, a staggering 48 new County records were set, plus another 5 relay records.
All the latest Beds Masters records and claim forms are at the bottom of the page:- www.bedscountyasa.com/swim_records.html

Beds Masters Decathlon Challenge 2014
After the first nine months of 2014, with the Regional and National Championships still to come, the standing of the Beds ASA Masters Decathlon 2014 is as below. The Beds results were extracted from the National results (with national position in brackets). Senior (aged 18-24) swimmers are included this year.

Top 5 Beds Women Masters at 30 September 2014 (1389 competitors)
Liz Woolner, with some high scoring swims has jumped into the lead that has been held by Christine Ayres for the last two and three quarters years. Christine has beaten her own previous highest points score. Jo Holder and Samantha Hammond have moved into the top five.

In the club team results, for the ladies, South Beds Masters are in a creditable 9^th place in the National rankings with 13400 points, Flitwick are in 100^th place, Biggleswade ladies are in 109^th place, Putteridge are in 149^th place and Team Luton are in 198^th place out of 336 teams.

Top 5 Beds Men Masters at 30 September 2014 (1868 competitors)
The men's top five has had a good shake up. Modernian's David Cartledge has jumped to the top from nowhere. He is closely followed by team mate Marcel Scholten who finished with over 4000 points last year.

For the men's teams, Team Luton with 11949 points, are in 16^th place in the national rankings ahead of South Beds who are in 24^th place, Modernians are in 66^th place, Putteridge have moved up 90 places to 109^th place out of 401 teams.

The National ASA Masters Conference 2014
As mentioned in the last newsletter, the new ASA Masters Swimming Officer, Sharon Lock, is organising the first National Masters Conference which will be held on 1st November at SportPark in Loughborough. All ASA Masters swimmers have been invited to join Sharon for the one-day conference.

The main aim of the day is to discuss how masters can take ownership of our community and build a dynamic and vibrant Masters infrastructure.

The day will run from 9:30am until 4:30pm and will include morning and afternoon sessions which will consist of:

There will be two focus groups in the afternoon: Supporting Masters and Website/Newsletter. These will be lead by group leaders. An action plan will be written down, possibly encouraging people to volunteer for different actions. Briefs have been written for both groups, which explain exactly what will happen. There is a new Masters website called the Masters Hub, which is up and running, that the Website/Newsletter focus group can review. If you would like to view it, the link is: http://events.swimming.org/masters/
The group sessions will last for about an hour in the afternoon.

For further information on this and other national masters matters, contact Sharon by email: sharon.lock@swimming.org.