December 2017

Contents
Introduction
Masters Competition Programme for 2018
Beds Masters Decathlon Challenge 2017
New Records
The Club Scene
-- Beaver Masters
-- Flitwick Dolphins
-- South Beds Masters
-- Team Luton
East Region Masters Activities and News

Introduction
The end-of-year mark in the swimming calendar has been reached, so it is a good time to summarise the Beds Masters Decathlon results.

Masters Competition Programme for 2018
The following are local competitions in the East Region and national competitions:-

1. East Region Masters Champs at Newmarket, 1 October 2017 TBD
2. East XXX

Beds Masters Decathlon Challenge 2017
Rankings at 17 December 2017 are listed below. The National position is given in brackets.

Out of 1712 women, the following table shows the top ten leading women’s ranking

Out of 428 clubs, the leading Beds women’s teams :-

Out of 2147 men, the following table shows the top ten leading men’s ranking

Out of 476 British teams, the leading Beds men’s teams are ranked

Following a comment made at the County AGM, regarding the number of Masters County records broken during 2017, (As at the 7^th December, there have been 64 Short Course, 49 Long Course, and 13 Relay records broken). I thought that I would let everyone know how many records there actually are.

There are currently 12 different age groups, 18 to 24 years being the Senior age group, (Senior records can only be set in Masters events) and the Masters age-groups are in five year age bands from 25 to 29, up to 75 to 79. We finish at the 75 to 79 age group, as so far the County has had no one in the 80 and over age groups. When we do, we will include an 80 to 84 age group.

There are 18 events Short Course and 17 Long Course, so with 35 events and 12 age groups, that leaves a staggering 420 records that are up for grabs.

In the Relays, we have 7 age groups, 72 & over (a team must have at least one Senior swimmer aged from 18 to 24), 100 to 119, then 120 to 159, and upwards in 40 year age groups to 280 to 329 years. When we get a club with four swimmers of average age of 80 and over, we shall include a 320 to 359 age group.

These Relay age groups are the ones that are swum throughout the world, and we mirror the East Region in allowing relays to be set or broken in either Short Course or Long Course. This means that there are a total of 42 relay records, Male, Female, and Mixed (two from each sex).

Have a look at the current set of Masters Records on the County web site, and if you break one of them next time you swim, the Claim sheet is also on the County web site.

Happy record hunting!

John Bellis

Bedfordshire County Masters Record co-ordinator

Since August 2017, the following Beds Masters long course records have been set

Since August 2017, the following Beds Masters short course records have been set.

The records were kindly supplied by John Bellis.

Please don’t forget to claim your new county and regional records or get your club representative to do group claims for you. Forms for making claims are online.

* Bedfordshire Masters Record Claims: www.bedscountyasa.com/ and follow the link to "Masters" and "Records". Send completed forms to John Bellis, email john.bellis123@btinternet.com

* East Region Masters Claims: www.eastswimming.org/ and follow the link to "Masters" and "Records". Send completed forms to David Robinson, email david.referee22@gmail.com

Paul Clarke (75-79) has set 62 new county, regional and meet records this year. Many of these were new unclaimed records for 75-79 year olds.
Report by Paul Clarke

Photo by XXX

Report by XXX

A special mention has to be made about the Masters family, who had three generations of the same family competing, all for the same club, Grandma Janet aged 77, son Peter 55, and Grandson Matthew, age 23. People, who have been involved in Masters swimming, cannot remember this ever happening before.

In the individual events, the club won 9 medals, 5 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze, but it was in the relay events that most pleased the Coach. The club entered 10 relay teams, and finished with 9 new club records, 8 new County records, and 4 new East Region records, plus another 2 swims that beat the existing Region record, but Southend just pipped us to take the record.

The most satisfying swim came in the 120 to 159 years 200 Freestyle Relay where the team of Sam Hammond, Joanne Holder, Claire Evelyn, and Carla King finished with the Silver medal in a quick time of 1:53.79, the team that beat them was Teddington who set a new British record with their swim.

Report by John Bellis

Decathlon Competition for the East Region
Following the initial decathlon announcement, and discussions with the National Masters committee, the terms for the competition have been updated to include the senior (18-24) age group. All points accrued this year will count.

.East Region Masters Decathlon 2017 current standings (as of 17th July):

A change at the top of the ladies standing with Katie Holmes now just ahead of Pat Jackson and Liz Woolner. Chris Dunn continues to lead the male standings, with Dave Cartledge moving into 2nd ahead of Sudbury's Stuart McLellan.

With more competition results now in, the team standings have changed significantly with new leaders in both the ladies and men's competitions. Newmarket lead the ladies competition and Brentwood are currently in pole position for the men's competition.

East Region Masters Championships
Sunday 1stXXX October 2018 at Newmarket Leisure Centre

Information Extracted from - East Region Masters Swimming Update - XXX 2017