Share your love of swimming - Get info on training to become a swim teacher from just £79

Stella Farrar and Audrey Cooper break British records in session one

The ASA National Masters and Senior Age Group Championships 2015 saw two British records broken in the 1500m Freestyle during session one at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

Silver City Blues’ Audrey Cooper, shaved over two seconds off her own 60/64yrs 1500m Free record set at last year’s event, touching 20:53.11. The Aberdeen club also saw a second gold medal from John Maclean who won the 25/29yrs age group over two minutes faster than his rivals.

I did not expect it at all – I swam 30 seconds under what I thought I was going to today.

Stella Farrar was the second swimmer to break a British record. The Arfon swimmer swam 20:38.92 to get the gold medal in the 50/54yrs.

Farrar commented on her British record: “It feels amazing, I did not expect it. I swam 30 seconds under what I thought I was going to today.

“The 1500m is my best event, but there aren’t many meets where you can put in a 1500, and this is the best pool to do it, and the best event.

“I think these events are really inspiring, you just see so many people who are physically fit, but also mentally fit because of their sport, at whatever age. It’s incredible that there are people in their 80s that are just phenomenal.”

Rotherham’s George Russell tops men’s 1500m Free

George Russell of Rotherham Metro swam the fastest time overall for the men, the 18-year old swimmer won Heat 13 with 16:07.62, and claimed gold in the 18/24yrs age group.

Newcastle’s Nick Valentine posted his first competitive time in the Men’s 30/34yrs age group for the 1500m in the same heat, claiming gold with a time of 17:15.12.

Katie Walker-Stabeler of Birmingham Metro posted the fastest time for the women, swimming over a minute faster than the rest of the 25/29yrs age group. She swam 18:43.50 for gold.

Sandra Vincent of Black Lion SC also swam over a minute faster than her rivals in the 65/69yrs age group, to win her first 1500m gold with 23:57.07.

Keith Godbehere, who also competed at the ASA National Masters Open Water Championships in August, won the 80/84yrs age group ahead of Guernsey’s Michael Banfield. The 81-year old Rotherham Metro swimmer touched in 29:24.95.

Full Results

  • Click here to view full results from the ASA National Masters and Senior Age Group Championships 2015
Top