British Masters Championships returning to Ponds Forge in 2023

The annual British Masters Championships will return to Sheffield for the first time in seven years in 2023.

More than 800 masters swimmers from across the home nations are expected to compete at Ponds Forge International Pool from 2-4 June.

The event, which takes place in a long course 50m pool, rotates between the Home Nations, with Swim England hosting on a bi-annual basis.

Ponds Forge missed out on hosting the event in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Sheffield pool last hosted the competition in 2016, with Plymouth’s Life Centre taking centre stage for the last running of the event in England back in 2018.

The British Masters Championships also features the Cupar Trophy, awarded to the best-performing club at the competition.

Nicola Latty, chair of the Home Countries Masters Swimming Working Group, said: “I’m really looking forward to having this event back in Sheffield after so many years away.

“Many regard Sheffield as being the home of masters swimming in Britain so it’s special to return for the British Masters Championships in June.

“This event is expected to show masters swimming at its best and a fantastic atmosphere around the poolside will help inspire all of us.”

Qualifying times and conditions for the event will be released in due course.

Setting the standard

More than 50 new records were set at this year’s British Masters Championships in Aberdeen.

The event, hosted by Scottish Swimming, saw seven new world records set as well as 15 new European records too.

Two of those world records were set by Kings Coromants swimmer Jane Asher in both the 200m Freestyle and the 100m Freestyle in the 90-94 Years category.

Harrogate’s Mixed 4x200m Freestyle Relay (x240) team of Stephen Allen, Julie Hoyle, Karen Graham, Nicholas Parkes also put a new world record to their names.

Amanda Heath, of Spencer Swim Team, broke three world records in Aberdeen – two as part of Spencer’s relay teams in the 4x100m Mixed Medley (x240) team and the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle 280+.

Heath was part of the mixed relay quartet including Greg Kahn, Clive Benson and Esther Iseppi before touching home first alongside Helen Trippe, Esther Iseppi and Dianne Ford to break the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle 280+ record on the final day.

She also beat her own world record in the 200m Breastroke (65-69) event.

Helen Gorman from the City of Cardiff took the final world record of the weekend in the Women’s 200m breaststroke (50-54).

British swimmers have since gone on to further success this year with Rome’s European Masters Championships which saw more than 100 medals won by British swimmers in the pool.