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Steve shatters record as British swimmers impress at European Masters

Wellingborough’s Steve Grossman shattered a six-and-a-half-year European record during an impressive performance by British swimmers at the inaugural LEN European Masters Short Course Swimming Championship.

The 71-year-old clocked 2:41.72 in the 70-74 Years 200m Backstroke to shave 3.53 seconds off the previous best of 2:45.25 set by Jean Claude Lestideau in March 2017.

It was the standout swim of the week-long event, held in Madeira, Portugal, from the 41-strong British contingent who were representing 34 clubs.

A total of 39 golds, 30 silvers and 13 bronze medals were won in the pool and the 1.5k and 3k open water events by the British swimmers.

LEN European Short Course Masters Swimming Championships Madeira 2023 roll of honour

Day one

Men’s 100m Medley

30-34 years

  • Kalon Veale (Totnes Swimming Club) silver 58.35

35-39 years

  • Alistair Garmendia (Wildern Waves) bronze 1:06.37

45-49 years

  • Paul Callis (Kingston upon Hull SC) silver 1:01.19

50-54 years

  • Marcus Smallbone (Newquay Cormorants) gold 1:02.66

65-69 years

  • Simon Veale (Totnes SC) gold 1:13.09

70-74 years

  • Steve Grossman (Wellingborough) silver 1:17.25

Men’s 800m Freestyle

65-69 years

  • Simon Veale (Totnes SC) gold 10:28.93

Women’s 800m Freestyle

60-64 years

  • Catherine Munro (Winchester City Penguins) silver 11:23.22

Day two

Women’s 200m Freestyle 

60-64 years

  • Catherine Munro (Winchester City Penguins) gold 2:41.07

Men’s 200m Freestyle

65-69 years

  • Simon Veale (Totnes SC) gold 2:22.86

70-74 years

  • Steve Grossman (Wellingborough) silver 2:26.33

75-79 years

  • Peter Stephens (Spencer) bronze 3:16.29

80-84 years

  • Tony Cherrington (Spencer) silver 3:09.89

Women’s 50m Breaststroke

55-59 years

  • Kim Collins (Wrexham) gold 37.97

70-74 years

  • Sally Lelean (Diss Otters) silver 57.11 (72)

Men’s 50m Breaststroke

45-49 years

  • Paul Callis (Kingston upon Hull SC) silver 30.20

Men’s 100m Butterfly

30-34 years

  • Kalon Veale (Totnes) silver 56.83
  • Gareth Allen (East Leeds) bronze 58.31 

35-39 years

  • John Wood (Bristol Henleaze) gold 55.46

50-54 years

  • Marcus Smallbone (Newquay Cormorants) gold 1:02.55

55-59 years

  • Charles Wilson (Wycombe District) silver 1:08.64

Day three

Women’s 200m Breaststroke

50-54 years

  • Nicola Latty (Holywell) gold 3:01.88

55-59 years

  • Kim Collins (Wrexham) gold 3:16.63

65-69 years

  • Amanda Heath (Spencer) gold 3:16.08

70-74 years

  • Sally Lelean (Diss Otters) gold 4:22.68

Men’s 200m Breaststroke

45-49 years

  • Paul Callis (Kingston upon Hull) silver 2:28.89

Women’s 50m Freestyle

55-59 years

  • Kim Collins (Wrexham) silver 31.56

Men’s 50m Freestyle

35-39 years

  • John Wood (Bristol Henleaze) gold 23.51

55-59 years

  • Alex Metcalfe (Preston Swimming Club) bronze 26.97

65-69 years

  • Ian McKay (Warrender Baths Club) gold 26.89

80-84 years

  • Tony Cherrington (Spencer) gold 35.93 (81)

Women’s 100m Backstroke

50-54 years

  • Sarah Berry (Out to Swim) silver 1:21.97

70-74 years

  • Sally Lelean (Diss Otters) bronze 1:56.78

Men’s 100m Backstroke

30-34 years

  • Kalon Veale (Totnes) gold 55.86

35-39 years

  • Scott Lathrope (Kenilworth Masters Swim Club) silver 59.34

50-54 years

  • Marcus Smallbone (Newquay Cormorants) silver 1:04.91

70-74 years

  • Steve Grossman (Wellingborough ASC) gold 1:14.98

Day four

Women’s 200m Medley

30-34 years

  • Megan McDonagh (Otter SC) gold 2:37.33

70-74 years

  • Sally Lelean (Diss Otters) silver 4:42.33

Men’s 200m Medley

45-49 years

  • Paul Callis (Kingston upon Hull SC), gold 2:14.97

65-69 years

  • Simon Veale (Totnes Swimming Club) gold 2:41.51

70-74 years

  • Steve Grossman (Wellingborough ASC) gold 2:52.66

Women’s 400m Freestyle

60-64 years

  • Catherine Munro (Winchester City Penguins) bronze 5:34.53

Men’s 400m Freestyle

65-69 years

  • Simon Veale (Totnes Swimming Club) gold 5:02.22

75-79 years

  • Peter Stephens (Spencer) bronze 7:05.82

Day five

Women’s 200m Backstroke

30-34 years

  • Megan McDonagh (Otter SC) gold 2:34.83

50-54 years

  • Nicola Latty (Holywell) gold 2:38.18

70-74 years

  • Sally Lelean (Diss Otters) gold 4:04.72 (72)

Men’s 200m Backstroke

30-34 years

  • Kalon Veale (Totnes Swimming Club) gold 2:04.72

35-39 years

  • Scott Lathrope (Kenilworth Masters Swim Club) silver 2:07.40

70-74 years

  • Steve Grossman (Wellingborough SC) gold 2:41.72 (new European record)

Women’s 50m Butterfly

50-54 years

  • Sarah Berry (Out to Swim) bronze 35.80

Men’s 50m Butterfly

30-34 years

  • Gareth Allen (East Leeds SC) silver 26.16

35-39 years

  • John Wood (Bristol Henleaze) gold 24.73

45-49 years

  • Paul Callis (Kingston upon Hull) silver 26.80

60-64 years

  • Mark Robertson (Crawley SC) silver 28.95

65-69 years

  • Ian McKay (Warrender Baths Club) gold 29.47

75-79 years

  • Peter Stephens (Spencer) gold 57.10

Men’s 100m Freestyle

30-34 years

  • Gareth Allen (East Leeds SC) silver 54.57

60-64 years

  • Mark Robertson (Crawley SC) bronze 1:00.38

65-69 years

  • Ian McKay (Warner Baths Club) gold 1:02.22

70-74 years

  • Steve Grossman (Wellingborough ASC) silver 1:05.07

80-84 years

  • Tony Cherrington (Spencer) gold 1:22.72

Day six

Women’s 200m Butterfly

65-69 years

  • Amanda Heather (Spencer) gold 3:14.95

Men’s 200m Butterfly

30-34 years

  • Gareth Allen (East Leeds SC) silver 2:14.29

35-39 years

  • Daniel John (Reading SC) bronze 2:14.88

50-54 years

  • Ian Wallace (Brentwood SC) bronze 2:33.85

60-64 years

  • Mark Robertson (Crawley SC) bronze 2:46.79

Women’s 50m Backstroke

50-54 years

  • Sarah Fitzgerald-Smith (Reading Swimming Club) silver 36.18
  • Sarah Berry (Out to Swim) bronze 37.14

65-69 years

  • Amanda Heath (Spencer) gold 42.96

Men’s 50m Backstroke

30-34 years

  • Kalon Veale (Tonnes Swimming Club) gold 25.86
  • Gareth Allen (East Leeds SC) silver 28.86

65-69 years

  • Simon Veale (Totnes Swimming Club) gold 32.76

Women’s 100m Breaststroke

55-59 years

  • Kim Collins (Wrexham) gold 1:23.25

Men’s 100m Breaststroke

45-49 years

  • Paul Callis (Kingston upon Hull) silver 1:08.02

Open Water

Men’s 1.5k

65-69 years

  • Ian Urquhart (City of Lincoln Pentaqua) silver 26:38

Women’s 1.5k

25-29 years

  • Fiona Westcough (Enfield Swim Squad) silver 23.40

65-69 years

  • Fiona Barres (Gateshead and Wickham) silver 33:07

Men’s 3k

75-79 years

  • Peter Stephens (Spencer) silver 1:05.27

Women’s 3k

M60-64 years

  • Catherine Munro (Winchester City Penguins) gold 52:35

65-69 years

  • Amanda Heath (Spencer) gold 58:00
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