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Joan sets new European record on way to gold medal in Slovenia

Joan Edwards set a new European record as she comfortably won a gold medal at the European Masters Swimming Championships 2018 in Slovenia.

The Gateshead and Whickham swimmer clocked 5:19.40 in the Women’s 400m Freestyle 60-64 age group, knocking 3.43 seconds off the previous best set by Italy’s Susanna Sordelli last year.

Edwards was an impressive 14.74 seconds clear of Italy’s Cristina Tarantino, who took the silver medal in 5:34.14.

Also in the Women’s 400m Freestyle, Jane Asher collected another gold medal finishing 7:33.61 in the 85-89 years race.

Middlesex Marlins’ Alison Gwynn was 2.55 seconds ahead of France’s Denise Feltz as she won gold in the 70-74 age group in 6:46.72.

Emma Wills, of York City Baths Club, was also a gold medallist in the 35-39 age group.

She clocked 4:41.61 to top the podium, 8.88 seconds in front of Germany’s Maren Eckenhoff who took silver, and 10.71 in front of compatriot Alexis Higlett, of Otter SC (4:52.32).

There were also two British medallists in the 40-44 age category.

Ceri Edwards, from Portsmouth Northsea, finished second in 4:50.22, 4.73 behind Germany’s Annett von Rekowski, while Stroud Masters SC’s Jessica Wooddise was third in 4:54.65.

Janet McLean, of Carnegie SC, was second in the 45-49 age group in 5:09.65, while Laura Molyneaux, of Farehma Nomads, picked up a silver in the 30-34 race in 4:41.61.

And Jenny Ball, of Camp Hill Edwardians SC, claimed a bronze medal in the 80-84 age group, finishing in 8:25.02.

Men’s 400m Freestyle

Mark Reynolds, of Barnet Copthall SC, triumphed in the 55-59 years race in a time of 4:36.77.

He was 9.49 seconds ahead of Holland’s Johan Remmts, who clocked 4:46.26.

Michael Read, of Brighton Dolphins, and Geoff Stokes, of Spencer Swim Team, finished second and third respectively in the 75-79 age group.

Read recorded a time of 6:43.70, 26.29 seconds adrift of Spain’s Joaquin Canales who won the gold medal in 6:17.41.

Stokes was 0.56 behind Read as he clocked 6:44.26 to take the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Tower Hamlets’ Peter Dixon took silver in the 50-54 age group in a time of 4:28.95 – 4.82 behind Italy’s Dino Schorn (4:24.13).

Women’s 200m Individual Medley

Nicola Latty was victorious in the 45-49 age group.

The Holywell SC swimmer finished in 2:37.94, only 0.90 seconds ahead of Italy’s Sabina Vitaloni (2:38.84).

Spencer Swim Team’s Amanda Heath added to her medal tally with silver in the 60-64 years race.

She finished in 3:09.71, 18.42 seconds behind gold medallist Colette Crabbe, of Belgium, who clocked 2:51.29.

And Hayley Davis, of Otter SC, also won a silver medal in the 30-34 age category.

Her time of of 2:34.08 was 5.88 seconds off the pace set by Hungary’s Viktoria Felfoldi (2:28.20).

Women’s 4x50m Freestyle Relay

Otter SC are European Masters champions after storming to victory by 13.68 seconds in the 120-159 years race.

The team of Alexis Higlett (29.28), Gina Hobson (27.79), Emma Shkurka (29.51) and Olivia Reynolds (28.40) finished in 1:54.98 to take the gold medal.

In the 280-319 age group, Spencer Swim Team’s Grace Isaac (1:17.29), Suzanne Maidment (34.35), Muriel Hitchcock (58.48) and Diane Ford (42.51), finished third in 3:32.63.

Men’s 4x50m Freestyle Relay

Woking SC have a European silver medal after clocking 1:39.24 in the 100-119 years race.

Thomas Bill (25.06), Alexander Smith (22.81), Ross Arnfield (25.36) and Ben Smith (26.01) were 2.64 seconds behind Ukraine’s No Stars Swim Club.

In the 120-159 age group, Trafford Metro Borough SC claimed a bronze medal.

The team of Craig Ward (25.28), Matthew Tutty (23.63), Alec Johnson (26.84) and Daniel Kirk (24.80) finished in 1:40.55, 3.96 behind gold medallists Brigantina, from Russia.

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