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Masters swimmers make waves in session two

The second session of the ASA National Masters Open Water Championships saw some familiar faces on the podium in the Men’s and Women’s 3k races at Rother Valley in Sheffield.

In the Men’s 3k, the Masters swimmers were split into two waves. The first wave to set off wore green caps and was made up of swimmers aged 21 to 48, the second wore orange caps and was made up of swimmers aged 52 to 81, setting off 10 minutes later.

Oliver Bitowt leads the way in youngest age group

Oliver Bitowt of Loughborough set off with a clear mission in mind, leading the race for all three laps and having a 150m lead at the end of his second lap. He was followed by Stewart Moore of Manchester Triathlon and Pip Bennett of London Otter down the final straight.

Each of the three swimmers touched in for gold medals, Bitowt in the 20-24yrs age group (39:03.6), Moore in the 25-29yrs age group (41:00.6) and Bennett in the 30-34yrs age group (40:56.8).

In the second wave the first three to finish were Nicholas Parkes of Middlesbrough who finished first to get gold in the 50-54yrs age group (43:36.8), David Wright who claimed silver in the same age group (46:15.7). The final swimmer to touch was Brain Bain of Silver City Blues, who claimed the gold in the 55-59yrs age group (46:31.7).

Other gold medalists included Ian Wimpenny of Hoddesden (35-39yrs), Les Church of City of Chester (40-44yrs), Daniel Bullock of London Otter (45-49yrs), Bill Grey of South London (60-64yrs), Stuart McLellan of Sudbury (65-69yrs), Michael Read of Brighton (70-74yrs), Bill Moore of East Leeds (1:16.22) and Keith Godbehere of Rotherham Metro (80-84yrs).

Oldest competitor Keith Godbehere swims in 1.5k and 3k

Keith Godbehere was the oldest competitor taking part today, swimming both the 1.5k and the 3k and completing both in respectable times: “It was a bit rough today, bit windy, especially down the back left corner.

“I’ve been swimming in open water for 10 years, that’s all. I fell off a roof when I was 59 and the doctor said I wouldn’t walk again. So I started swimming. Someone saw me and said, you should go and see the Rotherham Metro Coach. Then I was asked to watch open water swimming and I made the mistake of taking my kit.

“I swim in open water three times a week. I swam yesterday too, two miles at Albert Docks in Liverpool.”

Jennifer Titterington on form to complete double

In the Women’s 3k race, Jennifer Titterington was on form once again after winning the 1.5k earlier in the day. The City of Manchester swimmer led the pack from the off, though this time there were swimmers hot on her heels. She held her lead and finished on gold in the 19-24yrs age group.

Jessica Wooddisse of Stroud Masters battled hard to gain position and at the end of the race, she had made her way up to second place finish for gold in the 40-44yrs age group.

Third to touch was Emma Wills of York City, who also claimed gold in the 35-39yrs age group. Lucy Lloyd Roach of Trafford Met, who had been contesting strongly with the pack for the last two laps, was just behind her finishing with 42:59.2.

Other gold medalists included Rebecca Newman of Newcastle (25-29yrs), Emma Lund of Deepings (45-49yrs), Nuala Muir-Cochrane of Camden Swiss (50-54yrs), Frances Baker of Launceston (55-59yrs), Valerie Thorpe of City of Derby (60-64yrs) and Georgina Hamilton of Barnet Copthall (70-74yrs).

  • For full results for the Men’s and Women’s 3k please click here.
  • For the results from the morning session, click here.
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