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Records fall on opening day of ASA Masters Champs

Day one of the ASA National Masters and Senior Age Group Swimming Championships (25m) kicked off in style at Ponds Forge in Sheffield today.

The first world record was absolutely decimated in the second event of the day, with Nottingham Leander Masters smashing the World Record for the 120+ Age Group 4x200m Freestyle Relay, which was swam in an impressive 8.15.25, a full 21 seconds ahead of the Teddington Masters team, and nine seconds under the previous World Record.

Birmingham Masters also managed to beat both the European and British Records in the Mixed 280-319yrs 4x200m Freestyle Relay, touching in a time of 11:50.50. Romford Town Masters swam a solid 9:18.76, securing themselves a gold medal in the 200+ Age Group and also breaking the previous British Record.

Two European records in 1500m Freestyle

The relay events were not the only events that saw records broken. The first individual event of the day, the 1500m Freestyle, saw two European Records broken.

Mick Marshall of Birmingham Masters SC touched in a new European marker for the Men’s 75/79 Age Group (23:35.18) and Audrey Cooper of Silver City Blues Masters SC also broke a European record in her category, swimming 20:55.80 to win the Women’s 60/64 Yrs Age Group.

Helen Gorman of Long Eaton masters squad tore apart the competition in the Women’s 40/44yrs 200m Breaststroke, taking both the British and European record for her time of 2:36.56, a full three seconds faster than the previous records, and just under six seconds ahead of second place.

There were also some British Records broken in the opening day. The first was in the Women’s 45/59yrs 50m Backstroke event which saw Nicola Harris of Corsham Masters SC claim a gold medal for an impressive swim (32.61).

Records smashed in 100m IM

The Individual Medley events were gripping throughout each heat, with British and European records broken across the age groups.

The Men’s 60/64 Years 100m Individual Medley saw Trevor Clarke of Birmingham Masters swim a really impressive time of 1:11.31, which not only saw him steal the top place ahead of Graham Milne (1:12.52), but also break a British record.

Ben Harkin of Chesterfield really showed his mettle in three events, taking the British Record for the 35/39 100m IM, swimming it in 57.03, then going straight out in the next event to break both the British and European Records and be presented with a gold medal for his very fast 26.51 in the 50m Backstroke.

Rachel Barton of Trafford SC also received a gold medal in the 50m Backstroke, getting a British record finish of 37.10 in the 65/69 Age Group.

Harkin also broke a British record in his final event of the day, lowering his own previous time of 52.00 in the Men’s 35/39 100m Free, touching in 51.61 to win the gold for this event.

Other notable gold medals were Kalon Veale who swam 25.25 in the Men’s 18/24yrs 50m Backstroke, Sharon Lock’s 2:59.20 in the Women’s 45/49yrs 200m Breaststroke, Lauren Quigley of Stockport Metro who won the Women’s 100m Freestyle 18/24yrs with 54.34 and Nottingham Leander Masters who won gold in the 72+ yrs 200m Freestyle Team Relay.

  • Click here to view full results from the 2014 British Gas ASA National Masters and Senior Age Group Championships (25m).
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