Share your love of swimming - Get info on training to become a swim teacher from just £79

Three European records fall in session two of Masters champs

Three European records tumbled in the second session of the Swim England Masters National Championships.

Joanna Corben, of Fareham Nomads Swimming Club, clocked 1:05.76 in the Women’s 45-49 100m Backstroke event to set a new European best.

It was a close call at the halfway point with Michelle Ware, of Guildford City, only 0.63 behind Corben.

Ware couldn’t keep up the pace, though, finishing second in a time of 1:09.10, while Lydia Anne Lock (Leicester Penguins) took home bronze having clocked 1:12.06.

In the 30-34 years age group, Sophie Casson broke her second record of the day, this time a British one.

She clocked 1:03.89 to finish ahead of Lauren Willcox, of Saxon Crown, (1:06.44) and Royal Navy’s Samantha Eagle (1:07.00).

Relay European record

The 200+ years team from Barnet Copthall Swimming Club broke a European record in the Women’s 200m Freestyle team race.

Christine Porter, Cate Jackson, Melissa Cannon and Lisa Dawson worked together to clock 1:57.80.

Team Anglia finished second with a time of 1:59.81 and B C and P Masters took the bronze medal having clocked 2:05.98.

The same event saw another record fall in the 100+ age group.

Alice Lane, Katie Walker-Stabeler, Caroline Saxon and Justine Clark formed the Birmingham M team who clocked 1:50.47.

Another record for Donald

Donald Leatherbarrow, Gloucester, secured his second British record of the meet with a win in the Men’s 50m Breaststroke 80-85 years age group.

He clocked 44.87 ahead of Bill Moore, of East Leeds, who touched home in 48.39.

The 40-44 age group saw another record fall. Ben Harkin, from Warrington, had the quickest reaction time off the blocks and touched home in 29.21 to break the British record.

Second place went to Martin Snape, of Silver City, with a time of 29.67, while Fareham Nomads Amateur Swimming Club’s Martin Bennell was an agonising 0.01 behind in 29.68.

Top event for records

One European record and four British records fell in the Women’s 50m Breaststroke event.

Dianne Ford, Spencer, set the European record in the 75-79 age group with a time of 45.87.

Second place went to Birmingham M’s Elaine Bromwich who clocked 1:10.07.

Helen Gorman, Cardiff Masters, won the 45-49 age group, setting a British record.

She clocked 33.85, while Lucy Ryan (Team Anglia) touched home in 35.71 to take the silver medal. The bronze went to Rachel Lloyd, of Rugby, in 37.29.

There was a considerably closer finish in the 30-34 age group as Georgina Heyn, of Teddington, clocked 31.73 to break another British record.

Second place went to City of Cambridge’s Kathryn Gill, who touched in 32.94, while Reading’s Fanny Pose finished third exactly one second later (33.94).

Carla King carried on the women’s British record breaking form in the 35-39 age group.

The South Beds swimmer finished in 34.16, with Emma Oliver (Kent Weald) behind her in 35.09. Emma Pearse secured third place with a time of 35.59.

One final British record fell in the 55-59 age group, this time to Hayley Bettinson’s time of 37.35 (Birmingham M).

A time of 39.57 was enough to secure the silver medal for Philippa Williams, of Wycombe District, and Frances West took bronze in 41.20.

Leatherbarrow on top form

Leatherbarrow completed his session two performance with a third British record, this time in the Men’s 200m IM.

He was the only competitor in the event and clocked 3:42.95.

Helen Gorman and Rachel Lloyd featured on the podium together for a second time as they finished first and second respectively in the women’s 200m IM 45-49 age group.

Gorman clocked 2:29.85 to secure another British record while Lloyd finished in a time of 2:30.88.

The bronze medal went to Justine Doody, of B C and P Masters, in a time of 2:47.51.

Amanda Heath, of Spencer, broke the three minute mark in the 60-64 age group and subsequently broke the British record.

She clocked 2:53.80 to finish ahead of Silver City’s Audrey Cooper who touched home in 3:01.53.

Jayne Ball, of Gloucestershire, took home the bronze medal in a time of 3:12.05.

Sophie Casson also secured herself another record, this time a British one.

She clocked 2:22.15 in the 30-34 age group, with Laura Molyneaux, of Fareham Nomads, finishing behind her in a time of 2:26.59.

Kathryn Gill, of City of Cambridge, finished third (2:28.09).

Top