ARFON MASTERS NEWSLETTER
June 2006
For the latest information on your club: Arfon Masters web site www.arfonmasters.org.uk
Forthcoming Galas
20th Arfon Masters Open Meet, Bangor
Sat 30 September – a must for everyone!
Events included are: 50m and 100m for all strokes, plus 25m freestyle and 100m I.M. Also relays. In addition this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary a new event – 200 IM – will be offered. The club member who gets the time closest to the British record in their age group will win a trophy. Entry forms from either the web site or Mike Dilworth. Closing date for entries is 2nd September.
ASA National Short Course Championships
27-29th October, Ponds Forge, Sheffield
All sprints up to 200m, plus 400 IM and freestyle, 800m and 1500m freestyle.
Welsh Closed Masters Meet,
4th November Ystrad Rhondda Sports Centre, Ystrad, Rhondda
A great event for everyone as the purpose of the meet is to encourage swimmers of all abilities. For all the strokes the events are 25m, 50m or 100m. Entry forms on web site or from Mike Dilworth
WASA Postal Swim
July and August of this year will provide the opportunity for all Welsh clubs to swim 800m or 1500m freestyle in your own pool. What could be simpler – no travelling! These times are submitted to WASA for comparison and ranking with other Welsh club members. These are likely to take place during July and August in the Sunday sessions in Bangor and possibly Caernarfon. Dates are to be finalised. If you are interested in taking part, please let Gill Windle know.
A request from your coach
Please could swimmers aim to be ready on
the pool side to start training sessions on time. Where swimmers are unavoidably delayed can they make sure that their warm up does not
interfere with the other swimmers who started on time. There is time after the session to discuss things (over a well earned pint!).
New Trophies
This year we will have a number of new trophies. Two have been donated by each of the families of Edna Dilworth and Richard Jackson. These will be for the Open Water Swims. The third is one provided by the club to celebrate the 20th anniversary and will be in memory of Edna. This will be for the 200 IM event at the annual Arfon Gala.
International Masters
The ‘Olde Bangors’ comprising of Keith Rothwell and Anthony Howland came first in the two person relay team section of the 28.5 Manhattan Island Marathon swim in a time of 8:33:43.0. This fantastic result was not won easily. Despite the dedicated training put in over the past few months, the organisation of the event was less than satisfactory, and the water quality was disgusting, with raw sewage being just one of the obstacles. Despite this the dedicated duo have managed to raise around £8000 for Cystic Fibrosis, Guide Dogs for the Blind and the International Disasters Fund.
Other news…Top 10 in Britain
Based on the results of the 2005 competitive season, Mike Dilworth, Gill Windle and Baz Owen were ranked in the Top Ten British swimmers for their age groups for a number of short course events, and Mike Dilworth, Jan Albin and Baz Owen and Keith Rothwell ranked in the top ten for long course events.
Open Water Swims
WE NEED HELPERS AT THE FOLLOWING EVENTS. PLEASE LET JENNY, JAN OR CHRISTINE KNOW IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE.
The annual swim of the Menai Straits is scheduled for Sunday August 13th. It starts from Foel on Anglesey and finishes in Caernarfon (about 1 mile).
Another opportunity for a dip in the Straits is the Pier to Pier Open-water Swim. This is a timed swim across the Menai Staits from Beaumaris Pier to Bangor Pier (approx. 2 miles). It's tide-assisted and should take under 1 hour with each swimmer accompanied by kayaks. There's a trophy for the fastest across and certificates for the rest. This is scheduled for Saturday 29th July.
Both events are followed by an award ceremony and a party in the evening.
Competition Rewards
The committee recently decided that swimmers who compete at galas that help towards the Dragon Mark Performance Rating should be rewarded. A voucher scheme has been developed, vouchers will be issued for free training sessions. Arfon members who swim at either the ASA National Championships, GB Championships, Welsh Open Masters and the Welsh Closed Masters will qualify. Details to be finalised at next committee meeting. These must be used within 1 month of the date of issue.
GALA RESULTS
Welsh Open Masters Swimming Championships March 2006
Eleven Arfon Masters swimmers, their coach, and two fans battled the adverse weather conditions and headed for Swansea at the start of March. This long-course (50m pool) competition included swimmers from, amongst other countries, Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden and Portugal. Despite the atrocious weather conditions there was excellent competition for the swimmers in all age groups from the younger masters (19 – 24) to the older age group (90 and over). Many British and some World records were broken during this competition in the Wales National Pool, Swansea, which lasted 3 days and is the highlight of the Welsh Amateur Swimming calendar every year.
The Arfon team included swimmers in most age groups, from the younger age group to 75 yrs old and over and they were also responsible for creating some of the new Welsh records:
Stel Farrar from Dinorwic led the way by managing to break an amazing five Welsh long course records, Colette Price in the 50-54 age group broke the 50m Backstroke and Baz Owen broke two records in the 75-79 age group for the
50m Butterfly and 400m Individual Medley.
British Masters Swimming Championships June 2006
Five Afron members – Gill Windle, Mike Dilworth, Jason Cordingley, Stel Farrar and Baz Owen - attended this long course event in Manchester Aquatic Centre, the venue that hosted the Commonwealth Games. This event, along with the short course equivalent held in Sheffield later this year tends to attract the best of British Masters swimming. Although there were grumblings about the temperature of the water (too warm) the Arfon delegation managed to hold their ground. Gill Windle managed to secure 5th place in both the 1500m freestyle and the 200m backstroke (40-44); Stel Farrar was 2nd in the 200 fly with a new Welsh record, 3rd in the 400 IM, 4th in the 1500 free and 9th in the 100 free (45-49); Jason Cordingley was 1st in the 400 IM, 2nd in the 200 fly, 200 IM and 800 free (35-39); Baz Owen was 1st in the 200 with a new Welsh record and 1st 400 IM (75-79) and finally Mike Dilworth had a great competition. He was 3rd in the 1500 free, 4th in the 400 IM, 6th in the 200 back, 200 IM , 400 free and 800 free and 7th in the 200 free.
Useful Contact Numbers:
For coaching information:
Jenny Shaw 01248) 430811
Competitions:
Mike Dilworth
on( 01407) 831820 (evenings and week ends)
or (01407) 830060 (daytime)
Club secretary:
Christine Slater
(01286) 871 007
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