Congratulations to Graham Powell and Karen Mackenzie who were both victorious in their age groups at the 2026 GB Masters in Aberdeen.
A total of five medals were brought home….albeit at different times, as detailed in the full report.
It was so often a case of times that were “so very near but not quite” for most, but not all, of our Masters’ swims at the Reading Masters SC Meet.
They still came away with nine medals and saw one of the Club’s County relay records stay intact – but only just!
Team Luton rocked up in force to Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club’s 2nd Open Masters Winter Meet, with eight of our master swimmers treating it as our new “local” and casually bagging 6 gold, 5 silver and 6 bronze medals from just 22 swims. Not a bad day at the office… or in this case, the slightly chaotic swimming pool.
With thanks to our special correspondent, Mark Lewis, read on…
Tom Burns travelled to Poland to compete in the European Masters Short Course Championships where he produced a lifetime best by almost eight seconds in his 200m Individual Medley.
Sam Bradley didn’t travel quite as far earlier in the month to set new County Long Course figures for the 30-34 years’ 1500m Freestyle at the East Midlands Masters championships. It brought the Club’s total of individual Masters County records set in the year to 25.
Seven medals and seven Club Masters ‘ records – not all in the same events- were achieved at the 2025 Swim England National Masters championships together with a chance encounter with a “Geordie speaking” Darth Vader!
Read here for a full report on yet another year of highly creditable performances.
Two of our Masters swimmers have demonstrated it is never too late to take up a fresh challenge.
In her first competitive swim, Nicola Monk came 7th in her 50-54 years’ age group in the Serpentine 2 Miler in a time of 1:01.44.
Aged 65 Alastair Gibb has swum his first ever 200m Butterfly. His swim at the Sth East Regional Masters saw him not only beat the County’s 65-69 years’ record but also, subject to ratification, claim the East Region’s record for that age group.
Congratulations to both Mark Lewis and Graham Powell who smashed long-standing records at the 30th Berks & South Bucks Masters Meet.
Having added Ulster earlier in the year, Mark Lewis ensured Singapore was included in the Beds County database of locations for its Masters Long Course records.
Competing in three races over 50m, Mark set new County Masters’ figures for the 50m Butterfly whilst also smashing his own Club Long Course Breaststroke record.
All nine of our Masters squad who competed at the 35th Barnet Masters Distance Meet had their names added to the Beds County Masters Records with a total of five individual and four relay records being claimed. For both Rachael Donlan and Tom Burns that was their first County Masters Record recognition.
Achieving relay records was one of two principal challenges set before the Meet; the other was racing a 200m Butterfly for the first time. Read here to find who was “brave’ enough to take it on!
Friday 13th proved to be far from being an unlucky day for our Masters down in London at the British Masters championships. By the end of the Meet three days later, the six swimmers had brought home two gold, five silver and two bronze medals with three East Region, ten County and thirteen Club records to their name. Read here for the full details.
