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!
Three months into the year and we already have nine swimmers who have broken Club records in ages spanning over sixty years.
Congratulations to Kan Kline Guia, Lucy Biscoe, Elijah Unsworth, Alice Buckingham, Sam Bradley, Mark Lewis, Dave Wright, Ian Stoughton & Graham Powell.
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…
2025 brought countless new individual best times, 35 Age Group and 38 Masters Club Records, together with 5 Eastern Region and 21 Beds County records.
Parents and swimmers should all take a moment to recognise their personal achievements. However, it would be remiss to not extend our appreciation to Dave Wright, Gary Smith, Izzy McCulloch, James Fuller, Jane Cattle, Matt Wright and Pauline Harrington. We could not have done what we did without you who turn up on poolside come rain, shine or on those frosty/ icy mornings!
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.
It may only be half way through the month of September but East Region, Beds County and Club records have already fallen.
Both 9 year old Lucy Biscoe and 12 year old Alice Buckingham broke age group Club records at the Sprint With The Stars meet at the London Aquatics Centre.
Club coaches Matt & Dave Wright have also featured in Masters’ Regional and Club record breaking races. Read the report from the Barnet Copthall meet for details of the “199 years’ record” and also the 1983 Masters record previously held by one of the Club’s longest standing members just broken by a Club newcomer.