Masters World Record Falls at British Masters Championships

MANCHESTER, England, June 15. THE British Masters Championships and Senior Age Group Championships kicked off in Manchester with a World record in the pool.

Spencer Swim Team member Amanda Heath swam in the 50-54 age group in the 200m individual medley and the 200m breaststroke event. In the last event of the day, Heath claimed the first World record of the competition in the 200m breaststroke. She smashed the record in a time of 3:03.11 seconds.

In the 200m individual medley she claimed a new European and British record in a time of 2:48.87 seconds.

"My main aim for today was to claim records in my events and I gained a World and European record," she said. "I wanted to go faster in the 200m breaststroke but I still got the record and that is great. I am very pleased.

"I came here aiming to claim records and I will be looking to build on this performance over the weekend. The two records are all I could have asked for on my first day of competition."

Penny Webster, who swims for Kingston Royals, smashed the European and British Record in the 65-69 age group with an impressive swim in the 1,500m freestyle.

She took the record in 24:31.20 seconds beating the previous record by 12 seconds.

Webster was thrilled with her time and her new European record.

"I am absolutely delighted with my swim today," she said. "It was a brilliant swim and a great way to start the weekend. I have broken Jane Asher's record for the 1,500m and I am really happy with that. I train with her and I know she will be happy for me.

"I actually swam better than I was expecting because I never expected to smash the record by that much."

The men's 200m breaststroke saw a new European and British record claimed in the 25-29 age group by Chris Jones (Swindon Dolphins).

"That was a great swim," he said. "I am very pleased, I am looking forward to the European Masters Championships in the summer. However I am currently focussing on the rest of the weekend and I am aiming to claim a world record."

In the men's 200m individual medley Simon Veale claimed a new British record in the 50-54 age group in a time of 2:26.81.

"I am really happy to have claimed a record in my first swim of the weekend," said Veale. "I feel I swam better than last year but I feel I have more to give. I am looking to improve over the weekends and hopefully claim more records. I am competing in the 200m freestyle tomorrow morning. It is going to be tough but I know what I have to do."

King's Cormorants swimmer Jane Asher started her weekend with a strong swim in the 75-79 age group in the women's open 200m individual medley. She completed the race in a time of 3:38.78 seconds, finishing just outside of world record time.

"I found it hard work today," said Asher. "I am pleased but I found myself in a tough heat, I wanted to go out easier this year as I worked so hard last year. I have had a problem with my shoulder and I think this may have slowed me slightly. But it is a lovely pool to compete in and I am really looking forward to the rest of the weekend."

Special thanks to British Swimming for contributing this report.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x