Day three of the British Gas Masters and Senior Age Group Championships (50m) didn’t fail to disappoint. Further records were set continuing the success from the previous two days in Cardiff.

The 400 IM was the first event of the day producing one European and two British records. Derek Parr, after clinching a World record yesterday, lowered the 400 IM British standard to 6:30.27 in the 65-69 years.

Similarly, Eddie Riach (Milngavie & B) added to his tally of British records taking gold in the 55-59 years category and lowering the record to 5:39.27.  

Eighty-five year old Don Leader (Oddicombe) had an excellent swim in the same event. Finishing in a respectable 10:38.32 he set a new European and British record for his age group.

The women’s 100m Freestyle saw Lindsey Gowland (Etwall) lower the British standard finishing in 1:07.05 in the 50-54 years age group. Second place went to City of Oxford’s Margaret Smith finishing in a time of 1:10.42 and Laura Hoodless (Sussex Marts) took third in 1:11.72.

Eighty-two year old Susan Halter (Camden Swiss) who competed in the 1948 Olympics swam well coming first in her age group clocking a time of 2:11.24.

Neil Hudghton (GB Police) had a good race in the men’s 200m Breaststroke. His finishing time of 2:33.97 was enough to secure the gold medal and a new British record. His nearest rival was Anthony Clark (Swindon) touching in 2:43.32 to take second place and closely followed by Neil Kemp (Hoylake) in 2:43.74.

The morning session concluded with the 4x50m Medley team relay. Swindon Dolphins and UEA City of Norwich fought a close battle in the men’s 72+ age group. However it was Swindon Dolphins that claimed victory touching in a time of 1:52.06 closely followed by UEA City of Norwich in 1:52.30. Third spot was taken by the Combined Services team in 1:57.16.

Similarly in the women’s 120+ years age group the Combined Services team edged out the team representing GB Police taking victory in 2:16.28 with GB Police touching in 2:16.77.

The Championships were held June 19 -21 with nearly 600 swimmers of all ages and abilities travelling to Cardiff International Pool for a weekend packed with spectacular swims and a number of records broken.

-ENDS-

World, European and British records were lowered on the second day of competition at Cardiff International Pool.

The highlight of the day came in the men’s 200m Butterfly. Derek Parr (Otter) swam an impressive race in the 65-69 years group clinching the title in a World record time of 2:47.60. Parr was certainly on top form having already lowered the British standard in the 100m Butterfly earlier in the day by touching in 1:11.65.

“I am absolutely thrilled” he said. “I felt good on the last set and felt it was on, I felt quite strong and I wanted to get it. I thought that I ought to be inside the British record, I thought the European was close and thought if it was going well the World record might be on but I wasn’t banking on it because it’s a tough race.”

The men’s 100m Butterfly brought another British record as well as a new European standard. Truro City’s Graeme Milne clocked 1:05.70 in the 55-59 years category to take gold and lower the British record.

Not to be outdone, Nicolus Vaughan (Combined Services) stole gold setting a new European record by touching in 1:00.52 in the 45-49 years category. His nearest rival in the same age group, Alec Johnson (Trafford Met), finished in 1:05.47.

Earlier in the day, two British records were taken in the 400m Freestyle. In the women’s event, Melanie Agius (Swindon Dolphins) touched in a time of 4:30.84 lowering the British record in the 19-24 years age group. She later went onto break the British record in the 800m Freestyle in 9:26.58.

Similarly, Calum McKinlay (Camden Swiss), in the 45-49 years category, took gold in the 400m in a time of 4:23.81 also lowering the British standard. Beckenham’s Robert Farish touched in second in a time of 4:47.17. McKinlay also took his second British record of the day in the 800m Freestyle completing the race in 9:11.85.

Following on from this, the 200m Backstroke saw Eddie Riach (Milngavie & B) continue his success from the 100m event on day one by lowering the British record to 2:35.84 in the 55-59 age group.

In the same event, Alan Jackson (Birmingham Masters) clinched a European record in 3:06.33 in the 70-74 age group. His good form was again proven by finishing the 200m IM in a British record breaking time of 3:10.68.

In the 35-39 years category David Warren (Sussex Marts) touched in a time of 2:15.96 lowering the men’s 200m IM British record in his age group.

John Tennant (Birmingham Masters) lowered the British record in the men’s 50m Freestyle, 70-74 years, by touching home in a time of 30.77 followed by Donald Leatherbarrow (Cinderford) in 32.40 and Kettering’s Roger Patrick in 34.69.

Records also fell in the relay events of the day. The mixed 4x50m Freestyle saw UEA City of Norwich steal a British record by finishing in 1:44.48 in the 72+ years age group. And in the mixed 4x50m Medley GB Police, 120+ years, followed suit by lowering the British standard to 1:59.22.  

Not forgetting the oldest male competitor, 85-year-old Don Leader (Oddicombe), who set a British record in the 200m Butterfly by finishing in a time of 5:55.76. By completing the race he became the first person to set a British record for this event in his age group.

In the final event of the day, the 800m freestyle, Thomas Smith (Maxwell) lowered the British standard in the 19-24 years category touching in 8:55.31.

The competition concludes tomorrow with sessions commencing at 9.00am and 1.00pm.

-ENDS-

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