Medal Success at the British Masters National Champs

Ten members of Swindon Dolphin Legend Squad, Nigel Masters, Jon Audis, Jo Blount, Liam Jefferies, Alison Nye, Sarah Forbes, Nikki Harris, Doug Alexander, Stuart Gibbs & Graham Perry attended this year’s British Masters National Swimming Championships in Swansea.

This competition represents the pinnacle of the Masters swimming season with the best Masters swimmers from around the country competing to secure National Titles and medals. The 10 strong team of Dolphin Legend swimmers did not disappoint and delivered a an unprecedented level of success, with a total of 26 National Medals, including 13 Gold, 9 Silver & 4 Bronze, together with 1 British record and a multitude of season’s best efforts, life time personal bests and the ‘whole’ team winning at least one national medal.

Defending National Champion Jon Audis dominated the backstroke events taking Gold in the Men’s 35-39yrs 50, 100 & 200m Backstroke; with some fine race skills off the walls. He then reinforced his all-round swimming ability by securing Gold in the 200m IM and Silver in the 100m Butterfly.

Nikki Harris proved dominant in the Ladies 50-55yrs age group with Gold in the 50m, 100m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke and a further Bronze in the 50m Breaststroke.

Legend Squad Lead Coach, Nigel Masters also claimed two individual medals from 2 swims with silver in the Men’s 45-49yrs 200m Breaststroke & Bronze in the 100m event. Fine individual performances saw Sarah Forbes take Bronze in the Ladies 45-49 yrs 100m Backstroke and Jo Blount rob a Bronze from Lane 1 in the ladies 30-34yrs 50m Breaststroke, with a superb second 25m effort after finishing 5th last year. National ‘Rookie’ and sprint freestyle Maestro, Graham Perry, who after a DQ for a technical infringement in his first ever national event, put that aside and delivered a season’s best time to take Bronze and his first individual National Medal in the Men’s 60-64yrs 50m Freestyle in a time of 31.01.

There was also great success in the team events with all 5 entered teams claiming National honours. The Ladies 160-199 yrs team of Sarah Forbes, Alison Nye, Jo Blount & Nikki Harris took gold & the national titles in both the 4x50m Freestyle & Medley relay events.

In addition, Nikki Harris set a new Ladies 50-55yrs 50m Freestyle British record on the lead off leg of the freestyle relay recording a time of 28.58.

The Men’s team of Doug Alexander, Nigel Masters, Stuart Gibbs & Jon Audis fought hard to earn a well-deserved silver in the 4x50m Freestyle relay against strong opposition in a very closely contested race.

Whilst the mixed teams of Sarah Forbes, Nigel Masters, Jon Audis & Nikki Harris secured a Silver in the Mixed 160-199yrs 4x100m Medley relay and then bronze in the Mixed 200-239 yrs 4x100m Freestyle Relay with Sarah, Nigel, Nikki being joined by Graham Perry making his Dolphin National Relay team debut

It was a fantastic weekend of team & individual success and a just reward for all those who competed, in addition to some great team spirit both in and out of the pool and promoting Swindon Dolphin as a Top Contender in National Masters Swimming.

Great Job!!

Swim Great! Look Great!! Feel Legendary!!!

Nigel Masters Lead Coach – Masters Legend Squad