Glasgow Goldmine

Event: British Gas Masters and Senior Age Group Championships (50m) Venue: Tollcross, Glasgow Date: 18th to 20th June 2010

Seven of Swindon Dolphin’s top Masters Swimmers were in Glasgow last weekend for the British Gas Masters and Senior Age Group Championships (50m) and between them brought home four British Masters records as well as an incredible 19 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze medals; a tally surpassed only by other teams with over twice the number of swimmers.

Anthony Clark got the ball rolling on the first day of competition with a clear win in the 100m breaststroke and went on to earn a second gold in the 200m event.  Also picking up his first gold on the Friday was Jon Audis in his signature swim, the 50m backstroke, which saw him touch home two seconds ahead of the rest of the field in a new club record time of 27.77 seconds.  Andy Evans opened his gold account in the 400m individual medley as did Kath Baker in a thrilling race that went down to the wire with the first three places separated by just 0.7 of a second.

The following day, Baker struck gold again in the 200m individual medley and in the mens event, Jon Audis put in a gutsy performance to take his second gold and a first ever individual British Masters record in a time of 2:13.36.

In the first block of relays, Audis and Baker were joined by Matthew Thomas and Louise Maynard to take gold in the 72+ years 4 x 50m mixed medley relay.  A tough relay programme meant Audis and Thomas competing again just minutes later in the 4 x 100m freestyle with John Drake and Andy Evans; the foursome picking up a silver behind an impressive Otters team in the 120+ years.  Later in the day, Drake,  Maynard, Baker and a fine anchor leg from Thomas, just touched out Swim West Lothian to take gold and set a new British Masters record in the 72+ years 4 x 100m mixed freestyle.

Relay success continued on the final day of competition with gold and mixed 72+ years British Masters records in the 4 x 200m freestyle (Maynard, Evans, Baker and Thomas) and 4 x 100m medley (Audis, Maynard, Baker, Thomas).  Further relay gold came in the 72+ years mixed 4 x 50m freestyle and the 120+ years mens 4 x 50m medley and there were other individual wins from Audis (50m butterfly, 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke), Evans (400m freestyle and 800m freestyle) and Baker (200m backstroke).

The Magnificent Seven ~ (left to right) Kath Baker, Matthew Thomas, Jon Audis, Andy Evans, Anthony Clark, Louise Maynard & John Drake

The focus for Dolphin Masters now turns to the training pool. With 18 weeks to the short course championships in Sheffield, all will be looking to go one better than before; whether seeking a first medal, British, European or World record, or just being part of a team that displays quality in depth wherever it competes.