European Masters Championships CLOSE with 13 medals & 28 Records FOR OTTER

Otter swimmers picked up 13 European Championship medals, 4 British Records & 24 Otter Club records this week. 

Dave Warren, Roger Lloyd-Mostyn & Derek Parr took home 3 medals each, from their 3 individual swims. Dave finished the Championships with 1 gold, 45-49 Years 200m Butterfly – 2:16.44, two silvers 45-49 Years 200m Freestyle – 2:01.74 & 200m Individual Medley – 2:14.94 & 3 British Records. Roger collected a medal of each colour winning gold in the 75-79 years 100m Butterfly - 1.36.50, silver in the 100m Freestyle 1.20.03 & Bronze in the 50m Butterfly 38.75. Derek Parr took home a gold in the 70-74 years 100m Butterfly 1.21.35, & bronze medals in the 200m Fly 3:30.50 & the 50m Fly 34.34. Amazing work swimming gentleman!

The Otter Ladies 4x50 Freestyle relay teams also enjoyed some brilliant results on a very exciting day 2 of the Championships. The 120+ team of Lex Higlett, Olivia Reynolds, Laure Kearns & Catherine Demont won gold in the 120+ age group in 1:54.55. While the 160+ team of Gina Hobson, Emma Shkurka, Jane McMenemy & Fiona Marshall Staines won silver in the 160+ age group in a British Record setting time of 1:56.41. 

Hayley Davis & Peter Kirk both picked up bronze medals, Peter in the 60-64 years 100m Freestyle 1:03.82 & Hayley in the ladies 30-34 years 800m Freestyle in 9:58.03. Brilliant work

There were also 24 Otter club records broken this week, with records broken in all but 3 of the age groups. Dave Warren once again lead the way breaking records pretty much every time he hit the water. Dave broke Otter 45-49 age group records in all 3 of his individual swims; 200 Free (56.58), 200 Fly (2:16.44), 200IM (2.14.94) and also broke the 50m Free record (25.51) in a relay. Craig Gillespie, Hayley Davis & Roger Lloyd-Mostyn broke 3 records each, Craig claiming the 200IM (2:19.52), 50 Breast (30.68), 100 Breast (1:09.72) records in the 25-29 age group. Hayley breaking records in the 30-34 age group for the 800 Free (9:58.03), 200 Back (2:31.95), 200 Fly (2:31.24). Roger Lloyd-Mostyn in the 100 Free (1.20.03), 50Fly (38.75), 100Fly (1.36.50).

Jane McMenemy broke the 200 (2:29.57) & 400 (5:19.76) records for the 45-49 age group with her two individual swims, and was part of the British Record Silver medal winning 160+ 4x50 relay team. 

Maddie Parra broke the 25-29 200 Fly record (2:37.83), Ollie Caldwell the 30-34 100 Fly (1.02.52), Christophe Amardeilh the 35-39 200 Back (2:32.20), Fiona Marshall Staines the 35-39 50 Breast (37.35), Emma Cartwright 40-44 50 Fly (39.91) John Paulson 50-54 400 free (4:50.74), Guy David 55-59 100 Fly (1:08.47), Peter Kirk 60-64 100m Free (1.03.82) & Bob Thomas the 70-74 years 50 Back (41.35).

Congratulations to everyone who swam for Otter at the championships. Whether you won a medal, broke a British Record, Otter Record, got a top ten finish, a personal best, or just had fun competing hope you had a brilliant time. As Dave Warren said, this sport isn't just about one person racing in a lane in a pool, it is a collective with lots of great people, common goals and shared experiences and better for it. All those who have entered and swam will have your own stories to tell for many years to come, I'm sure this event will live in the memories for years where for other events the memories will fade. 
 

Dave Warren led the Otter team with a brilliant week in the pool Congrats Dave. 

EUROPEAN MASTERS DAY 5 WRAP UP

The final day of the European Masters was another busy day with lots of Otters in action.  

200 Breast
Five Otters competed in the 200 Breastroke. Enrico Hahn & Christophe Amardeilh were in the 35-39 age group. Enrico finished 14th with a time of  2:40.57, while Christophe Amardeilh finished in 2:53.96 for 29th.  Liz Shaw put down a solid swim (3.28.00) in the 50-54 to finish 20th. Camille Vrain overcame sickness to swim a 3:03.28 & finish 30th in the 25-29th age group, while Lesley Davis finished 37th in the ladies 55-59. 

50 Free
Gina Hobson was the fastest of the Otter ladies in the 50m free clocking 28.99 for 11th in the 35-59. Emma Shkurka & Olivia Reynolds finished 1st & 3rd in their heat swimming 29.15 & 29.43 to finish 13th & 19th in the 30-34 age group.  Astrid Wharton came in at 38.37 to finish 141st in the 45-49. Josh Sambrook-Smith was again the fastest Otter male sprinter with a 26.08 (49th) in the 30-34s. Ben Pardoe (25-29) finished in 26.41 for 71st, Olivier Gelgoc (40-44) swam 26.99 for 31st, Simon Williams did a 28.72 in the 50-54s while Bob Thomas came 21st in the 707-74s with a 36.35. 
 
100 Backstroke
Laure Kearns & Katie Kerr finished 11th & 12th respectively in the ladies 30-34 age group. Laure finishing in a time of 1:12.73, Katie in 1:13.51. Liz Redpath also finished 12th in the 70-74 with a time of 2:02.49 while Ben Thomas swam a speedy 1:06.37 to finish 21st in the mens 30-34 years age group. 

Mens & Ladies 4x50 Medley relays
The Otter 160+ Ladies team who won silver & broke the British Record in the 4x50 free relay on Day 2 of the championships almost did it again tonight. The dream team of Gina Hobson (34.77), Fiona Marshall Staines (36.22), Emma Shkurka (30.57) & Jane McMenemy (29.56) broke their second British record swimming 2:11.12 however unfortunately the team who finished 3rd was also British, so the record went to them. The Otter mens 120+ Medley Relay team: Ben Thomas (30.70), Wade Rimbach (32.71), Ollie Caldwell (27.36) & Josh Sambrook-Smith (25.21) finished 16th in a division with some very quick teams. Well done to everyone who competed in the championships. 

Mens 4x50 Medley Relay: Ollie, Ben, Josh & Wade

Gina ready for the ladies 4x50 medley relay

Enrico 14th in the 200 Breast

EUROPEAN MASTERS DAY 4 WRAP UP

Day 4 was another big day at the London Aquatic Centre for Otter with 3 medals, 5 new club records & lots of good swims. 

200 Back
Hayley Davis picked up her 3rd Otter record of the meet with a 2:31.95 in the 200 Backstroke, finishing 7th in the 30-34 age group. Katie Kerr was 6th in the same age group with a time of 2:42.31 while Liz Redbath was 9th in the 70-74 in 4:21.06. Ben Thomas (2:25.60) was 18th in the 30-34, Wade Rimbach two spots behind in 20th (2:26.10) & Christophe Amadeilh set a new Otter club record in the 35-39 years 2:32.20 finishing 28th.

50 Fly
Roger Lloyd-Mostyn picked up a bronze medal in the 75-79 age group setting a new club record of 38.75. Derek Parr (34.34) also picked up his 3rd medal of the competition, a bronze in the 70-74. Emma Cartwright set a new club record of 39.91 in the  40-44 age group. Gina Hobson (31.80) was 17th in the 35-39 years, Emma Shkurka (31.64) was 18th in the ladies 30-34. Ollie Caldwell & Russell Woolley swam exactly the same time 27.87 to finish equal 33rd in the 30-34. Olivier Geleoc (29.60) was 46th in the  40-44 years, Ben Pardoe (28.12) was 54th in the 25-29 group while Simon Williams (33.84) finished 80th in the 50-54 years. 

100 Free
Roger Lloyd-Mostyn continued his stellar form picking up his second medal of the day. This one was silver in 75-79 with a time of 1:20.03. Peter Kirk was 3rd in the 60-64 years setting a new club record of 1:03.82. Lex Higlett (1.02.24) & Gina Hobson (1.02.91) both finished in the top 10 of their age groups with Lex finishing 7th in the 30-34 & Gina placing 9th in the 35-59. Laure Kearns was 15th in the 30-34 years with a 1:03.96, Olivia Reynolds (1:05.07) was 24th & Diaga Taurite (1:18.08) was 104th in in same age group. Catherine Demont continued her great form in the freestyle & was the fastest Otter lady over 100m with a 1:01.70 finishing 16th in the 25-29 years age group, while Jess Trevellick finished 46th in 1:05.96. Josh Sambrook-Smith's 56.74 was the fastest male Otter swim, Josh finished 23rd in the 30-34. Ollie Caldwell backed up from his 50Fly to swim 58.13 and finish 39th, Mike Reys was 35th in the 40-44 with a 59.70.  Christophe Amarfeilh was  67th in the 35-39 with a 1:00.93. Simon Williams was 71th in the 50-54 swimming a 1:05.24. Etienne Cambier (58.72) was 84th in the 25-29, Gergely Orosz (1:01.61) was 95th in the 30-34 and Yuri Schwartz (1:01.40) was 141st in the 25-29 age group. 

400 Free women
Five Otter ladies competed in the 400 free. Lex Higlett finished 5th in the 30-34 age group with a time of 4:53.65, Jess Thorpe was 10th in the same age group swimming a 5:02.20. Lesley Cook was 14th in the 55-59 finishing in 6:10.39 while Jane McMenemy was 15th in the 45-49 with a time of 5:19.76. Anne-Marie Benoy swam a 6:01.18 to finish 78th in the youngest 25-29 age group. 

4x50 Mixed Free relay
The Otter 160+ mixed freestyle relay team of Dave Warren (25:51), Mike Reys (26.46), Emma Shkurka (28.17), Gina Hobson (28.15) finished 5th in a time of 1:48.29 beating the younger 120+ team by 0.11. The 120+ team of Josh Sambrook-Smith (26.15), Wade Rimbach (26.28), Catherine Demont (27.82), Lex Higlett (28.15) finished 8th with a 1:48.40. The younger team would like a re-race please oldies. 

Otter 120+ Mixed Free team: Josh, Wade, Catherine & Lex 

EUROPEAN MASTERS DAY 3 WRAP UP

More medals & record on Day 3 of the European Masters Swimming Championships in London.

200 Fly
Dave Warren saved his best for last. Picking up his 3rd medal & 3rd British record of the meet winning the mens 45-49 years 200m Fly in 2:16.44. Congratulations Dave on 3 brilliant swims. Derek Parr picked up his 2nd medal with bronze in the 70-74 years in a time of 3:30.50. Hayley broke her 2nd Otter club record finishing 6th in the 30-34 years age group in 2:31.24. Maddie Parra also broke an Otter club record, in the 25-29 years age group finishing 11th in 1:37.83.

50 Back
Bob Thomas broke the Otter 70-74 years record swimming a 41.31 to finish 9th, while Henry Fincher was 54th in the 30-34 years age group with a 33.55. 

100 Breast
Craig Gillepsie broke his second 25-29 Otter breastroke record of the meet swimming a 1:09.72 to finish 17th. Liz Shaw was 23rd in the 50-54 with a 1:33.97, Enrico Hahn was 30th in the 35-39 with a 1:14.91 & Sanja Pavloska was 41st in the ladies 35-39 with a 1:31.33. 

400 Free (Mens)
4 Otters competed in the mens 400 freestyle. John Paulson set a new Otter record of 4:50.74 for the 50-54 age group. Peter Kirk finished 10th in the 60-64 age group with a 5:19.12, Nico Barber was 24th in the 30-34 with a 4:44.53, while Yuri Schwartz was 28th in the 25-29s with a 4:50.05.

4x50 Mixed Medley Relay
The Otter 120+ team of Wade Rimbach (30.43), Craig Gillespie (30.46),  Emma  Shkurka (30.91) & Catherine Demont (27.63) smashed their heat with a 1:59.43 and some impressive splits. A nervous 4 heats later they were still in the lead, only to be pipped in the final heat of the age group to finish 8th. 

Well done to all swimmers. Awesome day of records & personal bests!

EUROPEAN MASTERS DAY 2 WRAP UP

Day 2 was a massive day for Otter at the European Masters Championships. The team picked up 3 gold medals, 2 silver medals, 2 British records & 7 Club records. 

100 Fly
Roger Lloyd-Mostyn & Derek Parr picked up Otters first gold medals of the championships in the 100m fly. Roger won the 75-79 age group in 1.36.50 which was also a new Otter club record. Derek won the 70-74 age group in 1.21.35. Guy came 9th in the 55-59 in 1.08.47, Catherine got a lifetime PB of 1.09.97 to finish 15th in the 25-29years. Ollie also set a new club record of 1.02.52 for the 30-34 age group finishing 18th. Michelle finished 21st in the ladies 35-39 years.

200 Free
Dave Warren picked up his second silver medal & second GB record of the meet, and set a new club record with a 2.01.74 in the mens 40-45 years 200m Freestyle. Lex Higlett was 4th in the 30-34years with a 2.16.26, Peter Kirk was 7th in the 60-64 with a time of 2.26.19, Catherine Demont finished 11th in 25-29 after winning her heat comfortably in 2.16.52, Jane McMenemy broke the Otter club record for the 45-49 with a 2.29.57 to finish 15th. Josh Sambrook-Smith was 22nd in the 30-34 in 2.08.06, Jess Travelleck was 29th in the 25-29 in 2.23.90, Etienne Cambier was 42nd in the 25-29 in 2.11.87, Liz Shaw was 47th in the 50-54 in 2.47.75 & Gergely Orosz was 78th in the 30-34 in 2.22.62. 

50 Breast
Fiona Marshall Staines & Craig Gillespie were the lone Otters competing in the 50m Breaststroke. Fiona picked up an Otter record with a time of 37.35 to finish in 13th, while Craig swam a rapid 30.68, finishing 17th, and breaking the Otter record in the 25-29 years age group.

And then it was time for the 4x50 free relays.
The 160+ Ladies team of Gina Hobson, Emma Shkurka, Jane McMenemy, Fiona Marshall Staines smashed it with 4 impressive swims to take silver in 1.56.41. 

Not wanting to be outdone the Otter 120+ team of Lex Higlett, Olivia Reynolds, Laure Kearns, Catherine Demont took to the pool. The team went into the last 50m in a tight 4th, but Catherine chased them down in a strong anchor leg to finish second in 1.54.55, 0.2 behind by the Italians. However an early take off by the Italian second swimmer got the team disqualified & Otter rightfully took the gold!

The mens 200+ teamf of 1.51.88 Mike Reys, Simon Williams, Peter Kirk, Guy Davis finished 16th in 1.51.88, while the 120+ team of Ollie Caldwell, Wade Rimbach, Ben Pardoe, Josh Sambrooke-Smith won their heat in 1.42.95 to finish 18th. 

Huge congratulations to everyone who swam today. So many brilliant individual and team swims. Keep it up Otters!

Derek Parr with his 100fly gold medal!

Gold Medallists Ladies 120+ Relay, Olivia, Lex, Catherine & Laure.

Silver Medallists 160+ Ladies Otter relay, Gina, Emma, Jane & Fiona.

Gold Medallists Ladies 120+ Relay team, Olivia, Lex, Catherine & Laure.

Otter ladies 4x50 relay teams

Dave Warren picking up more silverware this time for the 200 free.

Craig sets a new club record in the 50 breast.

EUROPEAN MASTERS DAY 1 WRAP UP

Plenty of Otters in day 1 action at the European Masters Championships today.

200IM

Dave Warren kicked off the champs with a massive swim in the 200IM. Dave's time of 2:14.94 saw him pick up a European silver medal in the mens 45-49 years age group, an Otter club record & set a new masters PB for Dave.

Dave wasn't the only Otter swimming PBs, setting records & getting top 10 finishes in the 200IM. Emma Shkurka swam a 2:40.91, to place 8th in the ladies 30-34 age group. Craig also set a new club record in the 25-29 years, 2:19.52, finishing 10th. Wade (12th) & Enrico (16th) both posted impressive times finishing 12th & 16th in their respective age group whileEtienne (28th), Lesley (29th), Camille (30th) & Oliver (31st) all had great swims.

800 Free

Haley Davis stormed the 30-34years 800 free taking Bronze in an Otter club record time of 9.58.03. Jess Thorpe was 8th in the same age group with a time of 10.18.52. Pip Bennett was 17th in the Mens 30-34 with a time of 9.50.57. Meanwhile back in pool 2 Jess Trevellick went out hard in her 25-29 years and then just kept going, winning her heat easily & finishing 26th, while Anne-Marie finished 56th in the same age group. 

Congrats to all Otters who braved the lines, crowded warm ups and swam. Brilliant results from everyone.
 

EUROPEANS LIVE STREAM & RESULTS

The 2016 European Masters Championships has started! Watch all the action in both pools on the live streams here. And keep up to date with all the results here.