Sudbury Valentines Masters Meet - 15th February 2003[2]
Paula with photos from Nick
A team of nine swimmers from Impington masters swimming club, plus a couple of loyal supporters, travelled to Sudbury for this masters gala.
The opening swim was from Georgia Knight in the 200m freestyle, knocking 4 seconds of her PB to win silver in her age group in a time of 3.11.09.
Adrian Pyke and Peter Rank swam in the men's event, Adrian winning a bronze in his age group with Peter not far behind, both finishing in under 2.55.
The 4 x 50m medley relay saw the Impington ladies win silver, with poor Liz drawing the blank straw again with the backstroke!
The 50m fly event came next with surprise gold for myself (42.22), and a bronze for Jo (43.90), and a silver for Liz (48.56) in her age group. This was the first event of three with Jo and Liz drawn in the same heats...who was going to lead?
Liz's little brother David stormed ahead in the 50m fly to win gold in his age group by almost 4 seconds (31.75)...must be something they put in the French water! Adrian also clocked up a good time (36.75) winning silver in this event.
The 100m breastroke saw all 4 ladies taking part, Liz clocking a fantastic time to win gold in 1.39.86. I won silver, with Jo missing out on a bronze. Georgia also picked up silver in her first 100m breastroke event - well done!!
The men's 100m breastroke event saw Adrian, Nick and Peter all in the same age group. Adrian won silver in a great time of 1.30.16, with Nick narrowly missing out on bronze (1.31.83) by under a second, and Pete finishing in 5th (1.45.42).
Then came the main event, the gents 4 x 50m medley relay...with Phil leading the way with the backstroke...but unfortunately got over excited and took off too early, the flyer leading our team to be disqualified...oh well!!
(Ed. - Billy no mates?)
The 4 x 25m IM ladies event saw Liz and Jo drawn in lanes next to each other, neck and neck for the first three lengths...until the final freestyle leg where Liz found some inspiration from another contender in this heat and won her heat in a time of 1.37.72 winning silver in her age group. I also won silver in a time of 1.31.30.
David won silver in his IM event, and Adrian winning bronze.
Liz and David both won gold in their 50m backstroke events, and Adrian finishing in 4th position.
The 8 x 50m canon relay ended the gala on a high note, but with several of the Impington men vanishing early (to the pub), the remaining team had to poach a few spare swimmers, and with David's goggles falling off and missing the wall on his turn, Sudbury won by a mere second...but everyone left the gala in high spirits with their medals (and a few white lies among the way) ready for a curry in Bury St Edmunds...Yum!!
Paula.