On Remembrance Sunday a small team of Dorset Masters swimmers made the trip to Millfield for the South West Region round of the National Inter-County Masters Competition. The team comprised of nine men and 17 women from the following clubs: Poole (9), Seagulls (6), Weyport (4), Swim Bournemouth (3), Weymouth (1) and Wareham (1). With so few men on the team, including no men in the 25-34 years or 65 years age group, the event was always going to be a challenge but the team hoped to improve on Dorset’s National position of 28th last year.
On the day, Dorset finished in fifth place in the South West just one point behind Somerset. When the National results were collated Dorset finished in a creditable 23rd place just in front of county neighbours Somerset and a move up of five places from 2023. Next year the aim is to make the top 20!
Top ten National placings were as follows: 2nd – Liam Small (35+) 50m Backstroke; 5th – Viv Jones (65+) 50m Freestyle, Alex Sims (35+) 50m Butterfly, Liam Small (35+) 50m Butterfly; 6th Alex Sims (35+) 50m Breaststroke; 7th Liam Small (35+) 50m Freestyle; Liam Small (35+) 50m Breaststroke; 8th Tilly McHugh (18+) 50m Butterfly, Mixed 260+ Years Freestyle Relay (Clare, Viv, Neil and Andy); 9th Viv Jones (65+) 50m Butterfly, Female 140+ Years Medley Relay (Basia, Alex, Fiona, Sian), Female 140+ Years Freestyle (Sarah, Basia, Alex, Sian).
Dorset County hats were awarded to 17 swimmers for First County Selection and Dorset County lead crystal cubes were awarded to four swimmers (Andrew Small, Jude Barton, Kelly Stocker and Dorset County President Karen Yendole) for their third time representing the County since the records were started in 2020.