Long Eaton Masters swimmers were out in force at last weekend’s East Midlands Challenge meet, which took place at Hucknall. The annual event sees county teams from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire compete for the trophy. This year Lincolnshire couldn’t manage to muster sufficient swimmers, a situation not unknown to Derbyshire.
As expected, Nottinghamshire A won. They had a huge squad with sufficient numbers to fill all events amply in both A and B teams. Derbyshire filled all individual events, but with some swimmers doing all four strokes in their age groups, and we had an empty lane for four relays. Despite that we came second, with Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire B behind us.
Long Eaton Masters ladies took part in 18 of the 20 individual races across five age groups, producing three first places, two second places, ten third places and three fourth places. In addition, the ladies, plus our sole male Long Eaton Masters competitor, Ian Frearson, took part in several relay teams.
There were a number of exciting swims, including Julie Phillips’ 60+ years 50m breaststroke, which she won by a whisker, and Mary Holland’s 50m freestyle swim on the last leg of the mixed 240+ medley relay, where she chased and caught a chap from Leicestershire to bag a second place for the team. Liz Simpson won the 40+ years 50m fly in another close race, and Maggi Tuck took a comfortable first place in 50+ years 50m back.
Final points totals were: Notts A 313, Derbys 244, Leics 240, Notts B 210, Northants 173.
