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arfon masters

swimming club

Past Events & Results

ASA Masters and Senior Age Group Championships (25m), Ponds Forge Sheffield, 24th - 26th October 2008
Stel Farrar was Arfon Masters' sole representative at this important meet in the swimming calendar. She did both her club and herself proud, however, coming first with a gold medal and a new Welsh record in the 45-49 age group with a time of 20:41.85 in the long and gruelling 1500m freestyle. Congratulations Stel!

Arfon Masters 22nd Open Meet, 27th September 2008 - download results.
A record number of clubs were represented at this year's Arfon Gala. They included large turn-outs from the Irish Aer Lingus SC, City of Coventry, Etwall Eagles, Nottingham Leander, Shrewsbury, Stalybridge and Halton as well as swimmers from Coventry, Macclesfield, Mold, Howbridge Marlins etc. It was great to see so many keen Masters swimmers coming to North Wales and many thanks to all for helping to make it such a wonderful day. The competition was hot and the social fun.

Despite the tough competition the Arfon team managed to win the trophy back for the top team.  This was secured through strong individual performances from Jason Cordingley (2nd 35-39); Keith Rothwell (2nd 55-59); Jim Robinson (3rd 65-69); Gill Windle (1st 40-44); Alison Donnelly (3rd 40-44); Stel Farrar (1st 45-49); Loiuse Jones (3rd 50-54); Helen Hughes (3rd 65-69); Ann Whatham (2nd 80-84); plus Bronwen Griffiths, Bridget Edwards, Pam Stanley, Oggy East, Nefyn Williams, Mike Pepper Mike Dilworth, Christine Slater and Charles Bishop. Combined efforts across a number of relays saw the Arfon swimmers achieve the winning points.

From the Arfon team new meet records were set by Ann Whatham (80-84) in the 200IM and 25m Freestyle and by Gill Windle (40-44) in the 50m Freestyle. Gill also set a new Welsh record in this event of 30.25 secs.



Jim demonstrating his best dive.


Alison and Lynne, two of the hard-working timekeepers. A very special thanks to all the officials, organisers and helpers who gave up their spare time to make it all happen.


Charles has a problem while Mike Pepper and Nefyn look anxiously on!!


Allison working hard at breaststroke


It's a first competition for Pom - well done!


Louise and Keith prepare for the mixed medlay relay.


Oggy can't believe his time!


Stel and Allison have a chat


Bridget's second Arfon Gala and improving all the time!


A brave first competition for Bronwen


Sixteen swimmers from Arfon Masters competed against strong opposition from the away clubs but in the end we managed to wrestle back the trophy from Halton, last year's winners.



Some of Arfon's swimmers and helpers: Mike Dilworth, Ann Whatham, Louise, Gill, Stel, Lynne Stuart, Christine, Trixie (hidden), Pom, Jim, half of Alison and Oggy using the table as a prop after his exhausting swims!! It must all been too much for him!  

 
Etwall Eagles won the shield for the fastest cannon.


and Aer Lingus SC won the trophy for the best overseas club


Ann Whatham - 80 next month and still swimming and enjoying life.


Special thanks to Trixie for running the computer-side of the gala so efficiently and without the help of Sue who was greatly missed and whom we now realise worked so hard at it in the past. Hurry on back to swimming Sue! 


It was a great social and thanks to Louise for organising it and to Nick Stuart for the disco.

Unfortunately a few of our top swimmers were unable to attend due to injury etc. We all missed you Jan, Mair, Baz, Anthony and Lucy.
Lastly many many thanks to Gill Windle, Chair of Arfon Masters who took over from Sue this year and got us all organised.

Download Male Individual Scores
Download Female Individual Scores
 
Straits Swim, 20th July 2008
It was the usual grey, cool British summer's day for our annual race from Foel, Anglesey to the Royal Welsh Yacht Club jetty at Caernarfon. Nevertheless crowds turned-up to watch the 20 brave swimmers, plus the 20 kayakers, cross over the Straits. At least this year it didn't rain but the sea hadn't exactly warmed up! Despite the cold all 20 made it across with Claire back in the winning position again this year after briefly having to forfeit the winner's cup last year. Congratulations again to Claire and also special mention must be made of Taliesin Farrar who managed 4th place (only 2 places behind his Mum) and at the age of 13 won the Male under 25 Trophy and raised over £300 for Multiple Sclerosis - a fantastic swim.
Congratulations also to the other new-comers to the race, Brian Thomas (5th), Robert Wright (8th), Claire Tuck (10th), Haf Owen and also Niel Davies (15th) from Torquay. Well done to all the competitors who received their certificates and tropies from ex-mayor of Caernarfon Ioan Thomas in the Royal Welsh Yacht Club after the swim. Thanks to those at the club for supplying the delicious soup to the competitors on such a cool day.
The sun managed to appear at the BBQ at Louise's house in the evening. Thanks to Louise for managing to host such an enjoyable social after having swum the race.

Results
1st Claire Wilson in 27.03
2nd Stel Farrar in 28.54
3rd Maike Dilworth in 31.40
4th Taliesin Farrar in 32.25
5th Brian Thomas in 33.29
6th Mike Pepper in 33.35
7th Keith Rothwell in 34.13
8th Robert Wright in 34.15
9th Dafydd Jones in 35.54
10th Claire Tuck in 36.14
11th David Hughes in 36.48
12th Wyn Rowlands in 36.59
13th Jan Albin in 37.08
14th Haf Owen in 37.09
15th Niel Davies in 37.51
16th Louise Jones in 38.33
17th Steve Bristow in 39.08
18th Lucy Hale in 39.24
19th Nefyn Williams in 39.58
20th Allison Donnelley in 41.48  



Winner Claire


2nd place Stel


3rd Place and 1st male home, Mike Dilworth 



Junior Male Champion and 4th Place, Taliesin


All coming in together, Robert, Brian and Keith



Brian and Mike Pepper, reluctant to leave the water!


3rd woman in and 10th overall, Claire


Louise (16th) nearly there.


Nefyn obviously enjoyed every minute of it!
Photos Alan and Rowan Crawshaw

British Masters, Manchester Aquatic Centre, 20th-22nd June

Four Arfon Masters swimmers competed in the British Masters Long Course Championships held at the Aquatics Centre in Manchester, which was originally built for the Commonwealth Games. The event was well supported and the competition was of a high standard with new British, European and World records being set.

Arfon females Stel Farrar from Dinorwig and Gill Windle from Bethesda achieved great success with 2 National (Welsh) records and 9 medals between them. This sees making the top 10 in the British rankings for each of their events. 
Stel Farrar had  superb gold medal winning swims in the 800m and 1500m freestyle event in the 45 – 49 years age group and currently is ranked 1st for these efforts. Stel collected medals of all three hues with silver medals in the 200 metres fly and 100m freestyle and bronze medals in  200 metres individual medley and the 100 metres butterfly.
Gill Windle competing in the 40 – 44 years age group lowered her existing Welsh record time in her age group in the 50 metres freestyle in which she finished 2nd in a strong field with a time of 30.93 seconds. Unfortunately the record and gold medal position was grabbed by a Cardiff swimmer who finished just 1/100th second faster! She won the bronze medal in the 200 metres butterfly, setting a new Welsh record . Gill she also set a new record in the 100m freestyle, and got personal best times and 4th place for the 200 IM and the 400 freestyle.
Oggy East from Tregarth, competing in the 40-44 age group was very pleased with his efforts in achieving three personnal best times in t
he 200m IM, 50m breaststroke and 200m freestyle. The latter improved considerably by a massive total of 12 seconds! He also swam well in the 200 freestyle and 50m butterfly, despite the intense competition in his age group.  
Despite having not swum in a 50m pool before, Bridget Edwards, new to the world of competitive swimming, was very pleased with her efforts in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke for the 45-49 age group. The contributions of all of the swimmers at this event enable Arfon Masters swimming club to meet performance criteria set by Swim Wales.

The Arfon Masters Team

Stel, Bridget, Oggy and Gill - the Arfon Masters Team

The glamorous medal winners

The glamorous medal winners!

Text - Gill Windle. Photos - Oggy East

Download DM results

Aer Lingus Masters, Dublin, 23rd-24th May

Five enthusiastic female swimmers from Arfon Masters braved the unpredictable Irish Sea and crossed over to Dublin for a week-end of fun!! First came the swimming with amazing results from all especially Gill Windle who came first in all seven of her events! Between them they managed 22 medals won the best overseas team award for the second year running. Congratulations to Gill and also Lynne Stuart, Bridget Edwards, Mair Martin and Allison Donnelly. After the swim the girls were let loose on the town!!

The Dublin Team

Photo - Mair Martin

Download the DM results

World Masters, Perth, Australia, 18th-24th April 

Globe-trotters Baz and Oggy travelled across to the other side of the world to compete in this year's World Masters.  Despite the huge competiton they swam well, Baz gaining positions in the first ten and Oggy achieving PB's in 100 Free and 50 Fly. Congratulations to both.

Results

Baz  Owen - 400 IM    7th in a time of 10:08.74

                    200 IM    9th in a time of 4:45.16

                    200 BK    8th in a time of 4:37.80

Oggy East - 100 FS     90th in a time of 1:13.49

                    50 FS       94th in a time of 32:63

Baz Diving

Baz Diving

Oggy Posing

Oggy Posing!

Photos - Oggy East

Download Arfon Masters Welsh LC records 2007

Download Arfon Masters Welsh SC records 2007

Welsh Open Masters, Swansea National Pool, 29th February - 2nd March
Four swimmers from Arfon Masters travelled south to compete in the Welsh Open Championships in National Pool, Swansea and amassed a impressive haul of medals gaining first places in eleven individual events and two relays. Team members also gained podium places in a further seven events, bringing the tally to 18 medals.

Winning Team


Highlights included Alli Donnelly (41) from Dinorwig winning the 200m breast stroke and Oggy East (40) from Tregarth retaining the 100m breast stroke title he won in 2007. Baz Owen (78) from Llanfairfechan also secured first place in the 200m breast stroke as well as winning three other individual events. 

Allison

Allison

Oggy - mug shot!

Oggy's Mug!

Baz

Baz


Stel Farrar (49) also from Dinorwig, claimed 5 individual golds and smashed her own Welsh records in the 800m freestyle and 200m butterfly. Alli, Baz, Oggy and Stel teamed up to win both 4x50m freestyle and 4x50m medley relay events. 

Stel on Podium

Stel receives medal

The success gave a big boost to both Baz and Oggy who are off to represent Arfon and Wales at the forthcoming World Masters Championships which are being held in Perth, Australia in April. Look out Perth - here come Oggy and Baz!

Photos and text by Oggy.

Download DM results

Rotherham Metro, Sheffield, 10th February, 2008

One lone Arfon Masters swimmer, keen to train for this year's World Masters in Perth, Australia, made it to Ponds Forge to compete in this long course championship. 

Download Oggy's DM results

Shrewsbury New Year Gala, 5th January, 2008

Seven Arfon Masters swimmers celebrated the New Year by competing in this gala and having a whole lot of fun in the ceilidh after! Oggy, Baz, Mair, Louise, Lynn and Jan all swam really well considering they'd had the Christmas break off swimming but special mention must be made of Bridget who, as well as celebrating the New Year, also celebrated her birthday on the day. As a newcomer to the club, she's made remarkable progress due to her enthusiasm and managed considerable improvement on her Welsh Closed times.  Well done!

Download DM results

Baz showing the youngsters how it's done!

Some of the team.

Mair anxiously studying the results board

Male relay team - two borrowed swimmers!

The real fun!

Photos - Louise Jones

Earlier events