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arfon masters swimming club

Recent Events & Results

Fun over the Christmas Period!

The Arfon Masters annual Christmas dinner was held at Herbs in Bangor and it proved to be a great success with all who attended.  The table arrangement  and atmosphere were spot on and we all had a wonderful opportunity to catch up with club gossip! Unfortunately Jenny wasn't able to attend this year but Mike Dilworth proved to be a great substitute! In turn he was presented with a very special book which contained contributions and photos from all his Mum's swimming friends saying what Edna had meant to everyone and how she was such a wonderful person and swimmer and so special to the club. Mike presented the trophies to this year's winners:

Vivienne Brame Cup – Fastest female          

1st  Stel Farrar             15.38  (14.85 in 2006)
2^nd  Louise Jones         17.92  (19.01 in 2006)
3rd Mair Martin          20.45  (20.24 in 2006)

Britannia Carpets Cup – Fastest Male           
1^st Charles Bishop       13.04
Only one Arfon male entered the event!   

Dorothy Jones Cup – Most points Female     
36 points:         Stel Farrar (E) already won in age group
Jan Albin (G) already won in age group
Anne Whatham (L) already won in age group

 1st       34 points         Louise Jones (F)
2nd      32 points         Allison Donnelly
3^rd        30 points         Inga Price

 Arthur Dilworth Cup – Most points Male
 33 points         Baz Owen (L) already won in age group

 1st       32 points         Charles Bishop (E)                 
2nd      22 points         Mike Dilworth
3^rd        18 points         Jason Cordingley

 Edna Dilworth Cup – nearest 200 IM time to GB record in their age group by +%
1^st        Stel Farrar                   3:02.66  (record = 2:38.62)   15.13%
2^nd        Jan Albin                     3:33.49   (record = 3:00.00)  18.79%
3^rd        Charles Bishop            2:49.08   (record = 2:19.26)  21.30%

 Norman Runham Cup:-           Sue Sullivan

                                                (Previous winners: 1998 John Holmes; 1999 Lynn Yule; 2000 Anne Whatham & Edna Dilworth (joint); 2001 Lynn Roberts; 2002 Baz Owen; 2003 Mair Martin; 2004 Edna Dilworth; 2005 Jan Albin; 2006 Mike Dilworth).

Very special thanks to Catherine for organising such a great event when she's already got enough stress in her life looking after a baby!

The next bit of fun was a group of us swimmers actually managed to run a reasonable distance and not disgrace ourselves! Annie and Nefyn, Nick and Lynne, Maggie, Louise and Christine joined in the annual Eryri Harrier's Fun Run round Llyn Padarn on the Sunday before Christmas (approx. 6 miles). Mike Dilworth and Allison Donnelly both turned up but too late to compete! Mike had trouble getting out of bed!  We were blessed with wonderful weather and Annie showed us all how it's done by coming in first amongst us with a time of 44m 11secs. 

Welsh Closed, Waterworld, Wrexham, 3rd November, 2007

This year the event took place in North Wales so we managed a record twelve Arfon swimmers and even a male relay team! We all had a great time and enjoyed a superb meal after the gala. Eleven whisky tumblers were won and Baz broke the Welsh record for the 75-79 age group in the 50m Butterfly race in a time of 1 min 6 secs 9to be confirmed). Special mention must be made of Inga Price and Bridget Edwards who both only joined the club recently and have already competed in the Arfon gala and now this. Both Bridget and Inga did exceedingly well and should go on to great things!

Congratulations to: Jason - 1st place, Oggy - 2nd place, Mike Dilworth - 3rd place, Baz - Joint 1st, Claire - 1st place, Inga - 3rd place, Gill Windle - 2nd place, Stel - 1st place, Bridget, 2nd place, Louise, 2nd place and Jan - 3rd place. Christine tried hard!

The winning team in club kit! Where are the trophies?

Download Dragon Mark Results

ASA Nationals, Ponds Forge, Sheffield, 26th - 28th October, 2007 

Arfon Masters Gala, 29th September, 2007 - download results

Thirteen away clubs attended the 21st Arfon Masters Open Meet with Halton and Etwall Eagles in particular having strong teams. Arfon Masters' eighteen swimmers didn't quite manage to outclass the strong competition and Halton Masters took home the trophy again after it's year's stay in Gwynedd. Congratulations again to Halton but look-out next year!

An amazing 33 Arfon records were broken with a special mention of Tom Walker from Chester, in the 70-74 male category, who managed to set five new Arfon records! A truely outstanding achievement. Also Ruth Lowe from Etwall, in the 50-54 female category, who broke four Arfon records and Graham Padgett from Warrington, in the 60-64 male category, who set three new records. From Arfon Masters, Inga Price (30-34 female), Jan Albin (55-59 female) and Stel Farrar (45-49 female) all set new Arfon records in the 200m IM. Well done to everyone who broke Arfon records!

Here's Stel, who set a new Arfon record despite nursing a migraine!  Baz and Mike are holding Catherine's future Ian Thorpe.

Thanks to all away clubs who supported our event and also to the Arfon team who were great. Special thanks to the officials who gave up their free time to help and with very special thanks to Sue and Trixie who made this event so successful! Thanks also to Mike Pepper for coming in to help out with the Arfon relays! 

Some of the Arfon team - Mike, Baz, Inga, Catherine, Charles, Oggy, Jan, Mair, Leslie, Lucy, Marty and Bridget. The rest of the team were Jason, Nefyn, Noel, Mike Pepper, Louise, Ann, Lynne Stuart and Allison.

Additional Arfon helpers and organisers were Sue, Trixie, Jenny, Lynn Yule, Ken, Colette, Helen and Christine.

The social at the rugby club was a great success. Louise organised the food brilliantly - it was a great scoff and much appreciated by all after the exertions in the swimming pool. Kath and John organised some salsa dancing (thanks to them also) and everyone had a fantastic evening.

Fodder for the hungry!

Download female results

Download male results

Download Dragon Mark Arfon Masters Results

Pier to Pier Swim, 18th August 2007

Arfon Masters’ swimmer Claire Wilson, from Bethesda, led a strong field of experienced open water swimmers, from various parts of England as well as North Wales, home in a time of 47 minutes 46 seconds to win the overall prize and the womens under 30 years age group. Claire’s success is more impressive when  considering that nine of the twenty competitors have experience of relay attempts to swim the English Channel.

Heading a strong challenge of eleven English competitors, who outnumbered the nine swimmers from Wales, in second place overall as well as in the the womens under 30 years age group, was Clare Kane from Preston, representing Warrington Dolphins, who completed the 2 mile course in a time of 51 minutes 04 seconds . 

In third place and first man home was Nicholas Robinson from Liverpool who won the Male 30 – 49 years age group with a time of 51 minutes 47 seconds.

 Proving that age is no barrier the 50 years and over male age group saw the largest number of swimmers with over half the total entry. This age group was won by 62 year old Howe Bridge Marlins swimmer Dave Reason from Manchester when he came in fourth overall in a time of 53 minutes 02 seconds.

 The Richard Jackson shield, donated in memory of Arfon Master swimmer Richard by his mother Rona Roberts and awarded to the first local swimmer in the male 50 and over catergory, went to Mike Dilworth (53 minutes 51 seconds) of Llanfairfechan who, in a very close finish for second place in the age group, just managed to see off a challenge from Frank Kilgannon (53 minutes 52 seconds) from Widnes.

 Completing the success of Arfon Masters, in the ladies section, Stel Farrar from Dinorwic won the Womens 30 – 49 years age group and Jan Albin from Bangor won the Womens 50 years and over age group. Stel completed the course in 53 minutes 17 seconds and Jan finished with a time of 67 minutes 42 seconds to see off a late challenge from Louise Jones from Llanfairpwll finishing closely behind with a time of 67 minutes 50 seconds.

The swimmers were seen off at the start of the race at Beaumaris Pier, by the Mayor of Beaumaris and following the event Coucillor Geraint Huws Roberts, from Bangor Town Council, presented the swimmers and kayakers with trophies and certificates.

download the results.

We don't have space to include all the photographs, a CD will be circulated within Arfon Masters, guest swimmers are welcome to email christine at fastasleep.me.uk for their own photos.

Cross Straits Swim, 22nd July 2007

Record crowds braved the torrential downpours to witness a very special year for the Cross Straits swim from Foel on Anglesey to Caernarfon, when two brothers, who swam in the first years of the race in the 1950's, returned to compete again in this year's race. 

Gwyn Thomas, now aged 72,  from Southend, who originally won the race in 1956, managed to equal his original time and finished the mile course in 37 mins 33 secs. His younger brother, Garfield, from Bridgend, who won the race in 1957 and 1958 when he set a record of 29 mins 48 secs, managed this year's race in an incredible time of 27 mins 14 secs and was the first swimmer over 60 to reach Caernarfon. Both brothers received a special commemorative shield from Caernarfon Town Council presented to them by the Lady Mayor Mair Williams in recognition of their unique achievement. Garfield had been training in Porthcawl Bay but found the water colder up here!

Arfon Masters have been organising the race since 1999 and since then Claire Wilson has taken the winners cup each year. This year was different. Rebecca Owen, 15 years old, from Bangor Swimming Club, surprised us all and beat Claire to the jetty with an amazing time of 22mins 38 secs.


All 19 swimmers completed the course. Congratulations to everyone and thanks to all the organisers, to the Royal Welsh Yacht Club who hosted the presentation and who provided delicious home-made soup to warm-up the swimmers and kayakers on what was a fairly cool day for July. Also many thanks to the authorities for allowing the race to take place, to Caernarfon Town Council for their support and for donating their town shield, to the mayor for giving up her time to make the presentation and to Gareth Griffith who came second on 3 occasions in 1955, 1957 and 1958 and co-presented the swimmers and kayakers with their certificates and trophies. Also thanks to the people who provided and manned the safety boats and to the 19 kayakers without whom the swimmers could not have competed. Lastly not forgetting Charles Bishop who so bravely took on the job of race organiser at the last minute during Jenny's absence.

Download results 

GB Masters, Manchester, 15th-17th June, 2007

Stel Farrar and Gill Windle proudly showing their medals with Oggy East wearing Mike Dilworth's medal - where's Mike!
 

Four Arfon Masters swimmers competed in the Great British Long Course Championships held at the Aquatic Centre in Manchester. The event was well supported and the competition was of a high standard with new british, european and world records being set.

 Arfon ladies Stel Farrar and Gill Windle achieved great success with 3 Welsh records and 7 medals between them.

Star performance of the week end was Stel Farrar with a gold medal winning swim in the 800 freestyle event in the 45 – 49 years age group. Stel collected medals of all three hues with silver medals in 1500 and 200 metres freestyle, and bronze medals in 50 metres freestyle, 200 metres individual medley and the 200 metres butterfly.

Gill Windle competing in the 40 – 44 years age group won the bronze medal in the 200 metres individual medley.
Gill lowered two Welsh records in her age group in the 50 metres freestyle in which she finished 5th and in taking fourth place in the 1500 metres freestyle while Stel improved on the Welsh record in the 200 metres freestyle.

 Mike Dilworth won the bronze medal in the 200 metres backstroke in the 50 – 54 years age group while in the 40 – 44 years age group.

Oggy East  was especially pleased with his week-end efforts in achieving four personnal best times in the 50 metres butterfly, 100 metres breaststroke and freestyle and the 400 metres freestyle.

Welsh Open Masters Competition, Swansea, 2nd - 4th March, 2007

Eight members of the Arfon Masters Swiming Club returned as Welsh Champions after competing at the Welsh Masters Championships at the National Pool at Swansea recently.Altogether the swimmers total medal haul stood at 10 gold, 12 silver and 10 bronze medals and set 6 new Welsh Records.

Stel amazed everyone, including herself, by winning gold in the 1500 metres Freestyle and setting four new Welsh records at 200, 400, 800 and 1500 metres Freestyle in the 45 – 49 years age group. It was incredible considering the facts that she'd travelled down for the day and that she knocked 45 secs off the previous record! Her account is below.

Two other Arfon Masters lowered their existing Welsh records in the 200 metres Individual Medley, Lucy Rothwell from Bryn Refail broke her record for the 25 – 29 years age group while Mike Dilworth from Llanfairfechan reduced his Welsh record in the 50 – 54 years age group.

It was just some wild idea that I might have one chance before being too old to do it! Do What? To be able to knock 7 seconds off the Welsh record of 22min 07sec and swim 1500m freestyle in less than  22 minutes!  I just wasn't sure that I could do it and with family and work commitments it had to be a 'flying' day trip to the Welsh  Masters Open Championship in the national pool , Swansea. I so nearly didn't go, partly convinced that the necessary 4 am start would not aid my performance. I managed a fast training swim a few days before in Bangor which was the decider, I'd entered and I just had to go! A feast of bananas, honey, rice cakes and chocolate on the train, loaded me with enough energy to swim the channel. However I was very unsure if I could keep up the required  pace in  the 50m pool in Swansea with only half the number of turns compared with the 25m pool in Bangor. I arrived with enough time for a very good warm up, essential for this event. I was swimming against the British women who I knew had faster times than me, standing on the block I was petrified. The swim nearly killed me! I just couldn't go any faster. It's so scary because you're swimming for over 20 min with no idea whether you're going fast enough, you just know it hurts and you tell yourself you'll never do it again. 1500m has never felt so far. Then at last you hear the bell for the last 100m and from somewhere comes a final sprint and an aggressive explosive finish.  Before collapsing I read my time: 21.min 21.13 sec. I couldn't believe it, beyond my wildest dreams, 39 seconds inside my target and a new Welsh Masters record for 1500, 800, 400 and 200m freestyle all in one race and a gold medal ! I am still not sure how I did it. Was it the hard training, the chocolate and bananas, the adrenalin or the fantastic cold water in the pool at Swansea? A quick swim down and I ran for the taxi and had 2 min to spare to get the train home. I collapsed on the train, still half dressed, wondering if I'd dreamt it all. So, will I do it again or is it all downhill from here? Of course I'll do it again, pain forgotten, euphoric feeling at end of swim remembered, and just that even wilder thought that one day I could get under 21 min! Swimming is a fantastic sport and we are so lucky to have such a good swimming pool in Bangor. Masters swimming is good fun and there are so many new challenges out there. Just when I thought I might be getting old, I've just swam faster than I ever have done in my life, can't be bad! Special thanks to swim coach Darren Braume, staff at Bangor pool and Arfon Masters.

Members of the Committee: 

Baz Owen, Helen Hughes, Gill Windle, Christine Slater, Trixie Wilson, Louise Jones, Catherine Sutton

Shrewsbury New Year Gala, 6th January, 2006

Six female and three male swimmers from Arfon Masters competed in Shrewsbury this year. They did exceedingly well coming 4th overall against larger teams. In particular, Lucy Rothwell’s performance in the freestyle relay stood out. She was last to swim in the team and took over when the Arfon team were some considerable distance behind the leaders to give an amazing swim and just beat the other team by seconds. Colette had battled against a bad cold to get there and still managed to come home with four first places and one second! How does she do it?
Those competing at Shrewsbury were Lucy Rothwell, Keith Rothwell, Gill Allsop, Allison Donnelly, Mair Martin, Colette Price, Louise Jones, Mike Dilworth and Baz Owen.

Lucy, Gill, Colette, Keith, Mike and Louise ready to take on the rest.

The merry swimmers!

Gill Allsop - 3rd in her age group. Lucy Rothwell 2nd

The rivals! Lucy 2nd and Keith with his 3rd place mouse mat.

Friends from Liverpool

Baz receives his 1st place prize

Is this a dance or a fight, Mike!

Welsh Closed, 4th November, 2006, Ystrad, Rhondda

Three of our members made it down to the Rhondda this sunny autumn week-end to compete against the much larger teams of South Wales. Despite the competition, temperature of the water and wonky backstroke flags Stewart, Anthony and Christine swam well and managed to come home with first, second and third places respectively. We were sorry Helen and Keith didn't quite make it - next year, hopefully but thanks to the three who did for their contribution in helping the club gain a Dragon Mark performance award.

Where's the whisky?

Download Arfon Masters results

ASA Masters, Ponds Forge, Sheffield, 27th-29th October, 2006

One of our youngest swimmers, Claire Wilson, made her way to Sheffield to battle against stiff competition in the ASA Masters. Swimmers come from all over the UK for this short course competition. Claire achieved great results coming 6th out of 17 in the 50m Backstroke, 7th out of 20 in the 100m Butterfly, 9th out of 24 in the 100m IM, 9th out of 26 in the 50m Freestyle and 11th out of 30 in the 100m Freestyle. Well done Claire and you earned a free training session voucher for competing in a Dragon Mark competition.

Download Claire's results

Dublin, 21st October 2006

On the week-end of 21st October, seven Arfon Masters swimmers crossed the Irish Sea to compete in the Aerlingus Gala. Baz, Mair, Louise, Lynn Yule, Lynne Stewart, Jan and Gill Allsop amazed themselves, and us, by winning the Molly Malone trophy for the the most points for a club outside Ireland. Congratulations and see Molly Malone below.

The belles of the ball sampling some Irish hospitality. A great time was had by all!

Dragonmark Dublin Results

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