Gloucester Masters Open Meet - 10 April 2011
Proudly showing that age doesn’t matter when it comes to competing, Cinderford Masters swimmers made a big splash in the pool on the weekend at Gloucester in the Open Meet. 6 swimmers forgo the chance of topping up their tans in the sun for a day spent beside the pool with regular dips to keep the body cool; unfortunately 2 others were unable to swim due to health reasons.
Nikki Hall, a regular participant at Masters Meets started off the proceedings with the 400m freestyle hopefully encouraging others to join her in future, in the 100m freestyle she improved her time to take the 5th place medal. She also swam in the 50 and 200m freestyle and 50 and 100m backstroke. A keen Mike Bretnall entered the 50m breaststroke winning the gold medal in a time of 38.19 sec; in the 50 and 100m freestyle against strong opposition he finished in 3rd and 4th place and the 100m IM saw him take the bronze medal.
With 7 entrants in the 100m IM, Steph Taylor’s ability scared 2 off before the start and a great swim won her the silver medal before going on to win silver in the 50m freestyle. Paul Thorpe-Williams first attempt at competition saw him take part in the 50m butterfly finishing in a very respectable 4th position. Jules Barrell took well deserved bronze medals won in both her 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly races home to proudly show off to her family. Still competing strongly in his 70’s Don Leatherbarrow swam in the afternoon in the 50m freestyle with a time of 32.77 sec and the 100m IM collecting gold medals in both.