Over 7-8th July 5 intrepid OTS members headed to Barnet Copthall in the heat for their 30th Annual Masters Distance meet. As ever everything was very well organised by BC’s very hard-working team led by Ian Woollard, and those present were able to clock some qualifying times for the Nationals in October. 

We also learnt, courtesy of Oonagh who has gone into these things that the other fun thing you can do if you enter Masters competitions is the Decathlon. Basically, over the year you enter as many different events (distance and stroke) as you can and clock up points as you go.  And you know what points mean; rankings (!)  It’s not too late this year but definitely something to bear in mind for 2019 and a way of encouraging people to try and diversify their events. As someone who has only ever tried 5 events, I might even be tempted… 

Onto the results; Steph was our true distance star of the weekend completing her 800 free in 11:04.58, carrying off a gold in the 25-29 years age-group and beating her estimated time by a cool 24s.  Oonagh did a barnstorming 7:11.63 in the 400 free, not very closely followed by me in 7:36.83, both of us in the 60-64years.  In the 400 free men Davide P did brilliantly scooping a gold in the 35-39 group in 5:36.58. 

In the 100m breast stroke Oonagh and I did a role reversal as I came in in 1:51.94 and Oonagh in 1:58.35 but this time it was silver and bronze between us. Romain F went one better and bagged a gold in his 100m breaststroke in 1:45.50 in the 25-29 age group. 

TL, who is just starting out competing with OTS, swam an excellent 200m freestyle in 3:31.19 coming 3rd in the 40-44years category and Oonagh maintained her form with a time of 3:26.28. In the men’s Davide won another medal coming 2nd in his 200 free in 2:34.26. Fast, or what?!

Then Romain really went the whole hog and completed a 200m IM in 4:02.63 and picked up yet another medal (bronze) and Oonagh and I found ourselves in neighbouring lanes again for the 200m breaststroke (4:14.83 & 3:55.28 respectively). To round off the afternoon Davide (1:07.55) and I (1:41.86) threw in a 100 free.  Unfortunately, we also clocked up a couple of DQs between us but we put it all down to experience – at least we were there!  And now we all feel more competition ready for Paris.

Report by Sarah C