BSSC Masters represent Hertfordshire

Ten members of Bishop’s Stortford Swimming Club’s Masters squad were recently selected to represent Hertfordshire, in the Swim England National Masters Inter-County Competition.  Held across six nationwide events with all 33 English Counties competing for the first time in the 22 year history of the event, the results were amalgamated into a National league table and Hertfordshire came a very respectable 14^th in an event won by Devon.

At each Regional event swimmers competed in 50m backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle for women and men in age groups 18 plus, 25 plus, 35 plus, 45 plus, 55 plus, 65 plus and 50m freestyle for age group 75 plus.  Relays (one team per county) were 4 x 50m medley and freestyle for women and men for combined age groups 72 plus, 100 plus, 140 plus, 180 plus, 220 plus and mixed (two women and two men) 4 x 50m mixed medley and freestyle for age group 260 plus.

All swimmers contributed to the great final position of Hertfordshire but the achievements of Alyson Fordham swimming in the 65 plus age group are definite highlights.  Alyson dominated the field in two of her events, coming 1^st in the 50m freestyle (32.32) and 50m backstroke (39.37) and she also came 4^th in the amalgamated results in the 50m breaststroke (44.39) and 50m butterfly (37.66).  Youngsters Callum Davis and Niamh James achieved top ten English finishes in their 18 plus races too: Niamh 6^th in the 50m backstroke (32.22) and Callum 7^th in 50m butterfly (26.74)

Ex Stortford coach Barry Chandler swam for Suffolk (24^th overall) coming 2^nd in the 50m butterfly (32.12) and 3^rd in the 50m freestyle (30.05). 

Full individual BSSC (old and current!) Swim England amalgamated results :

• 50m Freestyle female: 1^st Alyson Fordham (65+), 13^th Sally Winter (55+), 25^th Helen Shingler (45+)
• 50m Freestyle male: 3^rd Barry Chandler (Suffolk, 65+), 14^th Callum Davis (18+)
• 50m Breaststroke female: 4^th Alyson Fordham (65+), 13^th Niamh James (18+), 24^th Helen Shingler
• 50m Breaststroke male: 15^th Joe Collins (18+), 28^th Jake Lloyd (25+)
• 50m Butterfly female: 4^th Lizzie Bellinger (35+) and Alyson Fordham (65+), 13^th Niamh James (18+), 14^th Sally Winter (55+), 17^th Anne Vanner (Suffolk, 55+), 28^th Helen Shingler (45+)
• 50m Butterfly male: 2^nd Barry Chandler (Suffolk, 65+), 7^th Callum Davis (18+), 20^th Jake Lloyd (25+)
• 50m Backstroke female: 1^st Alyson Fordham (65+), 6^th Niamh James (18+), 12^th Sally Winter (55+), 16^th Lizzie Bellinger (45+), 19^th Helen Shingler (45+)
• 50m Backstroke male: 14^th Dan Chada (18+), 24^th Jake Lloyd (25+)

BSSC Masters: Alyson Fordham, Aoife James, Callum Davis, Dan Chada, Helen Shingler, Jake Lloyd, Joe Collins, Lizzie Bellinger, Niamh James, Sally Winter and

Ex-BSSC Masters: Anne Vanner (Suffolk), Barry Chandler (Suffolk)