BSSC has a vibrant, fun and welcoming Masters squad with swimmers aged 18 to 60+. We have a wide range of abilities with fitness swimmers wanting the incentive of a regular, motivating training programme, competitive triathletes and open water swimmers striving to enhance their swim performance and competitive European and World Masters swimmers. The squad is offered seven coached pool sessions each week across two different local pools. There are different Masters membership price plans based on your chosen attendance hours.
The photos and articles below show the variety of events attended and achievements gained by our Masters squad, from the more social aspects of Swim Serpentine, Marathon Swims and charity galas, to representing Hertfordshire in Intercounty competitions and winning medals and breaking records at National and International competitions.
Hertfordshire Masters take top place at Inter-Counties
A massive ‘congratulations’ to all of our Masters swimmers who represented Hertfordshire at the Swim England East Region Masters Inter-Counties on Sunday 9th November.
Hertfordshire secured first place – the first win since 2011! Full results were:
- 1st – Hertfordshire
- 2nd – Bedfordshire
- 3rd – Essex
- 4th – Norfolk
- 5th – Cambridge
Records smashed at Masters National Championships 2025
Last weekend, six of our brilliant Masters swimmers took on the best in the country at the Masters National Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.
It was incredible weekend of swimming, with top-three places secured across various age groups.
Highlights:
- Silver for the Mixed 4 x 50m Medley Relay team (Niamh, Callum, Jake & Lucy)
- 15 medals in total – 8 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze
- BSSC finished in 41st position – a fantastic achievement for a small squad of six swimmers.
Club President Sally Winter brought home three golds (100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle), also breaking two GB records (200m and 400m Freestyle) as well as a European Record in the 200m Freestyle!
Masters kick-start 2025/26 season
The beginning of September has been very busy and successful for BSSC’s Masters swimmers!
Sunday 7th September saw a trip to Newmarket for the East Region Short Course Masters Championships, with BSSC securing 9 top-three finishes:
Alyson
1st 50 Freestyle, 400m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle
2nd 200m Freestyle
Sally
1st 200m Freestyle
2nd 100m Freestyle
Ben
1st 400m Freestyle, 1st 400m IM
2nd 200m Freestyle
The medal continued at Sunday’s Barnet Copthall Masters Sprints Meet. BSSC’s medal haul:
Niamh:
1st 50m Fly
1st 50m Freestyle
Jake:
1st 400m Freestyle
1st 200m IM
Sally:
1st 400m Freestyle
1st 50m Fly
Ben
1st 200m IM
Dave
1st 400m Freestyle
2nd 50m Freestyle
Masters shine at British Championships
A squad of eight BSSC Masters were in action at the British Masters Championships at the London Aquatics Centre from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th June.
The British Masters Championships is the highest level of domestic Masters swimming in Great Britain. The event, which takes place in a long course 50m pool, rotates between England, Scotland and Wales every year.
BSSC’s swimmers came away with an impressive 18 medals: 12 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze.
With Britain’s fastest Masters swimmers in action, it’s not unusual to see world, European and British records broken at the meet. BSSC’s Lizzie Bellinger certainly delivered, with a brilliant British Masters record-breaking swim in the 100m Butterfly (45-49 years) in a time of 1:08.54!
Our relay “dream team” of Callum Davis, Lucy Wheeler, Niamh James and Jake Lloyd took gold in two relays – the Mixed 4 x 50m Medley Relay (72 years+) and Mixed 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay (72 years+).
Sally Winter (65-69 years) and Lucy Wheeler (25-29 years) also secured double golds in the 200m Freestyle.
BSSC finished in 16th position overall out of over 200 represented clubs – a considerable achievement with a squad of eight swimmers competing!
We are incredibly proud of each and every one of our Masters swimmers – fantastic examples to the rest of the Club.
Full results – top-three places:
- Lizzie Bellinger (45-49 years) – gold 100m Butterfly; silver 200m IM; gold 50m Butterfly
- Niamh James (18-24 years) – gold 200m Backstroke; gold 200m Breaststroke; gold 200m IM
- Lucy Wheeler (25-29 years) – gold 200m Freestyle; gold 50m Freestyle; gold 100m Freestyle
- Jake Lloyd (30-34 years) – bronze 200m Freestyle; bronze 100m Butterfly; silver 200m Butterfly
- Sally Winter (65-69 years) – gold 200m Freestyle; gold 100m Freestyle
Relays
Gold – Mixed 4 x 50m Medley Relay (72 years+)
Niamh, Callum, Jake and Lucy
Gold – Mixed 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay (72 years+)
Niamh, Callum, Jake and Lucy
Silver – Mens 4 x 100m Medley Relay (120 years+)
Jake, Matt, Callum, Geoff
Bronze – Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay (160 years+)
Lizzie, Sally, Matt and Geoff
Full team: Lizzie Bellinger, Callum Davis, Niamh James, Jake Lloyd, Lucy Wheeler, Matt McLaughlin, Geoff Short, Sally Winter
European and British Records broken!
Congratulations to BSSC Masters swimmer and Club President Sally Winter, who recently broke the 200m Freestyle 65-69 years European and British Records at Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club’s Masters Open Meet, with a time of 2:32.83.
The record was previously held by BSSC’s very own Alyson Fordham.
Congratulations Sally on a fabulous achievement.
