Masters

Welcome to the Trafford Masters web page.

Trafford Masters is an active, competitive swimming club and one of the largest masters clubs in the country. We currently have about 50 members. 

Members compete in about 8 gala events per year. Participation in galas, by all members, is encouraged. 

Information about Masters swimming generally can be found at the British swimming website

We hope the information below deals with any queries that members and potential members have about membership, training times and training fees for Trafford Masters. If you are interesting in becoming a member please email us at  tmbswimming@btconnect.com

Members are required to pay their appropriate annual club membership fees, associated ASA fees and monthly training fees.

Annual Club membership and associated ASA fees:

These are payable annually and the membership secretary will send out reminders. These fees are currently due by 31st December for the following year. Members joining the club pay a pro rata fee from the Month they join. For 2012 the senior membership Club fees are £23.00 First Family member, £18.00 Second Family member, £10.00 Country member, £10.00 Over sixties, £10.00 Student member and the ASA fees are £24.20 for Category 2 (Competitive swimmer) and  £7.40 for Category 1 (non competitive swimmer).

Training Fees:

The training fees are calculated on a yearly basis and each member pays the full amount specified for their training membership level irrespective of number of session attended. (NB the pool and other fees have to be paid even if swimmers don't attend, thus the training fees are required from members).
Monthly training fees should be paid by standing order direct to the club's bank account.

Current Training Fees (2011) per month  are as follows:-

Full Member                               £27.95

Monday or Friday member      £10.00

The different memberships are explained below.

Full Training Member: These members are guaranteed a swim at each of the sessions provided. The monthly fee is £27.95.

New Members: If Masters is full then new members will only be able to join as either a Monday or a Friday member. The annual membership and ASA fees are detailed above. The training situation and fees are explained below.

Monday or Friday Members: Training fees are £120 per annum payable via standing order at £10 per month. Typically less than 15 swimmers attend Monday and Friday sessions. Note that payment of Monday or Friday training fees is specifically for Monday or Friday and does not allow a swim on another day without appropriate payment, even if the Monday or Friday swim is missed.

In addition to the above categories the committee may grant alternative membership categories to cover exceptional conditions, e.g. working away from home Monday to Friday. If any member feels they have extenuating circumstances that affects their ability to attend all training sessions on a regular basis and wish to negotiate a special membership they should approach the masters representative of the club committee.

Country Members: This category of membership generally does not allow access to any training session. It was provided to aid swimmers who generally cannot train with us, but require club and ASA membership to compete.

Student Members: This category is for swimmers who are over 18 and are students in full time education. They have the option of either paying monthly as per the training categories shown or on a pay as you swim basis. If paying monthly they take the same priority as the training category they pay.

Monday, Friday, Country and Student members may be allowed to swim on tuesday, thursday or sunday provided there is room in the session. They will though, have to take the risk of turning up and not getting a swim. There is no refund or compensation if no swim available on arrival. They must pay  £4.00 (£3.50 for students) for each session attended and without exception payment should be made before joining the session.

Potential new members are allowed one free trial session, the time of which to be agreed by the Masters coach or one of the Masters representatives. As a competitive club swimmers must be able to cope with the training sets. If the Masters coach is of the opinion that the potential new member can cope then the appropriate joining instructions will be offered. Joining applications should be completed and fees paid without delay. Until the membership application has been processed new members will pay £4 per session for each session attended. Potential new members may be allowed to swim at every session provided there is room in the session. Unfortunately they will have to take the risk of turning up and not geting a swim. They must pay £4 per session for each session attended and payment should be made before joining each session.

Guests: Masters swimmers from other clubs are welcome to train with us on a short term or occasional basis if in the area.  They should turn up and consult with the coach before training.  Due to the restriction on 30 swimmers maximum in the water at anyone time, then guests will only be allowed to swim if there are less than 30 Trafford members swimming at the session. Guests will pay £4.00 a session for each session they attend and payment should be made before joining the session.

Members who are behind with their fees:

If swimmers are behind with their fees they may be refused entry to the training sessions, until the situation has been resolved. This covers Annual Club Membership fees, Associated ASA fees and Training Fees.

TRAINING

We train at the following times

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday:-        9pm until 10.15pm

Friday:-                                               9pm until 10.00pm

Sunday:-                                            7pm until   8.30pm

In addition we also offer a land training session in the practise hall on the top floor of the leisure centre from 8:00pm until 8:45pm on friday. This session is available to all categories of membership

Our quietest sessions are Monday and Friday evenings. We recommend anyone who wants to come along for a trial session, to do so on Monday or Friday evening.

Training information:

The leisure centre operating policy places a restriction of 25 swimmers in the pool at any time with the coach acting as lifeguard. For the pool to have more than this number a second lefeguard is required. However we cannot guarantee a second lifeguard at short notice. In any event the maximum number of swimmers considered desirable for safe swimming is 30. Any increase on this number must be by agreement from the Masters coach and there must be 2 lifeguards present.

Full Training Member:

These members are guaranteed a swim at each of the sessions provided. Please note if a Full Training Member arrives late for training and there are already 30 swimmers in the pool (25 if only 1 lifeguard) they lose their guaranteed place in the water. Please note no refunds or compensation if no swim available on arrival.

Priority for a swim on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday Sessions are as follows at the time of session start and late comers forfeit their rights/priority.

         1.         Full Training Member

         2.         Monday / Friday Member

         3.         Student members who pay on a pay as they attend basis

         4.         Potential new members.

         5.         Guests

The masters’ coach will be provided with a register in this order. 

Profiles and Contacts

Niki Williams - Masters Coach

I swam competitively at national and international level for Marple Swimming club, Stockport Metro and the University of Bath swimming teams.

I was selected to represent the England and GB team at junior and senior level betweeen1994 – 1999 at many national and international competitions before embarking in a short career in open water swimming becoming national champion in 1999. I now enjoy scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking and many other outdoor activities. I hold a pool plant operators certificate and a NPLQ lifeguard qualification. I was head coach of Marple swimming club for a year and a development coach at Stockport Metro. I currently teach young swimmers at Davenport swimming club and have been the Masters coach of Trafford Metro since 2007. I have also been helping out with coaching of the AG1 squad.

North West Masters Committee RepresentativeAlan Rowson is the North West Region Masters Committee Representative.
The position is designed to be the interface between the NW Masters and the Masters Committee who report to the ASA Board. This involves seeking out and representing the interests of the regions masters and participating in the meetings held 3 times a year in Loughborough and to actively pursue the establishment and development of a Masters organisation in the North West Region which encompasses Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and the Isle Of Man. Further information can also be found on the Masters section of the ASA web site

Competitions

We target a number of competitions each year and encourage all members to participate in these. In 2011, our target galas are

27 February.       North West Masters Distance Meet, Blackpool.

14 May                 Yorkshire Masters, Scarborough.

17-19 June         GB Long Course, Leeds.

2 July                   North West Sprints , Blackpool.

24 September    Cheshire Masters, Macclesfield

28-30 October    National Masters, Sheffield.

Trophies & Awards

Achievements:

National Decathlon Championship
Details are on the ASA website
The men team consisting of Neil Mackinnon, Neville Barton, Richard Symons and Rob Arnold won the National Decathlon Championship in 2008
The men team consisting of Neil Mackinnon, Neville Barton, Graham Sadler and Alec Johnson won the National Decathlon Championship in 2009
In 2010, the men’s team came 4th and the women’s team came 5th.

North West Region Championship
The club won the top team award in 2009, 2010, 2011
Neil Mackinnon won the top male swimmer award in 2009 and 2011.

Cheshire Sprint Championship
The club won the top team trophy in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Records achieved by members of Trafford Masters

LONG COURSE
2004
European record 1500 free Harold Dodd
European record 800 free Harold Dodd
European record 400 free Harold Dodd
European record 200 free Harold Dodd
British record 100 free Harold Dodd
British record 50 free Harold Dodd
British record 50 fly Neil Mackinnon

2006
British record 50 free Neil Mackinnon

2007
European record 200 fly Jill Jones
European record 200 free Jill Jones
British record 100 fly Jill Jones
British record 400 free Jill Jones
European record Mixed 200+ medley relay.
The swimmers were Rachel Barton, Nev Barton, Steve Harding, Jill Jones

2008
European record Mixed 200+ medley relay.
The swimmers were Helen Sadler, Nev Barton, Rachel Barton, Graham Sadler
British record Men’s 160+ medley relay.
The swimmers were Neale Sayle, Steve Harding, Alec Johnson, Graham Sadler
British record Men’s 160+ Free relay.
The swimmers were Neale Sayle, Graham Sadler, Alec Johnson Steve Harding.

2011 John Charles pool Leeds

World Record Mixed 4x100 Freestyle relay combined age 240+. The swimmers were Neil Mackinnon, Rachel Barton, Jill Jones and Nev Barton. 4:40.35.                                                                                                                          

European Record 4x100 Ladies Freestyle relay combined age 200+. The swimmers were Rachel Barton, Jill Jones, Sandra Skellern and Helen Sadler. 4:42.00.

European Record 4x50 Ladies Freestyle relay combined age 200+. The swimmers were Rachel Barton, Jill Jones, Sandra Skellern and Helen Sadler. 2:06.26.

European Record 4x100 Ladies Medley relay combined age 200+. The swimmers were Helen Sadler, Jo Bolton Jill Jones and Rachel Barton. 5:24.02.

British Record 4x50 Ladies Medley relay combined age 200+. The swimmers were Helen Sadler, Jo Bolton Jill Jones and Rachel Barton. 2:24.38.

British Record 55-59 years Nev Barton 50 Breastroke 34.63 secs.

British Record 70-74 years Neil Mackinnon 50 Freestyle 30.17 secs.

British Record 70-74 years Neil Mackinnon 50 Butterfly 33.93 secs.

SHORT COURSE

1998
British record 50 free Helen Sadler
British record 100 free Helen Sadler

2001
British record 50 free Neil Mackinnon
British record 100 Butterfly Neil Mackinnon
British record 100 IM Neil Mackinnon

2004
British record 1500 free Harold Dodd
British record 800 free Harold Dodd
British record 400 free Harold Dodd
British record 200 free Harold Dodd
British record 100 free Harold Dodd
British record 50 free Harold Dodd

2006
British record 50 free Neil Mackinnon
British record 50 Butterfly Neil Mackinnon
British record 100 IM Neil Mackinnon
British record 50 Back Neil Mackinnon

2007
British record 100 IM Jill Jones
British record 400 free Jill Jones
British record 200 free Jill Jones
British record 100 fly Jill Jones
British record 200 fly Jill Jones
European Record Men’s 200-239 relay free
The swimmers were Neil McKinnon, Nev Barton, Alec Johnson, Steve Harding

2008
World record 50 free Rachel Barton
World record 50 back Rachel Barton
British record 100 back Rachel Barton
British record 100 IM Rachel Barton
British record 200 fly Jill Jones
British record 200 free Jill Jones
Welsh record 50 free Graham Sadler
Welsh record 100 free Graham Sadler
British record Men’s 160-199 medley.
The swimmers were Neale Sayle, Steve Harding, Alec Johnson, Graham Sadler
European Record Mixed 200-239 relay free
The swimmers were Rachel Barton, Helen Sadler, Nev Barton, Graham Sadler
European Record Ladies 200-239 relay free
The swimmers were Rachel Barton, Jill Basson, Jill Jones, Helen Sadler
European Record Men’s 200-239 relay free
The swimmers were Neil McKinnon, Graham Sadler, Alec Johnson, Steve Harding)

2009
World record 100 free Rachel Barton
European record 50 free Rachel Barton
European Record Mixed 240-279 relay free
The swimmers were Neil McKinnon, Rachel Barton, Jill Jones, Alan Rowson

2010

European Records for the Mixed 240 + relay team in the following events:-

4 x 100 free 4:26.39
4 x 200 free 10:24.94 .
4 x 50 medley 2:16.49 .
4 x 100 Medley 5:15.31

The swimmers in all 4 events were . Rachel Barton, Jill Jones, Neil MacKinnon
and Neville Barton.

World Record for the women’s 200+ relay team 4 x 100 medley – 5:11.45 The swimmers were Tracie Gorst, Jo Bolton, Jill Jones, Rachel Barton

European Record for the women’s 200+ relay team 4 x 200 free- 10:27.47 The swimmers were Tracie Gorst, Sandra Skellern, Rachel Barton, Jill Jones.

European Record for the women’s 4 x 100 free relay team – 4:40.10 The swimmers were Rachel Barton, Tracy Sacks, Tracie Gorst, Jill Jones

European Record for the mens 160+ relay team 4 x 200 free – 8:44.17 The swimmers were Jonny Giles, Rob Arnold, Alec Johnson, Steve Harding

European Record for the mens 160+ relay team. 4 x 100 free – 3:51.80.The swimmers were Richard Symons, Neville Barton, Alec Johnson, Paul Longland

NB Information correct as at September 2011.