15 March 12
Blackpool’s Palatine pool played host for the weekends North West Distance Swimming Meet where Trafford swimmers rewrote the record books. The ladies 4x100 Medley relay team for the 160+ years combined age smashed the world record by over 7 seconds to set a new mark of 4:47.76. Helen Sadler led the team out on the backstroke leg with a 1:12.17, one of her fastest times for several years before handing over to Jo Bolton on the breastroke leg. Jo’s time of 1:22.75 was the fastest she had swum for nearly 3 years. The youngster of the team, Lucy Lloyd Roach, also put together one of her lifetime best 100m butterfly times with a 1:03.93. Sandra Skellern steered the team home again on the Freestyle leg with one of her best ever swims of 1:08.91. The achievement was all the more remarkable considering that a team from the USA had lowered the mark by 6 seconds last November to 4:55.27.
Left to Right: Lucy Lloyd Roach, Sandra Skellern, Helen Sadler, Jo Bolton
The ladies 4x200 Freestyle relay team also smashed the European record by an incredible 56 seconds. The team comprising lead off swimmer Lucy Lloyd Roach fresh from her world record breaking medley relay swim really set the tone with a 2:11.51. Next off was fellow world record holder Helen Sadler who put together a 2:19.22 before handing over to Emma Ross. Emma completed her 200m in a time of 2:17.02 leaving Laura Bowden to bring the team home in what was her first relay event as a Masters swimmer. Laura’s time of 2:16.84 was sufficient, along with her teammates, to obliterate the old European mark, bringing it down to 9:04.59.
Left - Right: Lucy Lloyd Roach, Laura Bowden, Helen Sadler, Emma Ross
There were also some excellent individual swims during the meet from Trafford Metro swimmers. Richard Symons led the way in the 35-39 age category winning the 400m Individual Medley in 5:25.88, the 400 Freestyle in 4:43.96 and the 800m Freestyle in 10:20.21. In the 75-79 age group Club President John Anderson won gold for the 400 freestyle in 8:01.24 and the 800m Freestyle in 16:49.34. At the other end of the age scale Laura Bowden in the 25-29 age category won gold medals in the 400 and 800 Freeestyle with times of 4:44.05 and 10:01.34 respectively. There was also a gold medal for Becky Lennon in the 30-34 age category in the 1500m Freestyle with a time of 19:28.91. With the Long Course National championships coming soon in May, Trafford swimmers are well positioned for more glory at the Ponds Forge Sheffield meet.
