Rob waves to the crowd. Shame he
wasn't in the lead
Terrible beard, terrible time!
To many chips will give you spots!
Well one to be precise.
More pics click here
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Write up by Robert Egan
On saturday morning, a team of 19 Kenilworth Masters swimmers arrived in Derby for the 5th Etwall Eagles Masters Gala keen to retain their 'Top visiting Club' crown, won by the club for the two previous years. Due to the popularity of the event all the available starting positions had been filled before the entry deadline. It was a quieter event than usual, not because several of the club's swimmers entries were received too late, but because the club's chatmeister had a knee injury that prevented her from swimming.
Expectations for PBs was low. Fine swims at the British Masters a few weeks earlier would be hard to match in this notoriously slow pool with a shallow end so shallow that great care is needed to not collide with the bottom coming out of the turns. This has always been a relaxed friendly gala, so many elected for 'comedy swims' and their least preferred strokes.
Breaststroke rivals Clare Wilkinson & Robert Egan turned things upside-down with 50m shootout of Old-English-backstroke (double arm). The tie was handed to Robert following Clare's disqualification for an early turn. Other unusual disqualifications followed when Roy 'Two costumes' McWhirter violated the dress code with some blatant double trunking, and Robert Egan set the lifeguards hearts aflutter with a botched drowning attempt during the 50m fly.
Gareth Wilkinson made a fine debut performance for the club with some very strong finishes noted by the unexpectedly dampened lane judges. This level of commitment wasn't contagious, as Rob 'show-boat' Robson enjoyed a wave-to-the-crowd finish as he anchored the freestyle relay cannon, and Mel 'taking-it-easy' McWhriter took great advantage of the supreme commitment of her relay team members to enjoy a final leg swim down between individual events.
This tactic reaped mixed results, as whilst Mel won 6 individual golds, she unexpectedly lost face in the battle of the McWhirters by posting a slower time than non-breaststroker Roy over 100m.
In spite of the end-of-term atmosphere, there were some fine swims. Clare Wilkinson stormed to a 'Meet Best Time' (MBT) in the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1:20.41before smashing the 50m MBT in 36.94. Both Mel McWhirter & Rob Robson established new MBTs in the 25m fly in 14.76 & 13.06 respectively, with Rob going on to set an MBT in the 50 fly in 29.07, 25 breast 14.96 & 100 IM in 1:06.35. Not to be out done, Mel also set an MBT in the 25m breaststroke in 17.68. Trevor Clark powered to an MBT in the 50m backstroke in 33.77, then took almost 4 seconds off the MBT in the 100 freestyle with his 1:04.79, he then followed this up with an MBT in the 100 fly 1:11.25, 25m freestyle 13.21, 50m breast 37.69 and 100 back 1:14.84. Rounding off the record times was Helen Russell who looked fearsome as she set an MBT in the 100m butterfly in 1:25.85.
There was relay success, with wins in the Mens 120+ 4x50 Medley & 4x50 Freestyle relays. The Ladies teams finished second in the 120+ 4x50 Medley & 4x50 Freestyle relays, as did the Mens 72+ 4x50 Medley & 4x50 Freestyle teams.
Individual glories were awarded to the top all round swimmers, with Mel McWhirter winning the Ladies C competition for the second year running, and Helen Russell coming second in the Ladies E. Kenilworth men dominated the Mens C competition with Rob Robson, Steve Goult and Stuart Parker coming in 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. Zim Ryall won the Mens D competition, whilst Trevor Clark finished runner up in the Mens G.
It was a fine team performance, yet ultimately not enough to retain the best visiting club title as Kenilworth were beaten into third by County of Derby and hosts Etwall Eagles. Those disappointed not to gain an entry this year will have learned the importance of posting their entries early for this popular event. Hopefully Kenilworth will take a larger team back to Derby next year, intent on retaking the club crown.
At the post event curry, the team reflected upon their performance and learned from the chairman that maximum advantage can be gained by 'shaving down' before the event.
Individual gongs:
Trevor Clark
7 Golds - 25m back, 100m free, 50m back, 100m fly, 25m free, 50m breast, 100m back
2 Silvers - 50m free, 25m breast
Rob Robson
6 Golds - 25m fly, 50m fly, 100m IM, 100m free, 25m breast, 25m free
4 Silver - 25m back, 50m back, 100m fly, 50m breast
1 Bronze - 50m free
Mel McWhirter
6 Golds - 25m fly, 100m breast, 100m IM, 25m breast, 25m free, 50m breast
1 Silver - 50m back
1 Bronze - 25m back,
John Smith
4 Golds - 25m fly, 50m fly, 100m free, 100m fly
2 Silvers - 50m free, 25m free
Zim Ryall
4 Golds - 25m fly, 100m breast, 50m back, 50m breast
5 Bronze - 50m free, 25m back, 100m IM, 25m breast, 25m free
Helen Russell
2 Golds - 100m free, 100m fly
5 Silvers - 25m fly, 50m free, 50m fly, 25m breast, 25m free
Stuart Parker
2 Golds - 25m back, 50m back
3 Silvers - 25m fly, 50m free, 50m fly
1 Bronze - 25m free
Steve Goult
2 Golds 50m free, 50m breast
1 Silver - 100m IM
Clare Wilkinson
2 Golds - 100m breast, 50m breast
1 Silver - 100m IM
Roy McWhirter
1 Gold - 100m back
1 Bronze - 100m breast
Robert Egan:
1 Silver - 25m breast
1 Bronze - 50m breast
Kirsten Baddick
1 Silver - 50m back
David Underhill
2 Bronze - 100m breast, 25m breast
Paul Goldsmith
1 Bronze - 25m free
Gareth Wilkinson
1 Bronze - 100m breast
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