A SUNNY Saturday saw an exodus of Okehampton Otters Masters swimmers travel to Exe Valley Leisure Centre in Tiverton for the annual Devon County Masters Championships.
This competition is open to all swimmers from age 19 years upwards with swimmers competing in age bands set with five year spans.
A record 21 adult Otters members were at the event, highlighting the popularity and emerging talent from the Masters section of the club. Five years ago the Otters were only able to field a squad of three!
The Otters swimmers were entered into an impressive 55 individual events and 13 relays between them, by far the largest club component of the competition.
The returning swimmers were joined by an impressive hoard of medals consisting of four gold, six silver and six bronze for individual performances.
Swimming at this event for the first time Jenny Rice (19 -24 age group) became Devon Masters Champion in the 50m front crawl and 100m IM. Jackie Jarvis (45- 49 age group) retained her 50m back crawl title from the previous year, adding a second Devon Masters champion title to her name in the 50m freestyle event.
Silver medals went to Jenny Rice (19 -24 age group) 50m back crawl, butterfly and breaststroke, Jackie Jarvis (45 - 49 age group) 50m breaststroke, Sonia Geering (45 -49 age group) 50m back crawl and Alison Kimber (40 -44 age group) 50m butterfly.
Rob Aubry (19 -24 age group) and Paul Hammett (40 -44 age group) both picked up third positions in the 50m back crawl and 50m breaststroke. Sonia Geering (45 -49 age group) and Sarah Green (35 -39 age group) both swam to third places in the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle respectively.
Of the 15 relays swum the Otters came near to victory in three events. Ladies? 180 years medley and freestyle squads and men?s 180 years freestyle team took the three second positions.
An impressive 25 personal best performances were swum over the evening. Andy Kirby (50m freestyle and breaststroke), Sarah Green (50m freestyle and 100m IM), David Harding (50m breaststroke and freestyle), Paul Biddle (50m freestyle), Mandy Podd (50m freestyle), Jackie Rice (50m freestyle), Keith Webber (50m freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and 100m IM), Fiona Aylen (50m freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke), Sam North (50m freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke), Jackie Jarvis (50m freestyle), Sonia Geering (50m backstroke and breaststroke), Nick Bradley (100m IM), Rob Aubry (50m backstroke), and Kevin Jones (50m breaststroke).
In the Otters Masters Age Bands ten new age band records were established. Paul Biddle setting new records for his freestyle, butterfly and breaststroke swims, Jenny Rice in her backstroke and breaststroke, Sarah Green in her freestyle and IM, Nick Bradley in his IM, Kevin Jones in his backstroke and Jackie Jarvis in her freestyle.
Other Masters attending were Nick Bowles and Sue Wonnacott with Susie Rice and Cheryl Jones swimming relay legs only.
The Otters masters section has witnessed a big increase in popularity this year, now reputed to have well in excess of 30 members. The group can offer two evenings of Masters-only training sessions with coaching provided by Otters Club teachers on Tuesday and Fridays from 8pm to 9pm and is hoping to run a further evening session to meet demand. Although sessions are well attended new members are welcome and anyone competent in lane swimming who wishes to improve their stamina and technique should contact the Masters secretary on 01837 840663 for a chat - competition swimming is not compulsory!