News

Spondon Masters on BBC Breakfast T.V. 25th January

Several members of Spondon Masters got up early on a Friday Morning to be interviewed, live by Jenny Hill of BBC Breakfast, whilst others were in the background training at the Lonsdale Pool, Mickleover.

This was part of a programme about promoting sport and fitness for the older athlete, where a 70 year + pole vaulter and an 80 year old + cyclist were also featured.

It was worth getting up to promote Masters swimming, and the other sports too.

FOIL & ALUMINIUM CANS

Please, please collect these and let Jen have them once you have a carrier bag full..... last year Jen made £74 on this so it does make a difference.....

(To put it into perspective - pool hire is now £40 an hour).

STANDING ORDERS

Most of us now pay by standing order - so thank you for your response to our last request....

Still one or two of you left to convert to paying by standing order ... PLEASE !!!

TABLE TOP SALES

Jen continues to do her regular Sunday morning sales - without which our finances would be in a sorry state! In the financial year ending 30th September 2012

Jen raised the magnificent sum of £810 !!

So, please continue to provide Jen with stock to sell - as new items such as books/CD's/DVD's/unwanted ornaments/unwanted gifts/ etc etc.

Anything - as long as it is in good condition - Jen can sell it!!

A.G.M.

Pleased to see a few new faces at our AGM. Lee - our Chairman of many many years has asked to stand down and we elected a new chairman in Brian Brooks. A new Welfare Officer in Nigel Martin - all other members remaining the same as last year.

TABLE TOP SALES

You may already be aware, but for our newer members – Jen regularly does a Sunday morning table top sale which raises vital funds to keep our club afloat financially (pun intended!). New "Stock" is always very welcome. Do you have any unwanted gifts/CD’s/DVD’s/books etc etc in good condition which you could donate for Jen to sell? If so, could you kindly bring items to the pool on a club night when Jen will be very pleased to receive them.

SWIMMING FEES

I have been asked by Max, our esteemed treasurer, to respectfully remind everyone who does not already pay their monthly subs by banker’s order straight to our account, that it is our preferred method of payment, for several reasons:

It helps considerably with our budgeting. As you probably know, our finances are always very tight. If we know for certain that £X amount is coming in every month, regardless of whether you make all the sessions you book for, then we know we have the money to pay the pool hire.

It eliminates the need for you to remember to bring your subs with you every time you swim.

It’s much easier for everyone if there is no cash to handle when we all just want to get in and swim.

We hope you appreciate our reasoning for this request. Max can e-mail you a standing order form for you to complete and send to your bank - or can give you a printed copy if you prefer. Many thanks for your co-operation and help in this.

And if you already pay by standing order - which most of us already do - then thank you - it is much appreciated.

OUR BRITISH RECORD HOLDER!!!!!!!!!!!

For those who don’t already know – Jen now holds all the short course British Records for the 50m, 100m and 200m breast stroke events in her age group. At the National Championships in Sheffield in October she broke her own existing records. Congratulations to Jen – and to Mick for his brilliant coaching. All this from our little club and our little pool in Mickleover! Brilliant!

Well, that's all folks - I did warn you it was a long newsletter - lots to say!! Looking forward to seeing as many of you as can make it to the AGM on Tuesday 4th December at the British Legion. Thanks for your responses to help with AGM attendance numbers, much appreciated.

Reminder

Not content with coming back from the world championships with four medals, Jen was straight back to doing a Sunday Table Top sale, making another £65 for club funds.

Many thanks to Jen - without whose single-handed fundraising we would really be struggling to pay the pool hire costs - we really are that tight for cash!!

SO - if anyone has any stock that Jen can sell, please please bring it to club asap. Things ranging from unwanted books/CDs/DVDs/jewellery/ornaments/china/good quality clothes/nearly-new shoes/children's games/toys/jigsaws/pictures/ornaments/ Unwanted presents/home-made jams and pickles - the list is endless.

All Jen asks is that your items are in good condition to sell.

And don't forget to keep collecting your aluminium cans and tin foil and bring it to club.... it really does mount up and Jen sells this to a local scrap dealer, again adding to our funds.

FINAL RESULTS FROM MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN RICCIONE, ITALY

Last swim for our "girls" today and it was Jen's turn in her favourite event - the 200m breastroke - Jen only won ! and is coming home with a

Gold medal for a time of 3.19 - 14 seconds ahead of one of her old rivals, Sabine from Germany.

So the tally is:

Jen

1st place - 200 breast - 3.19

2nd 100 breast - 1.31

3rd 50 breast - 42.86

4th 50 Fly - 38.94

Karen

5th place - 800 free - 11.21

5th - 200 free - 2.38

Audrey

some of you will not know Audrey -

she swam with us before moving to Wales, but is still a member of Spondon Masters. Audrey trains near her home with schedules

sent to her by Mick and qualified to go to Riccione.

However, Audrey got a bug on the first day in Italy which made her really poorly and a visit to the championships' doctor resulted in her being put on a course of anti-biotics.

Audrey swam in the 50 free, but was disappointed with her time, felt rotten and so sadly had to withdraw from her other events, which was a real shame after all that training.

Bad luck, Audrey - hope you are feeling better now.

The first 6 places receive a world medal, so its medals all the way for Jen and Karen. Mick still has the skill to produce world class swimmers and I am sure you will all wish to congratulate the "girls" and Mick on their outstanding achievement at this year's World Masters Championships.

To the rest of us - keep at it everyone - we may not be World class, but we can still "give it some wellie" at Lonsdale pool every week!!

We want to hear news of your competion results - be it marathons, open water events, tri events, water polo, etc etc....... so please let Sabbie have details so she can put them onto Spondon Masters website and email to me so that I can email out to everyone.

Great Britain long course Championships, held in Sheffield 4th - 6th May 2012

4 Club members competed in the Great Britain long course Championships, held in Sheffield 4th - 6th May 2012

Jenny Merritt broke her own British 200m breaststoke record in the 60-64yrs age group and also won the 100m and 50m breast.

While Karen Jennings and Jean Hiatt got two silver medals each, both of them in new age groups this year.

Karen in the 800m and 400m freestyle in her age group of 55-59yrs and Jean in the 1500m and 400m freestyle 65-69yrs.

Audrey Watson swimming at the top of her age group, produced her best results at the GB champs ever doing 3 personal best times and a 5th place in the 50m butterfly.

A great all round result for all, just the boost for Jenny, Karen and Audrey who are competing in Italy in June at the World Masters Swimming Championships.