Masters

WELSH CLOSED CHAMPIONSHIPS
AT ABERTILLERY, SOUTH WALES
SATURDAY, 6TH NOVEMBER 2004

The Wrexham Masters team competed in the Welsh Closed Championships at Abertillery, South Wales on Saturday, 6th November 2004. The Championships attracted teams from all over Wales.
The five Wrexham men who swam in 28 races achieved 14 x 1st places, 11 x 2nd places and 3 x 4th places. The veteran of the team, Edward Lloyd, won all 6 events he competed in. A very good performance from a 73 year old.
Eric Hodgson produced a very good performance in his age group. In his first race he knocked seven-tenths of a second off his own Welsh Record, finishing the day with 3 x 1st places and 3 x 2nd places.

Stephen Stritch had 3 x 1st places and 2 x 2nd places.
Terry McDermott had 4 x 2nd places.
Barry Lewis had 1 x 1st place, 2 x 2nd places and 3 x 4th places.

The two Wrexham ladies swam well, but their diving inexperience at the start of their races proved too much to make up, Laura Jenkins swimming in her 2nd competition gained 3rd place in the 100 mts breast stroke and personal bests in the 50 mtrs breast stroke and 50 mts freestyle. Donna Shepherd gained a 2nd place in the 25m breast stroke and personal bests in the 100 mts breast stroke, 100 mtrs freestyle and 50 mtrs breast stroke.

In the men’s 2 x relay races, the Wrexham team had 1 x first place and 1 x 2nd place.
In the mixed relay races (2 x men and 2 x ladies) the Wrexham team had 2 x 3rd places.

The team left Wrexham at 6 am and arrived home at 10 pm. It had been a long day for everyone and they should be congratulated on their efforts and achievements. They can now concentrate on their training at Wrexham Water World for the next Masters swimming event, which is to be held at Shrewsbury on Saturday 8th January 2005.