SESSION 2 HIGHLIGHTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

After a successful start to Nationals in session 1, Otter was back in action in session 2 for the 200IM, 100Back & 4x200 Freestyle relay. 

Dave Warren celebrated his first British Champs in the 45/49 years age group with a British record in the 200m Individual Medley, finishing in 2:17.82. (Nice one BOD). Derek Parr won the 70/74 age group in 3:20.60, while Mike Reys picked up 2nd in 40/45 & Wade was 3rd in the 30/34. Dontony (20/24), Craig (25/29) & Enrico (35/39) finished 5th & Christophe (35/39) came in 10th. The Otter ladies also had some solid 200IM swims from Abi, Emma, Leslie & Jess. 

Dave Warren on his way to a new British Record i the 200IM.

In the 100 Back Anthony Ray finished 2nd in the 70/74 age group, Roger Lloyd-Mostyn (75/79) was 3rd. Gina Hobson was 4th (35/39) and Christophe Amardeilh was 8th (35/39)

The records continued to flow in the end-of-session relay events as the Otter team of Stephen, Peter, Peter & Paul set a new British 4x200m Freestyle record of 10:03.35 in the 240+ years age group. Otter also placed 2nd in the 240+ age group.

Stephen, Peter, Peter & Paul collecting their British Record medals for the 4x200m Freestyle record

Full results from the meet can be found on the ASA live site -- https://www.swimmingresults.org.uk/masters/results/2016/bsmasters16/index.php

SESSION 1 HIGHLIGHTS - 2016 British Masters & Snr Age Group Championships

The 2016 British Masters & Senior Age Group Long Course Championships kicked of this morning at Ponds Forge in Sheffield with the 800m Freestyle. 

Four Otter swimmers entered the event this year, two men & two ladies. Michael Wake finished 2nd in the Mens 75/79. His time of 13:36.52 set an Otter Long Course Club Record for the 75/79 age group. Pip Bennett finished 4th in a very, very competitive mens 30/34 (10:01.97). Lex Higlett won the 30/34 ladies age group in 10:04.90 - a new Ladies 30/34 Otter Long Course Club Record. Jess Thorpe finished in 3rd (10:20.10) in the same age group.

Full results from the meet can be found here. 

Lex Higlett won the 30/34 ladies age group, and set a new Otter Club 800m Freestyle record. 

Sasha represents England U17s

Otter Lutra player Sasha is representing England U17 Womens Waterpolo team at the EU Nations Cup in Denmark this weekend. @ENGWaterPolo we'll be poolside for live scores & streaming. Good luck Sasha!

Otter U/17s through to NAG Finals

Six-time champions City of Manchester have finished at the top of the Girls’ U17 Qualifiers 2016 table last weekend as they maintained their unbeaten record heading into next month’s finals. The qualifiers played at the Liverpool Aquatics Centre, were full of action. Defending champions Otter started slowly going down to City of Manchester (8-3 ) & Exeter (13-7) before securing their spot in the finals and a 3rd place ranking with a 5-4 win over Rotherham.

The Girls U17 Finals 2016 will take place at the Manchester Aquatics Centre from 23-24 April. A win in Saturdays 2nd vs 3rd Semi against Exeter will see Otter progress to the final where they will take on either  Manchester or Rotherham for the title. 

Otter through to U/17's NAG Qualifers

Otter & Otter Futura teams were both in action yesterday at the ASA National Age Group Water Polo Girls’ U17 Prelims. 

The Young Otter Futura development team were drawn in a very competitive Group A, where they took on the more experienced City of Manchester (12-0), Rotherham (6-2)  City of Liverpool (7-0) & Caledonia (8-3). The team played extremely well against tough older opposition. 

It wasn't smooth sailing for Otter on the Group B side of the draw either where there was nearly another shock. London Otter – going for a hat-trick of wins this year – left it until their last game to secure their spot in the Qualifiers. Last year’s fourth-placed side Exeter won the group, easing to victories over Welsh Wanderers, Cheltenham and Tyldesley after surprising Otter with an 8-3 win in their opening match in Gloucester. Otter quickly bounced back from their defeat to secure 17-3 victories over both Tyldesley and Cheltenham and set up a winner-takes-all clash with Welsh Wanderers for the second qualification spot. And any chances of an upset were quickly expelled as the London outfit came through 12-3 to book their spot at next weekend’s qualifiers in Liverpool.

Full results from there prelims here.

Swim Wales Open Masters 2016

A team of 17 Otters travelled to the Wales National Pool in Swansea on Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th of March for some Long Course race practice at the the Swim Wales Open Masters. 

Despite being early season there were some good Otter performances. The team won 31 gold, 14 Silver & 15 Bronze over the weekend including; Camille & Jess who, swimming in their first long course meet for Otter, won all of their events. Camille picking up gold in the 25-29 age group in the 200back, 200 breast & 400IM. Jess in the Ladies 30-34 200 & 800 Free.

Enrico won the 200 & 400IM, and the 100 & 200 Breast in the 35-39 age group. Wade won the 200 IM, 400IM, 200 Breast in the 30-34 age group. While Kim took out the 50, 100 & 200 Breast titles in the 18-24 age group. 

Gina, dominant as always, collected 4 golds (400 Free, 50 Free, 200 Back & 100 Back) and a bronze (100 Free) in the Ladies 35-39. Lesley won the 1500 free & 800 free, came 2nd in the 200 IM, and picked up 3rds in the 55-59 years 200 & 100 back. Fliss, swimming a gruelling schedule, finished 1st in the 200IM, 2nd in the 400IM, 200 Fly, 800 Free & 1500 Free, 3rd in the 100 Fly in the 25-29 year age group, and notching up some serious yards. & Lex won the 400 free & the 50 free in a championship record time, & placed second in the 100 & 800 free. 

Emma, Michelle, Olivia & Simon medalled in their respective age groups with Ben, Catherine, Alex & Mike picking up golds over the course of the weekend too. 

Otter teams won the 120+ 200 Mixed Medley relay, the 120+ 200 Mixed Freestyle relay & the 120+ Ladies 200 Freestyle relay. 

Congratulations to all of the Otters who swam on the weekend. Full results from the meet & times can be found here. 

Otter post strong results at U/19s NAG Prelims

Otter & Otter Futura teams were both in action yesterday at the ASA National Age Group Water Polo Girls’ U19 Prelims. 

The Young Otter Futura development team were drawn in Group A, and started the day with losses in their first two U/19s games to Exeter (7-2) & Sussex Marlins (9-3). With two games under their belts the Young Futura team held reining Champions City of Manchester to only four goals (4-1), before giving Caledonia a run for their money before going down (5-3). Undaunted Otter Futura put everything they'd learnt into practice in the last game to finish on a high with a tightly fought victory against Cheltenham (5-4). The team will hope to get a few more wins under their belt at the Plate finals on the 23rd of April, where they will take on Northampton & City of Leeds. 

Meanwhile last years silver medalists Otter U/19s team were having fun on the other side of the draw in Group B. The team cruised to victory vs Hucknall (8-0), Northampton (25-1) & City of Leeds (7-1). The only blip on their radar was dropping their 3rd game of the day vs City of Liverpool (5-3). But it 3 from 4 was enough to see them come second in the group, and qualify alongside Liverpool & Group A winners Manchester, Mid Sussex & Exeter for the Girls’ U19 Qualification Round of the ASA National Age Group Championships in Watford on 9 – 10 April. 

Full results from there prelims here.

Helena defending for Otter. 

Congratulations Enrico

Congratulations to Otter's Enrico Hahn who came 3rd in the 200m Breastroke at the German Masters Nationals last weekend, swimming an amazing Long course PB of 2:38.12. Smashed it. 

Tim Kendall takes on the Rottnest Channel Swim

Good luck to Tim Kendall, who is swimming in the Rottnest Channel Swim tomorrow, Saturday 27th February, in Australia. 

All the money Tim raises will go towards the efforts of the GB Men’s Junior Squad, guided by coach Tim Dunsbee, as they prepare for the European Championships qualifiers in May. 

To sponsor Tim, please click here and mark your donation for “Men's Water Polo Development”.

The Rottnest Channel Swim is the largest open water marathon event in the world, and Tim will be swimming as a duo alongside fellow ex-water polo player, Gary Semini, starting at 6:35am local time.

There’s an app for following the event and you can keep up with Tim's progress here with the details “Otter Westbridge”, team number 373.

Best of luck Tim, from all the Otters!

Warren tops the 2015 British Masters Decathlon

Congratulations to Otter Dave Warren who has won the Mens 2015 British Masters Decathlon. 

The British Swimming Masters Decathlon is a true test of versatility over the course of the season.
Swimmers’ performances from Masters competitions throughout the year are assigned points and each swimmer is awarded an overall tally based on their top points scores from 10 of the 18 individual events. All swims from Masters competitions in the British Swimming Masters Rankings database are automatically entered into the competition. There is no age group split in the Masters Decathlon; instead points are adjusted depending on age to ensure a fair comparison. With prizes are on offer for the top individual swimmers as well as the top club.

Otter's Dave Warren was the top male swimmer in 2015 with 6815 points. 6 other Otters finished in the mens top 100. Derek Parr came in at number 26 with 5258 points, Craig Gillepsie was 36th with 5050 points, Wade was 42nd with 4895 points, Nico Barber was 53rd with 4745 points, Enrico finished 85th with 4244 points & Neal Thomson was 96th with 4090points.

Otter had four of the top 100 female swimmers too. In 18th place was Gina Hobson with 5436 points, Laure Kearns was 32nd with 5027 points, Helen Prentice was 40th with 4799 points with Michelle Senecal in 58th with 4443 points.

A full list of results from the decathlon can be found here.  Congratulations to all swimmers who competed.