SESSION 7 & 8 RESULTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

The morning session of the day 3 of competition was a good one for Otters 400m Freestyle swimmers who all finished in the top 5 of their age groups.  Lex Higlett placed 2nd in the ladies 30/34 yrs (4:50.59), Michael Wake was 2nd in the mens 75/79  yrs (6:41.50). Wade Rimbach (4:45.69) & Pip Bennett (4:53.48) finished 3rd in the mens 30/34 & 35/39 years. Derek Parr 70/72 picked up a Bronze (6:23.90) & Christina Bertucci finished 4th (5:20.09) in the Ladies 18-24 years. 

Dave Warren & Derek Parr continued their domination of the mens 45/49 & 70/74 age groups in Session 8 winning the 200 Fly in 2:19.43 & 3:27.55. Pip Bennett medalled in his first ever 200 fly, picking up a bronze in the mens 35/39 age group. 

Otter were strong again in the Breastroke. Breast, Kim Liu won the mens 18-24 years 50m in 31.97, with Dontony Gill-Nasadi in 3rd in the same age group with a 34.54. Craig Gillespie (25/29) & Liz Shaw (50/55) finished second in their age groups with times of 31.48 & 43.05. While Enrico got Bronze in the 35/39 with a 33.53

Dontony 3rd in the 50m Breastroke this morning. 

In the final event of the day, the 100m free, Dave Warren (56.58), Peter Kirk (1.04.30), Lex Higlett (1.02.22), Gina Hobson (1.03.80) placed second in their age groups while Stephen Braine & Michael Wake finished 3rd. 

For full results from all sessions can be found here

SESSION 6 RESULTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

Otter had some great results in the 200m Back in session 6. Alex Fraser continued his fine form from the mornings session winning the mens 18/24 Yrs 200 Back in 2:25.84. Wade also won his age group (30/34) in 2:28.58. Pip Bennett picked up a bronze in the mens 35/39. While in the ladies Gina placed 4th in the 35/39 & Lesley placed 6th. 

Otter picked up Silver & Bronze in the Mens 60/65 50m free with Stephen Brain finishing in 29.16 & Peter Kirk in 29.40. Mike Reys (40/45) & Gina Hobson (35/39) also picked up bronze medals in the event. Five Otter ladies swam under 30 in the event; Lex 28.44, Gina 28.72, Shkurks 28.99, Catherine 29.04 & Olivia 29.61. 

Gina smashing the 50 Free. 

Full results from all swimmers can be found here. 

SESSION 5 HIGHLIGHTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dave Warren was a busy man in the 5th session of the 2016 British Masters & Senior age group championships. 

Dave kicked off the session winning his third British record of the Championships with a 1:00.40 effort in the 45/49 Yrs 100m Butterfly. Derek Parr won the 70/72 age group in an impressive 1.19.92 while Oli Caldwell (30/34), Alex Fraser (18-24) & Michelle Senecal (35/39) came second in their respective age groups. Stephen Braine also medalled finishing 3rd in the mens 60/64 years 100 Fly. 

Dave Warren then won the mens 45/49 Yrs 200m Free (2L04.54). Ollie Caldwell picked up his second silver of the session with a 2:10.33 in the 34/39 Yrs, while Peter Kirk (60/64) & Lex Higlett (30/34) came away with Bronze. Dave then backed up to win the mens & women's team 160+ 400 free relay with Mike Reys, Emma Shkurka & Gina Hobson in 4.04.84. Before young Alex Fraser finished 3rd in the mens 18-24 50m Back with a 31.62

 Alex Fraser ready for the mens 18-24 50m Back.

Full results from the Championships can be found here. 

SESSION 4 HIGHLIGHTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

Having set a British 200m IM record on the opening day of the Championships, Otter’s David Warren claimed the British 45/49 Yrs 400m IM British record, winning his age group in 4:59.64. Wade Rimbach (5:16.03) & Derek Parr (7:51.27) won the 400IM in the30/34 & 70/74 age groups. 

Otter also had strong performances in the 100m Breast, with Michael Wake winning the 75/79 age group & Liz Shaw (50/54), Kim Liu (18/24) & Craig Gillespie (25/29) picking up silvers. 

Kim dives in for the 100m Breast. 

The Otter women's 200M free relay team of Lex Higlett, Olivia Reynolds, Emma Shkurka & Gina Hobson won the 120+ age group in 1:55.22. While the Otter Mens 240+ 200M free relay team of Roger, Anthony, Steve & Michael came 3rd. 

Full results from the championships can be found here. 

SESSION 3 HIGHLIGHTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

In the 3rd session of the day the Otter Mens 240+ relay teams backed up their earlier one two in the 800 free team race to go one two in the 400 mens free relay too. Stephen, Peter, Peter & Paul got their second British Record of the day winning in 4:22.23, while Roger, Anthony, Michael & Steve finished came in second.

Stephen, Peter, Peter & Paul with their second GB relay record of the meet. 

The Ladies 400 relay team of Lex, Olivia, Gina & Catherine stormed home to win the 120+ age group in 4:14.52, 6 seconds faster that the current British Record.

Lex, Olivia, Gina & Catherine. 

Derek Par (70/74) picked up another gold in the mens 50 Fly. Abi Rhodes (20/24), Emma Shkurka (30/34), Gina Hobson (35/39) all came second in their respective age groups, with Michelle (34/39) & Stephen (60/62) just missing out on medals in 4th, and Emma Cartwright (40/44)coming in 13th. 

Derek Parr on his way to gold in the 70-74 years 50 Fly. 

Kim Liu (20/24), Craig Gillepsie (25/29) & Micheal Wake (75/79) all picked up gold medals in the 200Breast. Dontony Gill-Nasadi (20/24), Wade Rimbach (30/32), Enrico Hahn (35/39) & Liz Shaw (50/55) all won Bronze. With Pip Bennett in 6th & Christophe Amardeilh in 7th in the mens 35/39.

Craig wins gold in white for Otter in the 200 Breast. 

For more results from the championships visit https://www.swimmingresults.org.uk/masters/results/2016/bsmasters16/index.php

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.