Masters competitions started in January with Judy Hattle and Graham Pearson, who aged up into a new age category, travelling to Blackpool for the Lancashire Meet. In the 60-64 years age group Graham broke the British record for the 200 breaststroke in 2.50.83 narrowly missing the European record – by 0.01 of a second. He then went on to break the 100 breaststroke record in 1.19.26. He followed this later in the month by travelling to Crawley where he broke the 50 and 200 long course records.
In February 4 swimmers Myles Little, Paul Gibson, Graham Pearson and Judy Hattle made the journey to the Silver City Blues Swim Meet in Aberdeen. Myles came first in 4 events and added a second and third. Paul won his 100 back crawl and was second in 3 other events. In the 50 breaststroke Graham, despite a false start and a lane rope breaking, managed to finish in a time of 35.25 which was a new British record. He also lowered his 100 to 1.17.74. The journey home was interesting due to a rather large fall of snow during the afternoon!
Also in February at the North West Region long distance meet Judy Hattle broke the European record for the 400 Individual Medley and then followed that up with a trip to Swansea in March where she broke the long course European records for 200 butterfly and 400 Individual medley.
A group of 12 Carlisle Aquatics swimmers made the trip to Darlington on the 25th March 2012 to swim in their annual meet. It was good to see a mixture of ages and some competitive swimming amongst the Carlisle swimmers as much as against their opposition!
Making a come back after some time out, following a hip replacement, Pat Johnson competed in eight events winning and making Cumbrian records in all of them! A further 4 Cumbrian records were set by Alan Young (25-29) and Paul Gibson (45-49) in the 200 freestyle and Myles Little (40-44) in the 50 butterfly and 200 freestyle.
The event of the day from a spectator’s point of view was the Men’s 100 free where Carlisle Aquatics had two swimmers in different age groups in the same heat. – Alan Young and Myles Little. Myles came out the winner of the three narrowly missing breaking the minute.
Steve Foster had a very successful meet with 4 gold’s which could have been five if his goggles had not fallen off at the start of the 100 free! It happens to us all! Also competing were Vanessa Foster(3rd 50 F/s), Dave Carruthers (3rd 100 Br/s) and Johnathon Hewitt (3rd 50 and 100 Br/s).
The Scottish Masters Championships were held at Scotstoun this year and as usual the Saturday was finished off by a Ceildh at Glasgow University Student Union. Three swimmers attended - Amanda Atkinson ( 1st 200 back and 2nd in 400 Individual Medley), Judy Hattle and Graham Pearson.
At the British Masters Long Course Championships in Sheffield 4-6th May 2012 Graham Pearson broke the British record for the 100 Breaststroke in a time of 1.20.43. He competed in 5 events winning 4 of his 5 events. Judy Hattle had a good meet, competing in 6 events she won them all and broke her existing European records for the 100 and 200 butterfly, equalled her British record in the 50 butterfly and broke the British record for the 200 Individual Medley.
Judy Hattle
