NORTHGATE Swimming Club’s David Clarke performed exceptionally well at the British Masters Championship. David achieved two Midland District records in the 1500m and 800m freestyle which was a tremendous achievement. He also got a second place in the 400m individual medley and top four finishes in the 400m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 200m butterfly.
David also got a top eight finish in the 200m freestyle to complete an excellent set of results at this top level. The prestigious meeting, sponsored by British Gas, was held in Sheffield’s Ponds Forge pool which is the home of British Swimming.
Northgate promotes swimming at all ages and at all levels. The club’s senior and junior group swimmers compete in club and open galas and, like the club’s teaching group, have lots of fun with their friends. However the fun doesn’t stop there as lots of the club’s older members also swim at various events.
As well as David Clarke swimming superbly at the British Masters, Northgate’s Lucy Turner and Nick Thacker were both at the recent European Masters Championship in Cadiz, Spain. Lucy and Nick both swam terrifically at the event which followed on from their impressive performances at the last World Masters Championship in Perth, Australia.
Northgate has also had swimmers at this year’s Great North Open Water Swim in Lake Windermere. Andy Hawker, Charles Foxall, Paul Breese and Rob Pace all did wonderfully well in the event and also had a thoroughly enjoyable day.
In excellent times for their mile of swimming in England’s longest lake, Rob Pace and Charles Foxall finished in tremendous fifth and seventh places respectively in their races.
Andy Hawker got a top 15 finish and Paul Breese also swam strongly in this most testing of challenges.
The next event for Northgate’s group of older swimmers will be the Shrewsbury Masters Gala in January. Last year the Club took 17 swimmers and came an impressive fifth out of the 37 clubs throughout Britain that attended.
As well as a super first performance at such a gala, it was also commented that the Bridgnorth swimmers were the most vocal and seemed to be having the most fun of all the competing teams.
This year the club will have an impressive 23 swimmers at the event which is open to 18 year old and over swimmers. Events are in five year age group bandings and competing for Northgate will be Andy Hawker, Andy Lyle, Charles Foxall, Chris Biddle, David Clarke, Holly Haywood, Ian Marshall, James Lyle, Joe Thacker, John Sanders, Kate Fullerlove, Lin Greves, Lucy Turner, Mark Smith, Matt Lambert, Mike Upton, Nick Thacker, Nicki Smith, Paul Breese, Rob Hughes, Sally Themans, Stef Otto and Stewart Burton.