European Championships
Kranj - Slovenia - 28 August - 2 September 2007

Not ones to miss an opportunity to work up a sweat, it was 20 tapered Otters who travelled to the Slovenian city of Kranj to compete in the highly billed ‘XI European Maters (sic) Championships 2007’. Here are the highlights.

THE SWIMMING

The Hall of Fame

Kicking off the medal winning performances in a masterful display of freestyle swimming was none other than birthday girl Gina ‘Hoff’ Hobson - breezing into the wall in a 3 second PB of 2.16.95 to take bronze in the 200m. Not satisfied with one podium-worthy performance, the Ladies’ Captain went on to do the double - taking bronze in the 200m back in 2.41.10.

Not to be outdone in the medal stakes were resident breaststroke specialists Fiona ‘Moorhouse’ Marshall and Ruth ‘Roulette Master’ Morrison. Both ladies romped home in sensational style to take gold in their age groups in 35.71 and 35.52 respectively in the 50m. It might well have been another double gold medal winning performance in the 100m were it not for a) the monsoonal weather conditions necessitating a change of pool and b) a slightly ambitious start from the Morrison which failed to go unnoticed by the judges. Fiona nevertheless rose to the occasion and brought it home in 1.20.42 to claim bronze in the 30-34 age group. Liz ‘Leisel’ Shaw also produced a commanding performance in the 40-44 year old age group coming home 13th in a long course season’s best of 1.29.77.

200m long course butterfly? Sounds like a job for Michelle ‘Schipper’ Senecal. Banishing the demons of her 175m Manchester performance, she overhauled the opposition to take silver in 2.33.37. In the men’s event, it was Derek ‘Parry’ Parr and Rob ‘Would-be Olympian’ Williams who set the standard. In pain barrier busting performances, Derek took bronze in 2.58.33 and Rob took 10th in 2.43.94.

Never one to shirk from swims that strike fear into lesser mortals, Lesley (Sharron) Davies put in solid performances in the 200m IM, 400m free and 200m breast.

Undeterred by an Otter dinner induced injury, Roger ‘Phelps’ Phillips produced his best performance of the meet in the 50m free - coming home in a new PB of 31.46 to take 15th place in the men’s 60-64 age group. Well done Roger!

Sneaking in under the radar to make a special guest star appearance in the 50m back was none other than Steve ‘Sweetenham’ Bratt. Coach Steve took 19th place in 41.11.

Flying the flag for the Otter sprint fraternity was Andy ‘Hayden’ Hudson in the100m free and 50 fly. In his usual PB per performance style, Andy took over a second off his Manchester time to break the minute barrier in the 100m free and a half second improvement saw him skate under the 30 second mark in his 50m fly.

The Showdowns

There’s nothing us Otters love better than a good old intra-Otter showdown and we weren’t disappointed. First up, in a performance worthy of gold in the synchronised swimming duet final were Gina and Jane ‘Papa(razzi)’ Macca in the 400m free. Undeterred by conditions not witnessed since the 1988 Thames Valley Junior League (2 swimmers per lane, starts from the deck and lane ropes so loose they could be used for skipping practice) it was the stuff that Otter legends are made of. For 8 long lengths the Otter ladies were eyeball to eyeball, stroke for stroke with only a black line between them. A final push from Jane looked to have sealed it for the Lane 2 legend but a sneaky finish from the Ladies’ Captain saw her pinch top spot a mere .16 seconds ahead.

Not to be outdone in the Otter grudge-match stakes were Michelle ‘Sprint Supremo’ Senecal and Jane ‘Louis Vuitton-sponsored’ Leighton. The stage was set: up stepped the Senecal looking mean in newly purchased FS Pro - just like the infamous goldfish, these guys were going down. Jane stood on the side looking puzzled: she really should have brought her straighteners - the weather was playing havoc with her hair and the handbag storage facilities were frankly disappointing - she’d expected more from a FINA affiliated event. In a customarily gritty performance by the Lane 1 stalwarts, it was Michelle that had the edge on this occasion - taking silver to Jane’s bronze. Round 1 to the Senecal!

Round 2: the 200m breaststroke. The opposition: Ruth ‘Maverick’ Morrison. Young pretender vs. vintage veteran. Who would walk away winner? It was Ruth who took it out over the first 100 but in a come back of Peter Mandelson proportions, it was Jane who made the race her own. Powering down the final 50m, she obliterated the opposition to come in almost 3 seconds ahead of the pack. Round 2 to Jane!

The Relays

Making up the women’s 100+ freestyle team were well known sprint specialists Michelle ‘Silverware’ Senecal and Katherine ‘Manaudou’ Mearman accompanied by Katie ‘unaccustomed to swimming on her front’ Goodall and Lauren ‘IM’ Edwards. Would Coach Steve’s HVO sets pay off or would it be kippers all round for this rookie team? Stunning PB performances by Michelle - 28.and Katherine - 30. saw team Otter snatch gold in 2.01.40. Tell us again Michelle: ‘What ees sprint keeper?!’

It was a similar story in the medley (Katie, Jane L, Michelle and Lauren), where the ladies left the suspiciously Royal Navyesque Cally team in their wake to notch up their second title of the Championships.

For the more experienced 120+ team (Gina, Fiona, Jane M, Ruth), it wasn’t just titles on offer but records too. Storming performances by the Otter ladies in the freestyle relay saw them steam past the height enhanced Hungarian team to take gold in a new British record time of 1.55.05 (an huge 1.5 seconds under the old Otter-held record). It was a sterling performance in the medley as well - a new GB record (beating the Hants North time by almost a second) and a silver medal to boot. Top times ladies!

After an extended absence, it was a pleasure to welcome back to the pool occasional Otters Ross Croasdell and Matt Staines. Unrelenting in their commitment to the Otter cause, their preparation had been nothing short of punishing. Training at altitude for much of the week, likely lads Croasdell and Staines pushed the envelope with their unremitting regime of tobogganing, sunbathing and strudel consumption. Magnanimously forsaking fastskin (Ross) and individual glory, it was all about taking one for the team for this dedicated pair.

The drag panted veteran Ross surveyed the pool. He had weighty matters on his mind, not least whether he should have had that 15th pastry for breakfast. It had been some time since he had seen a swimming pool let alone swum in one and 50m was looking like an awfully long way. Summoning up the spirit of the Boilermakers, he dived in. All but his Bologna brothers were overwhelmed by the wash and the Otter 120+ mixed free team (Ross, Matt, Fiona, Gina) stormed to silver in a time of 1.48.54.

Exchanging Fiona and Gina for Andy and Rob, the men clocked up more impressive swims in the fiercely contested 120+ relay events, taking 7th and 9th in the free and medley respectively. We’re eagerly awaiting the showdown with Swindon at Sheffield.

The Open Water

Having dominated in the pool, the Otter ladies took to the Lake to show their European cousins what open water swimming was all about. Newcomers Jane, Macca and Fiona were flanked by open water veteran Katherine who was fitting the swim into a packed programme of international appearances.

It was impressive results all round with Jane taking 4th, Macca 6th, Katherine 10th and Fiona 16th in their respective age groups.

Special mention should go to Fiona who spent much of the rest of the day branded with her competitor number (a rather unfortunate 69). Who knew the sun protection powers of permanent markers?

THE EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Rachel ‘The Force’ Joyce led interval training sets up Ljubljana Castle.

Ruth bankrupted the casino winning literally ‘huuundreds’ on roulette.

Jane M and Rachel went on a leisurely cycle of Slovenia’s highest peaks.

In order of appearance, Roger ‘Frogman’ Phillips, Katie ‘I’ll go first’ Goodall, Lauren ‘Look, no hands!’ Edwards, Andy ‘Bomber’ Hudson and Matt ‘I scream like a girl’ Staines went canyoning.

Lauren devised new ways to warm a wetsuit - I’ll let her explain but suffice it to say I pity the poor person/child that gets her wetsuit next time.

THE AWARDS

The Oliver Reed award for inebriation - Ruth (who else?!).

For excellence in lane etiquette - the German team.

Best swim of the meet without getting wet - Matt in the 50m Free.

The CBI Waiver of Working Time Regulations award - Coach Steve (thank you again for all those hours on poolside).

Her Majesty’s medallion for multiple birthdays - Gina.

The Amy Winehouse award for absenteeism - Ross and Matt.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Congratulations to everyone on a sensational set of swims and all the very best for Sheffield. Peaches, it’s over to you.