Isle of Wight Masters

Ten of our most intrepid Otters made the trip across the Solent to swim at the Isle of Wight masters competition at Sandown. This is an excellent opportunity to blow off the pre season cobwebs and set the bar for this year’s racing (in some cases this can ONLY get higher from here on in!).

Special mention has to go to our Otter debutantes; Melissa Perks, Chris Sutton and Courtney Campbell and their impressive performances both in and out of the pool.

The weekend kicked off with a relaxing stroll down the seafront and what can only be described as ‘mahoosive’ ice creams before racing to see Melissa swim a commanding 800 free, finishing 2nd in the competitive ‘S’ age group in a PB matching 10:07.16. Not bad for someone who brought an outfit for every social occasion yet forgot to bring a key accessory – the swimming costume!!!

However, Mel has but one lesson to learn: When the organisers get your age wrong and put you down as a 1980 birth, it is inadvisable to stand in a crowd of people in their late 20s and early 30s and very loudly state, “well, I’m not THAT old” – talk of a lynch mob was quickly calmed by the more pressing need to eat dinner at ‘the Reef’.

For those of us who hadn’t completed two thirds of our total race distance by 6pm on Friday, Saturday brought the main block of racing. There are too many races to mention individually so onto the highlights. 

First up, the 100 free and lining up together; Hannah Brown and Courtney Campbell. “Take your marks, g……”, unfortunately Hannah jumped the gun a little, resulting the first of a series of disasters in the form of a DQ. For Courtney, a significant improvement on her rather conservative estimated entry time (13% according to the organiser). Next, Michelle Senecal and Gina Hobson, with both putting in good early season swims, and completing a 1-2-3 in the B age band (Hobson, Senecal, Campbell). The sole entrant to the men’s event, David Roberts, produced a good early season swim to win his age group by a clear margin.

The 50 backstroke (and in fact all the backstroking events) must be mentioned for the sheer ludicrousness of the starts; slick walls, strict adherence to no toes in the gutters and double height blocks were a recipe for certain disaster. First up, Hannah Brown with the second ‘incident’ of the weekend; namely being demanded to move her toes out of the gutter at full volume, she was somewhat displeased but produced a strong swim to take second in her age group. Next, Hobson and Catherine Dobson. Unaccustomed to such Draconian conditions, Dr D’s confidence was not at an all time high and with just cause; it transpires that slipping vertically down the wall does not lead to good times, and having caught up the five metre deficit down the first length she was left with little option but to die like a ‘proverbial’ in the last ten metres, ‘twas even less graceful than normal but thankfully squeaked the win. Gina took a slightly different tactic and sneaked her toes up after take your marks; this led to an actual start and a strong early season swim and Cat having to take a telling off for her owing the referee’s inability to distinguish between pink and black and silver and blue costumes.

Several swims later and the 50 fly was another well entered event. For the girls; Courtney, Gina, Michelle and Cat and the boys; Ben Thomas and David. Good swims all rounds resulted in another 1, 2, 3 for the Gina, Michelle and Courtney, a win for Cat and a 1, 2 for David and Ben. Has Steve turned us into a club of butterfliers???

Onto the 25 metre events, what could be better than a race that consists of a dive and a ten metre sprint?! Swims resulted in top three placings galore, particularly strong swims from sprinter Chris Sutton, and one rather unfortunate debacle. Certain female backstrokers were not putting up with any more of this start rubbish. What could they do? Much discussion ensued before the solution was found; we could grab the gutter if the starter would let us. The obliging chap told us we could do what we wanted, however he failed to consult his referee and guardian of ‘The Rules’ who was not having any of this and the girls were told to hold the block in no uncertain terms! More disaster followed with another ‘vertical start’ and a full removal of goggles. 

Never has Sandown witnessed such carnage as the “rage of Brown” – truly a wrath of biblical proportions! Captain Hobson was displeased and argued with the referee (thank you Gina) who offered to show her the handbook; the debate still rages in forums to this day!!!!

In the middle of all this, the 4x50 freestyle relay (Roberts, Perks, Brown, Sutton) kicked off. An unfortunate mistake led to the Otters swimming as 200+, odd, given that their combined age did not break 100 years. The mistake was spotted by our eagle eyed referee, what to do, what to do……? We could just take the time and manually enter it into the 120+ age category or we can insist they swim it again if they want the points, hmmmmmm – weeelllllll, we don’t much like Otter now so we’ll make ‘em do it again – no one has ever looked more thoroughly dejected than Dave, having done it once and hurt, at being told he was on his way to the blocks once more for another go! Oh Dear!

Finally, after five hours of waiting, Jane Leighton sprang into action in the 100 breaststroke, naturally displeased with her time, she was thoroughly thrilled to beat the 18 year old and win the A age group into the bargain

A short lunch break later, back to the pool for the final session, and the question on everyone’s lips was, just why did Jane enter two 200’s back to back. It is strongly suspected that she asked herself that question down the 3rd 50 of the 200 back but since she took two golds it couldn’t have been that bad! A second surprise entry to the 200 breaststroke was Dobson, not known for either her breaststroke or distance ability – a thoroughly enjoyed if somewhat ‘relaxing’ swim has led to a promise to “do another one of those” (it WAS all about a guaranteed PB).

The afternoon drew to a close with the 100 fly, 100 back, 50 breast and 50 free. Highlights include a tight finish across the 50 breast for Leighton, Dobson and Hobson, some good fly swims from Hobson, Senecal, Campbell, Roberts and Thomas. The backstroke saw a legal and strong start and a respectable time from Hannah and Gina and a second place from Ben. The closing 50 free event saw strong swims across the board. As a team we placed a respectable 2nd with 173 points, impressive given that we only spanned three age groups!!!

Finally finished, it was onto dinner; fish and chips and BYOB in Fat Harry’s. Then, following the poor quality of Sandown’s nightlife, dancing in Ryde (and yes, we did have a ticket to Ryyyyy-hy-hyde!). The perfect end to the ‘perfect’ weekend’s racing.

Isle of Wight, great meet, lots of fun, done! Thanks go to Ben for organising us all so well, even if he is hated in relay circles!!! If we’re allowed back, everyone should have a go! Full results can be found at www.iwmastersswimming.co.uk!