CARADON Swimming Club head coach Jason Quiterio has described their success at the British Masters Championships at the Life Centre as ‘fantastic’.
The club picked up an impressive 26 medals – 20 individual and six in relay events – and broke a number of Cornwall county records at the national competition.
Leading the way for them was Helen Kula-Przezwanski, who had an outstanding championships, claiming six individual and four relay medals.
She won the women’s 55-59 year-old’s 100m and 200m backstroke titles, took silver medals in the 800m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle and a bronze in the 400m freestyle.
Samantha Crosby picked up five individual medals and three in relay events. Her individual medals came in the women’s 25-29 years’ age group. She won silver medals in 200m freestyle and 200m backstroke and bronzes in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly events.
Quiterio took a silver in the men’s 30-34 years’ 50m freestyle and bronze medals in the 400m freestyle and 50m butterfly. He also featured in a number of Caradon’s medal-winning relay teams, as did Paul Hatton, who won individual silver in the men’s 45/49 years’ 800m and bronze in the 200m freestyle.
Vicki Buck claimed individual bronze medals in the 65-69 years’ 50m breaststroke and 200m freestyle, while Tessa Muskett won bronze in the 30-34 years’ 50m breaststroke and Neil Edwards came second in the 30-34 50m butterfly.
Florence Losasso, Michael Swift, Amanda Losasso, Elenie Shotton, Matt Clowes and Michelle Chopra were also part of Caradon successful squad which finished 10th overall out of 195 teams taking part in the national event.
“The club were fantastic,” said Quiterio. “Everyone has worked hard and trained well leading up to the event and our training paid off.
“It was great to see a number season best times as well as lifetime best times (which are difficult to achieve after 20+ years of racing).
“The performance from the masters swimmers have capped off a great season for Caradon. We now have one more race – Jackson Spry racing at the English Nationals – before the end of the season.
“We are looking forward to building on this and seeing what we can achieve at the British Masters Short Course Championship in October, which will be held in Sheffield.”
The event at Plymouth’s Life Centre attracted hundreds of swimmers from around the country and saw two world records, seven European records and 47 British records.
Quiterio admitted it was great to have the event in Plymouth.
“I have been a swimmer and coach in Plymouth all of my life and I can honestly say that this meet was the best I have attended in the city,” he said.
“It was wonderful to have a British Swimming event held in the city and the Life Centre really proved to be a perfect venue.
“It was great to see so many local volunteers from all of the clubs in the city helping support the event as well. Without their hard work, the event would not have been a success.”
Caradon were not the only local club to impress at the championships.
Tavistock’s mixed relay team of Sam Lake, Nathaniel Rookes, James Lake and Alison Whitford claimed two gold medals and a bronze in the 120+ years’ 200m medley, 400m freestyle and 200m freestyle. Sam Lake also won a bronze in the women’s 40-44 years’ 100m backstroke and Bryan Short took silver in the 65-69 years’ 50m breaststroke.
Devonport Royal’s Marisa Schubert took silver in the women’s 25-29 50m breaststroke and claimed three fourth places.
Team-mate Lauren Hayhurst won bronze in the women’s 35-39 200m breaststroke, while Devonport Royal also won a couple of relay medals.
Mount Kelly’s Morgan Penny was among the medal winners in the 18-24 years’ events, while Plymouth RN’s Jane Porter took a bronze in the women’s 55-59 years’ 50m breaststroke.