Masters Swimming Hub
Trafford Metro win Cupar Trophy at 2023 British Masters Championships
June 4, 2023Trafford Metro commanded the club standings throughout final day of the British Masters Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield and finished the competition with a winning score of 479 points to claim the Cupar Trophy.
Their score of 341, banked on Saturday evening – nearly double that of then second placed Woking, saw them reach an unassailable lead before the mid-way point of the final session of the meet.
It was no surprise to see club chair and coach Bob Bolton lift the Cupar Trophy as proceedings drew to a close here on Sunday afternoon, in front of his jubilant team of swimmers.
The team based out of Sale in Manchester also took the Otter 150 Cup here in October last year and Bob was convinced that the efforts of the coaching team are only just starting to bear fruit.
He said: “Well, it is a lot more than the last 12 months. It’s many, many years.
“It’s great from a coach’s perspective to see the level of commitment, to see that the program that you put together and the plan pays off.
“And it gets so that the swimmers can achieve the PBs, they meet their goals and they go away with a smile on the face.”
Cupar Trophy Final Standings
Top 10
1. Trafford Metro, 479 points
2. City of Sheffield, 222 points
3. Woking, 217 points
4. Spencer, 213 points
5. Otter, 196 points
6. EXE Masters, 191 points
7. Gloucester Masters, 170 points
8. Birmingham Masters, 152 points
=9. Basingstoke, 132 points
=9. East Anglia, 132 points
You can see the full standings here.
All down to the swimmers
“The swimmers. It’s all down to the swimmers.
They are the most dedicated, hardworking group you could ever wish to work with.
“It’s quite a humbling experience to be on a poolside watching them when they’re going through the motions in training sessions, they just give it a hundred percent all the time.
“The make up of the squad is well-balanced and Bob acknowledged the importance of team goals over individual glory.
He said: “There’s lots of big characters, strong, strong individuals, but they all come together as a team.
“Nobody falls out really. You get the odd little disagreement – you can’t not have with so many swimmers.
“But they are totally focussed on the team and there’s so many of them that have taken on [more] this weekend, filling in when people have had to cry off with illness or whatever.
“They’re just, ‘yeah, I’ll step up. I’ll do that relay event’. And that’s what it’s about, team spirit.”
The coach admitted his squad’s performance and those of all team across the weekend keeps him on his toes.
The meet saw more than 100 national, European and world records fall across the three days
The Ponds Forge venue certainly contributed to Bob’s team’s fortunes – in terms of atmosphere and warmth – a point he was clear to get across.
He said: “Well, here at the home of swimming, really, you just get that fantastic vibe as soon as you walk through the door.
“But it really is like coming to your second home, there’s just a fantastic atmosphere around the place. You meet so many people from all over the country and Scotland, over in Wales, people that you only see a couple of times a year.
“It’s just lovely to see old friends.”
Plenty of the Trafford Metro squad will be packing their bags for the world’s in Japan in August, but Bob’s mind is focussed forward to the English championships and retaining the Otter 150 Cup
“Well, we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing and following the plan. We’ve tried to peak for this event.
“So we’ve got five months pretty much where hopefully we can bring the, all those swimmers up to a peak again and we can get them so that they perform at the best.”
Third for Ford
Elsewhere in the final session there were another seven records set to bring the total up to 131 for the meet as a whole with eight world, 28 European and 95 British records set.
The final world record of the competition came from Spencer’s Diane Ford who broke her third world record of the competition to round out an incredible weekend for the 80-year-old.
This time it was the 200m Breaststroke where Ford hit the new best time.
Ford ferocious fast-pace was a joy to behold as the finished faster than the winners of each of the two age groups below her.
She set a 3:51.53 to lower the Women’s 80-84 Years benchmark by more than two seconds.
It was a consistent pace throughout that gave her the record after her earlier successes in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke events.
Her Spencer teammate Muriel Hitchcock also set a British record time.
She finished in 5:21.18 in the 85-89 Years contest to set an impressive new top time for the category.
Two European Freestyle records
Colin Stephenson rocketed to victory in the Men’s 65-69 age group of the 100m Freestyle.
The Gloucester Master touched the wall in a time of 1:02.72 and collected European and British records in the process. Trafford Metro’s Neville Barton finished in second place, nearly nine seconds adrift of the victor.
In the women’s event in the same age group and distance, Bishop Stortford’s Alyson Fordham also tasted European and British record success.
Her time of 1:09.16 in the 65-69 age group put her ahead of Lindsey Gowland from B C & P Masters in second and third-placed Jayne Stephenson of Gloucester Masters.
Trafford Metro cleaned up in the 100+ Mixed 4x50m Medley Relay in a time of 1:55.41 and collected a new British record in the process.
Their team of Louisa Zolkiewski, Joseph Keeley, Charlotte Taylor and James Simpson took the victory from Wycombe District, with Bo Newham in third place.
Portsmouth Northsea also hit a British record in the final event of the competition.
Their Mixed 4x50m Medley Relay team set a time of 1:53.95 thanks to the efforts of Amelia Boyes, Neil Redman, Zita Edwards and Clive Marquis.
You can see all the results here and check out all the medallists from the final session below.
Images – Morgan Harlow
Day Three, Session Two, Medal Roll of Honour
Women’s 1500m Freestyle
18-24 Years
1. Lucy Cadden, City of Derby, 18:44.21
2. Emily Inns, Altrincham, 19:26.64
3. Danielle Horner, Eston, 19:53.58
25-29 Years
1. Hannah Dodwell, RAF Swim, 18:40.66
30-34 Years
1. Fiona Carroll, City of Southampton, 19:17.38
2. Kelly McIntosh. Silver City, 19:23.44
3. Hannah Angell, Woking, 19:47.67
35-39 Years
1. Sara Holman, KSK, 20:03.62
2. Kira Neal, Basildon Phoenix, 21:34.06
3. Danielle Ryan, MwayMaritime, 22:25.87
40-44 Years
1. Rebecca Lennon, Trafford Metro, 21:47.65
45-49 Years
1. Susan Evans, Biggleswade, 20:41.27
2. Angela Lodge, Guernsey, 22:22.12
50-54 Years
1. Janet McLean, Carnegie, 20:40.68
2. Judy Prior, Enfield Swim Squad, 22:00.94
3. Bryony Wilkes, Loughborough, 23:15.00
55-59 Years
1. Suzanne Welham, St Albans Masters, 22:25.27
2. Lindsay Kelly-Onay, Didcot & Bar, 22:30.94
3. Beverley Bourne, Barnet Copt, 22:41.20
60-64 Years
1. Suzanne Noble, East Anglian, 21:12.79
2. Catherine Munro, Winchester, 22:13.27
3. Elaine Seager, Loughborough, 23:12.00
65-69 Years
1. Catherine Hartle, City of Sheffield, 25:05.49
2. Sharon McLellan, Hadleigh, 25:30.74
70-74 Years
1. Susan Haigh, EXE Masters, 24:52.48
75-79 Years
1. Rose Dudeney, Mid Sussex, 28:41.48
2. Elizabeth Savidge, Kings Cormorant, 32:01.41
Men’s 200m Breaststroke
18-24 Years
1. Adam Jones, Trafford Metro, 2:37.02
2. Adam Tatton, Telford Aqua, 3:08.07
25-29 Years
1. Rubens King, Woking, 2:31.55
2. Joseph Markham, Sheffield C, 2:41.68
3. Euan Dalgleish, Swim-IT, 2:59.07
30-34 Years
1. Matthew Shone, Rapids, 2:38.93
2. Oliver Samy, Portsmouth Northsea, 2:40.12
3. Daniel Smith, Birmingham Masters, 2:40.13
35-39 Years
1. Christopher Kelleher, Cork Masters, 2:44.14
40-44 Years
1. Alex Godforth, Hastings, 2:41.43
2. Phillip Burchell, Holywell, 2:41.52
3. Yury Bocharnikov, City of Derby, 2:47.58
45-49 Years
1. Leanardo Lari, York City, 2:43.39
2. Stewart Worthy, Borough of Kirklees, 2:46.51
3. Neil Morton, Kidlington, 2:55.91
50-54 Years
1. Ian Swift, City of Sheffield, 2:35.13
2. Geoff Boddie, Aer Lingus Masters, 2:41.55
3. Nigel Masters, TigersharksW, 2:50.88
55-59 Years
1. Andrew Car, East Leeds, 2:57.35
2. Paul Smoothy, Guildford City, 3:03.21
3. Darren Beer, EXE Masters, 3:03.28
60-64 Years
1. David Milburn, Basingstoke, 2:52.17
2. Mark Jones, Warrender Baths, 3:01.30
3. Martyn Fresher, Team Anglia, 3:20.19
65-69 Years
1. David Pirrie, Hemel Hemp, 3:13.56
2. Malcolm Barton, Team Luton, 3:24.10
3. David Burchell, Mold, 3:24.66
70-74 Years
1. Brian Taylor, Adwick, 3:29.81
2. J Macpherston-Stewart, Free Style, 3:54.35
3. Stuart McLellan, Hadleigh, 3:57.98
75-79 Years
1. Franceys Allen, Stowmarket, 5:11.54
Women’s 200m Breaststroke
18-24 Years
1. Aoife Marley, Birmingham Uni, 2:44.84
2. Ellie Ward, Uni of Nottingham, 2:49.29
3. Abigail Jackson, Birmingham Uni, 2:54:84
25-29 Years
1. Molly James, Trafford Metro, 2:55.66
2. Aimee Smith, Trafford Metro, 3:11.87
3. E Budzynski-Seymour, Basingstoke, 3:13.03
30-34 Years
1. Nia Westlake, Gloucester Masters, 2:57.77
2. Megan McDonagh, Otter, 3:00.94
35-39 Years
1. Alison White, Swim Belfast, 2:53.97
2. Victoria Poole, Borough of Newham, 3:02.96
3. Claire Matthews, Ware, 3:14.92
40-44 Years
1. Emma Wills, York City, 2:55.96
2. Helen Brittain, Rugby, 3:01.48
3. Katie Pateman, EXE Masters, 3:02.54
45-49 Years
1. Karen Key, Northampton, 2:55.04
2. Sharon Burchell, Crawley, 3:12.33
3. Nicola Hughes, Bellshill, 3:17.54
50-54 Years
1. Helen Gorman, City of Cardiff, 2:45.95
2. Lucy Ryan, Team Anglia, 3:00.20
3. Ali Skirvin, Stratford Sharks, 3:15.76
55-59 Years
1. Joanna Collins, Wrexham, 3:19.02
2. Adele Parham, EXE Masters, 3:57.68
3. Ali Skirvin, Stratford Sharks, 3:15.76
60-64 Years
1. Linda Sprigge, Crawley, 3:24.37
2. Sharon Allen, Salisbury, 3:37.96
3. Kathleen Raymond, MwayMaritime, 3:39.49
65-69 Years
1. Amanda Heath, Spencer, 3:15.16
2. Catherine Chase, Camphill Ed, 3:51.02
70-74 Years
1. Margaret Bickley, Dartmouth SC, 4:13.19
75-79 Years
1. Helen Frances Jenkins, Southport, 4:06.83
80-84 Years
1.Diane Ford, Spencer, 3:51.53
85-89 Years
1. Muriel Hitchcock, Spencer, 5:21.18
Men’s Open 100m Freestyle
18-24 Years
1. Alfie Evans, Reading, 54.73
2. Michael Eagling, Manchester Tri, 55.63
3. James Rollaston, Trafford Metro, 55.80
25-29 Years
1. James Simpson, Trafford Metro, 52.89
2. Andrew Sawkins, Bo Newham, 54.56
3. Matthew Evans, Walsall, 55.08
30-34 Years
1. Paul Luffan, Cork Masters, 52.86
2. Fraser Peh, Otter, 55.68
3. Joseph Keeley, Trafford Metro, 56.06
35-39 Years
1. James Wardle, Kenilworth Masters, 54.94
2. Luke Pearson, Gloucester Masters, 55.57
3. Leon McKenzie, Crawley, 55.68
40-44 Years
1. Paul Barnard, Trafford Metro, 55.90
2. William Roberts, Otter, 57.80
3. Oliver Bumstead, Team Wavene, 1:02.31
45-49 Years
1. Mark Wallace, Matlock, 58.17
2. Craig Bransby, Enfield Sq, 58.37
3. Anthony Du Preez, Guildford Ct, 59.49
50-54 Years
1. Spencer Turner, Basingstoke, 57.70
2. Martin Lane, Basildon Ph, 1:00.21
3. Ken Flett, City of Sheffield, 1:00.40
55-59 Years
1. Ian Wilkes, Loughborough, 1:00.39
2. Sean McQuaid, Barnet Copt, 1:00.67
3. Hugh Taylor, Kingston-upon-Hull, 1:01.32
60-64 Years
1. Mark Reynolds, Barnet Copt, 1:00.10
2. Gary Taylor, Haslemere, 1:00.32
3. Ralph Pinel, Bo Newham, 1:02.96
65-69 Years
1. Colin Stephenson, Gloucester Masters, 1:02.72
2. Neville Barton, Trafford Metro, 1:11.04
3. Trevor Clark, Birmingham Masters, 1:12.24
70-74 Years
1. Steve Grossman, Wellingborough, 1:07.43
2. Peter Gulyas, Torokbalint, 1:11.09
3. Terence, Mansi, Hadleigh 1:28.01
75-79 Years
1. Peter Stephens, Spencer, 1.30.49
80-84 Years
1. Roger Lloyd-Mostyn, Otter, 1:26.29
2. Tony Cherrington, Gloucester Masters, 1:28.05
3. Derek Gore, Chelmsford, 1:46.28
Multi-Classification by British Para-Swimming Points
1. Bret Bassett, City of Derby, 28.17, 696 points
2. Joseph Seage, City of Sheffield, 28.73, 593 points
3. Scott Hadley, City of Coventry, 35.16, 478 points.
Women’s 100m Freestyle
18-24 Years
1. Georgina Wright, Borough of Kirklees, 58.61
2. Sian James, Birmingham Uni, 1:00.84
3. Larissa Dean, Birmingham Uni, 1:00.98
25-29 Years
1. Victoria Cunningham, Trafford Metro, 58.09
2. Sadie Turner, B C & P Mast, 1:02.53
3. Jessica Sutton, Hinckley, 1:02.88
30-34 Years
1. Holly Booth, Trafford Metro, 1:01.32
2. Kellyn Caldwell, Wycombe District, 1:01.88
3. Ruth Sutherland, Hearts of Midlothian, 1:01.95
35-39 Years
1. Lyndsay Roe, Kettering, 1:06.77
2. Sarah Kerr, Trojan, 1:08.91
3. Emily Hayter, Spencer, 1:11.70
40-44 Years
1. Nicola Charlesworth, Basingstoke, 1:01.19
2. Rebecca Newson, EXE Masters, 1:02.70
3. Rebecca Smith, TigersharksW, 1:02.97
45-49 Years
1. Susan Teale, Borough of Kirklees, 1:04.05
2. Gina Hobson, Otter, 1:04.32
3. Lisa Dawson, Barnet Copt, 1:09.52
50-54 Years
1. Helen Sadler, Trafford Metro, 1:05.03
2. Michelle Laverick, Hart, 1:14.46
3. Karen Howells, Cardiff Masters, 1:16.03
55-59 Years
1. Elizabeth Woolner, Team Anglia, 1:06.00
2. Joanne Collins, Wrexham, 1:13.16
3. Elizabeth Shaw, Otter, 1:13.53
60-64 Years
1. Suzanne Linton, Kenilworth Masters, 1:09.23
2. Karen McBeath, Silver City, 1:09.70
3. Sally Winter, Bishop Stortford, 1:10.73
65-69 Years
1. Alyson Fordham, Bishop Stortford, 1:09.16
2. Lindsey Gowland, B C & P Masters, 1:15.78
3. Jayne Stephenson, Gloucester Masters, 1:19.94
70-74 Years
1. Kathleen Tunnicliffe, B C & P Masters, 1:20.60
2. Valerie Throp, City of Derby, 1:31.38
3. Marianne Davey, Redhill & R, 1:46.72
75-79 Years
1. Alison Gwynn, Mid Sussex, 1:26.08
2. Elizabeth Savidge, Kings Cormorants, 1:38.16
3. Pauline Cooke, Birmingham Masters, 1:41.22
80-84 Years
1. Susan Lauder, Spencer, 1:02.30
Multi-Classification by British Para-Swimming Points
1. Sophie Spoor, S D Trojan, 1:18.86, 400 points
Mixed Open 4x100m Medley Team
72+ Years
1. Portsmouth Northsea, 1:53.95
2. Birmingham Uni, 1:54.25
3. TigersharksW, 2:05.51
100+ Years
1. Trafford Metro, 1:55.41
2. Wycombe District, 2:00.07
3. Borough of Newham, 2:05.25
120+ Years
1. City of Cambridge, 2:23.76
160+ Years
1. EXE Masters, 2:07.19
2. Trafford Metro, 2:15.71
200+ Years
1. City of Sheffield, 2:09.93
2. EXE Masters, 2:14.38
240+ Years
1. Team Anglia, 2:35.42
280+ Years
1. Spencer, 2:58.76
