Masters Swimming Hub
Diane Ford sets new Women’s 100m Breaststroke world record in Sheffield
June 3, 2023Diane Ford became the new world record holder in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke 80-84 Years event at the British Masters Championships in Sheffield.
She set a 1:43.90 to knock an incredible 1.29 off the previous world’s best time.
Her time was quicker than anyone in either of the two age groups below her after a sensational swim from Spencer swimmer.
Ford got off the blocks well and reached the half-way mark inside the 50-second barrier.
The 80-year-old fought on strongly to keep to her pace and touch the wall comfortably inside the world best’s time.
European records fall in Sheffield
There were also five new European records broken during the session.
The records were set by Woking’s 200+ Years Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Team, Spencer Swim Team’s Amanda Heath, Harrogate’s Julie Hoyle and the Woking pair of Michael Hodgson and Michelle Ware.
Woking were the first to set a new European benchmark time of a 4:05.39 in the first race of the session.
The quartet of Michelle Ware, David Bryant, Jennie Clarke and Michael Hodgson knocked 0.32 off the previous European top time.
It was the same four that saw the club set a new world record time in the Mixed 4x200m Freestyle on day one as they continued their impressive form at Ponds Forge.
Each swimmer finished their leg in under 65 seconds as a strong team display saw them take away the new record time.
Heath was next to hit a European best as she broke her own record in the Women’s 200m Butterfly.
She smashed her previous best time by almost five seconds with a 3:16.19, compared to her old record of a 3:21.28.
It was a consistent swim from Heath who finished 5.69 ahead of a strong swim from Guernsey’s Esther Iseppi.
We then moved into the ‘splash and dash’ 50m Backstroke events where Julie Hoyle (Harrogate) set a European record in the Women’s 60-64 Years race.
Hoyle was in disbelief as she left the pool with a new record time saying “I didn’t know where that came from!”
She got off the blocks quickly and powered across the pool to set a new best time after beating the previous record by 0.32 with a 35.09.
Michelle Ware also set a new European record in the Women’s 50-54 Years 50m Backstroke after becoming the first Brit to swim the event under 32 seconds.
Her time of a 31.80 beat the European by just 0.22 thanks to another incredible swim from the Woking swimmer.
Michael Hodgson added to his growing list of records with another European best to his name.
He broke the record in the Men’s 55-59 Years 50m Backstroke by just 0.06 with a time of 30.15.
It gives Hodgson his third individual gold of the meet to add to his successes as part of Woking’s relay teams.
More British relay records
Two British records were also set in the Mixed 4x200m Freestyle relay.
There was another one for Hoyle as she joined forces with Stephen Allen, Lyn Hughes, Karen Graham as Harrogate set a new national benchmark.
They finished in 4:36.80 as they beat the previous best by nearly four seconds in the 240+ Years contest.
Trafford Metro’s Joseph Keeley, Holly Booth Victoria Cunningham and James Simpson added to their Mixed 4x50m Freestyle record in the morning session with another in the 4x200m 100+ Years event.
A time of 3:50.22 saw them knock more than seven seconds off the record in a stunning swim from the quartet.
Fordham sets another British benchmark
Bishop Stortford’s Alyson Fordham knocked almost a second off the national record in the Women’s 65-69 Years 50m Backstroke.
She added to her 200m Freestyle record from yesterday by setting a 38.53, beating the old record of a 39.44
Julia Buchanan once again became a Welsh record holder in the same event thanks to a time of 43.97 which saw her finish fourth overall.
Victoria Reading equalled her own British record in the Women’s 50m Backstroke with a time of 31.11.
She swum a strong race but couldn’t quite break her personal best despite a strong performance.
Zoe Cawsey rounded out the Women’s 50m Backstroke by breaking the 18-24 Years record time.
The Plymouth Leander swimmer bettered the old record by 0.27 as she set a 30.47.
Wrexham’s Hannah Swift also set a new Welsh record in the Women’s 200m Butterfly.
She set a 2:48.74 in the 18-24 Years category.
Grossman and Mackinnon set Backstroke British bests
Steve Grossman and Neil Mackinnon both set British record times in the Men’s 50m Backstroke event.
Grossman did it in the 70-74 Years group with Mackinnon bettering the 80-84 Years’ best time.
Mackinnon was up first as the 82-year-old Trafford Metro swimmer pulled out a storming swim with a 42.37.
His effort knocked 0.87 off the record time for the event.
Wellingborough’s Grossman then took to the pool as he became the first Brit to swim under 36 seconds in his event.
He set a 35.64 with the old record being a 36.12.
Two records broken in one race
There was an interesting heat in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke where two records were broken within the same race.
That’s because the weekend long battle between Amanda Heath and Esther Iseppi continued with Iseppi coming out on top on this occasion.
The Swiss swimmer who swims for Guernsey set a new European record for the event with a 1:29.97 but it was runner-up Heath who set the new British best time.
She finished just 0.06 behind Iseppi as she narrowly lost the race to the wall in a nail-biting finish.
Helen Gorman added another Welsh record to her collection after setting a 1:15.97 in the 51-54 Years race.
There were two Irish records in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke with Matthew Shone’s 1:10.44 in the 30-34 Years and Geoff Boddie (1:14.04) from Aer Lingus in the 50-54 Years contest.
You can see all the results here and check out all the medallists below with our medal roll of honour.
Images – Morgan Harlow
Day Two, Session Two, Medal Roll of Honour
Mixed Open 4x100m Freestyle Team
72+ Years
1. West Suffolk, 4:01.83
2. Trafford Metro, 4:09.40
3. Preston, 4:15.47
100+ Years
1. Trafford Metro, 3:50.22
2. Woking, 3:59.47
3. Birmingham Masters, 4:03.94
120+ Years
1. Otter, 4:04.77
2. Preston, 4:15.73
3. City of Cambridge, 4:15.75
160+ Years
1. Basingstoke, 4:00.72
2. Birmingham Masters, 4:11.81
3. Trafford Metro, 4:26.35
200+ Years
1. Woking, 4:05.39
2. Crawley, 4:32.83
3. City of Sheffield, 4:37.35
240+ Years
1. Harrogate, 4:36.80
2. Team Anglia, 5:03.21
3. Otter, 5:13.56
Women’s 200m Butterfly
18-24 Years
1. Molly Chambers, City of Sheffield, 2:27.42
2. Georgina Wright, Borough of Kirklees, 2:30.58
3. Sophia Jackson, Sutton Cheam, 2:35.88
25-29 Years
1. Katie Maloney, Loughborough, 2:35.47
2. Molly James, Trafford Metro, 2:39.43
3. Fiona Westcough, Enfield Swim Squad, 3:09.79
30-34 Years
1. Nia Westlake, Gloucester Masters, 2:39.63
2. Catherine Demont, Otter, 2:53.45
35-39 Years
1. Sarah Quartermaine, Carrick Masters, 2:46.39
2. Kaira Redman, Dover Life, 3:00.17
3. Katharine O’Neill, Etwall, 3:41.68
40-44 Years
1. Tanya Alexander, Team Wavene, 2:46.49
2. Christine Jaeggi, Borough of Newham, 2:55.50
3. Hayley Brown, Witham Dolphins, 2:56.72
45-49 Years
1. Jessica Partridge, Gloucester Masters, 2:43.53
2. Tracy Van Deventer, Berkhamsted, 3:13.05
3. Erzsebet, City of Sheffield, 3:14.56
50-54 Years
1. Janet McClean, Carnegie, 2:40.34
2. Judy Prior, Enfield Swim Squad, 3:18.88
3. Michelle Laverick, Hart, 3:20.39
55-59 Years
1. Lindsay Kelly-Onay, Didcot & Barnet, 3:45.64
60-64 Years
1. Judith Pearson, Gateshead & Whickham, 2:55.38
2. Elaine Seager, Loughborough, 3:35.08
65-69 Years
1. Amanda Heath, Spencer, 3:16.19
2. Esther Iseppi, Guernsey, 3:21.88
Men’s 200m Butterfly
18-24 Years
1. Adam Jones, Trafford Metro, 2:14.17
2. Samuel Naylor, City of Bradford, 2:19.00
3. Alfie Evans, Reading, 2:20.36
25-29 Years
1. Matthew Wright, Team Luton, 2:09.98
2. Rubens King, Woking, 2:22.68
30-34 Years
1. Gareth Allen, East Leeds, 2:22.98
2. Bret Bassett, City of Derby, 2:36.61
3. Matthew Lees, Rochdale, 2:48.39
35-39 Years
1. Paul Wilkes, Birmingham Masters, 2:16.27
2. Dan John, Reading, 2:29.66
40-44 Years
1. Christopher Malpass, Trafford Metro, 2:33.83
45-49 Years
1. Nicholas Rusz, Farnham, 2:57.96
2. Jacob Ferry, Barnes SC, 3:32.12
50-54 Years
1. Steven Horner, Middlesbrough, 2:46.02
2. Ian Wallace, Borough of Newham, 2:46.56
3. Mark Kendall, Market Har, 3:00.23
55-59 Years
1. Mark Franklin, S D Trojan, 2:49.67
2. Robert Frize, Aer Lingus, 3:09.14
60-64 Years
1. David Wright, Team Luton, 2:56.98
2. Stephen Ham, Rochford, 2:59.45
3. Mark Jones, Warrington Masters, 3:12.24
65-69 Years
1. Gerald Kelleher, Warrington Masters, 3:21.26
2. Keith Parkin, Barnet Copt, 3:51.69
70-74 Years
1. Steven Folsom, Teddington, 3:31.06
75-79 Years
1. Derek Parr, Otter, 4:11.08
Women’s 50m Backstroke
18-24 Years
1. Zoe Cawsey, Plymouth Leander, 30.47
2. Ella Riggall, City of Bristol, 31.15
3. Danielle Horner, Eston, 32.22
25-29 Years
1. Lara Charlton, Hart, 31.77
2. Jessica Sutton, Hinckley, 32.36
3. Caitlin Rees, Warrender Baths, 33.17
30-34 Years
1. Hannah Nicol, Barnet Copt, 31.44
2. Louisa Zolkiewski, Trafford Metro, 32.57
3. Helen Cumber, G B Police, 33.67
35-39 Years
1. Victoria Reading, Northampton, 31.11
2. Natasha Lane, Kidlington, 33.16
3. Sarah Edwards, DunmovAtlant, 35.86
40-44 Years
1. Elizabeth Godfrey, Basingstoke, 32.81
2. Rebecca Newson, EXE Masters, 33.52
3. Katie Moore, City of Liverpool, 34.14
45-49 Years
1. Gina Hobson, Otter, 35.07
2. Lisa Dawson, Barnet Copt, 36.61
3. Andrea Coombs, Farnham, 37.45
50-54 Years
1. Michelle Ware, Woking, 31.80
2. Jo Corben, S D Trojan, 32.36
3. Heidi Bell-West, EXE Masters, 34.56
55-59 Years
1. Allie Price, Bridgend SC, 35.71
2. Sandra-Jane Jones, Gloucester Masters, 40.44
3. Kate Nightingale, Aylesbury, 42.60
60-64 Years
1. Julie Hoyle, Harrogate, 35.09
2. Suzanne Linton, Kenilworth Masters, 37.95
3. Phillipa Williams, Wycombe District, 39.28
65-69 Years
1. Alyson Fordham, Bishop Stortford, 38.53
2. Pauline Hogg, Havant & Waterlooville, 43.56
3. Kathleen Bidnall, Mid Sussex, 43.87
70-74 Years
1. Kathleen Tunnicliffe, B C & P Masters, 42.05
2. Marianne Davey, Redhill & R, 53.40
3. Vicki Buck, Team Anglia, 58.20
75-79 Years
1. Elaine Blower, Barnet Copt, 49.83
2. Susan Dewar, Havant & Waterlooville, 56.72
80-84 Years
1. Janet Masters, South Beds, 54.56
2. Susan Lauder, Spencer, 1:06.27
85-89 Years
1. Jenny Ball, Ryde SC, 1:01.97
2. Maureen Fakley, Hythe, 1:23.47
Multi-Classification by British Para-Swimming Points
1. Sophie Spoor, S D Trojan, 44.30, 365 points
Men’s 50m Backstroke
18-24 Years
1. Matthew Gray, City of Peterborough, 27.97
2. Adrian Ting, Birmingham University, 28.38
3. Daniel Bailey, Doncaster Dartes, 29.64
25-29 Years
1. Andrew Sawkins, Borough of Newham, 27.11
2. Daniel Cross, Borough of Kirklees, 27.35
3. Matthew Evans, Walsall, 28.41
30-34 Years
1. Kalon Veale, Totnes, 27.66
2. Matthew Mew, EXE Masters, 29.78
3. Liam Herbert, Birmingham Masters, 30.39
35-39 Years
1. James Wardle, Kenilworth Masters, 29.73
2. Scott Lathrope, Kenilworth Masters, 29.95
3. Ben Felton, City of Sheffield, 30.07
40-44 Years
1. Jonathan Audis, TigersharksW, 29.28
2. Paul Barnard, Trafford Metro, 29.43
3. David Messenger, Bristol Hen, 30.03
45-49 Years
1. Lee Conroy, Worksop, 31.47
2. Mariusz Barcikowski, MwayMaritime, 32.71
3. Dean Blackman, Woking, 32.93
50-54 Years
1. Matthew Bailey, Gloucester Masters, 30.81
2. Andrew Squires, Team Anglia, 33.20
3. Ken Flett, City of Sheffield, 34.35
55-59 Years
1. Michael Hodgson, Woking, 30.16
2. Simon Wintle, Gloucester Masters, 31.36
3. Ian Wilkes, Loughborough, 33.10
60-64 Years
1. Alec Johnson, Trafford Metro, 32.02
2. Michael Brett, Nottingham Leander, 33.13
3. Rune Larsen, Trondhjems S, 34.15
65-69 Years
1. Simon Veale, Totnes, 34.73
2. Steve Greenfield, Basingstoke, 35.38
3. Trevor Clark, Birmingham Masters, 36.15
70-74 Years
1. Steve Grossman, Wellingborough, 35.64
2. Eddie Riach, Milngavie & B, 36.77
3. Alan McMullan, Bangor Ni, 39.30
75-79 Years
1. Robin Oldfield, Shrewsbury, 45.13
2. Lee Curtis, Brighton Dolphins, 53.63
3. Chris Jessup, Salisbury, 54.11
80-84 Years
1. Neil Mackinnon, Trafford Metro, 42.37
2. Roger Billing, Guildford City, 42.39
3. David Hall, Witney, 53.80
Multi-Classification by British Para-Swimming Points
1. Sam Bradley, Team Luton, 41.51, 482 points
Women’s 100m Breaststroke
18-24 Years
1. Ellie Ward, Uni of Nottingham, 1:17.27
2. Aoife Marley, Birmingham University, 1:18.47
3. Abigail Jackson, Birmingham University, 1:20.37
25-29 Years
1. Charlotte Taylor, Trafford Metro, 1:17.23
2. Lucy Crocker, Stevenage, 1:22.23
3. Ellie Macdonald, City of Oxford, 1:24.69
30-34 Years
1. Ruth Sunderland, Hearts of Midlothian, 1:22.04
2. Vicki Payne, Gloucester Masters, 1:22.73
3. Megan McDonagh, Otter, 1:22.42
35-39 Years
1. Georgina Heyn, Teddington, 1:13.73
2. Laura Cranshaw, Birmingham Masters, 1:20.83
3. Victoria Poole, Borough of Newham, 1:24.93
40-44 Years
1. Anna McCall, Birmingham Masters, 1:21.18
2. Helen Brittain, Rugby, 1:23.69
3. Katie Pateman, EXE Masters, 1:23.71
45-49 Years
1. Karen Key, Northampton, 1:19.83
2. Mala Rajput-Driver, Trafford Metro, 1:23.92
3. Katherine Hislop, TigersharksW, 1:26.62
50-54 Years
1. Helen Gorman, City of Cardiff, 1:15.97
2. Lucy Ryan, Team Anglia, 1:21.67
3. Nicola Idle, City of Sheffield, 1:27.59
55-59 Years
1. Joanna Collins, Wrexham, 1:29.16
2. Geraldine Bolton, Trafford Metro, 1:32.79
3. Wendy Figures, City of Sheffield, 1:35.43
60-64 Years
1. Judith Pearson, Gates & Whick, 1:30.30
2. Sharon Allen, Salisbury, 1:35.77
3. Linda Sprigge, Crawley, 1:36.08
65-69 Years
1. Esther Iseppi, Guernsey, 1:29.97
2. Amanda Heath, Spencer, 1:30.03
3. Catherine Chase, Camphill Ed, 1:42.43
70-74 Years
1. Margaret Bickley, Dartmouth SC, 1:56.70
2. Diana Groat, Aylesbury, 2:01.22
3. Sally LeLean, Diss Otters, 2:11.94
75-79 Years
1. Helen Frances Jenkins, Southport, 1:53.47
2. Susan Dewar, Havant & Waterlooville, 2:26.75
80-84 Years
1. Diane Ford, Spencer, 1:43.90
85-89 Years
1. Muriel Hitchcock, Spencer, 2.25.25
Multi-Classification by British Para-Swimming Points
1. Caitlin Trevor, Kingston Royals, 2:01.57, 207 points
Men’s 100m Breaststroke
18-24 Years
1. Thomas Hamilton, Birmingham Uni, 1:06.96
2. Finlay Ryan, West Norfolk, 1:08.52
3. Joshua Horobin, BelperMarlin, 1:10.53
25-29 Years
1. Neil Redman, Portsmouth N, 1:04.80
2. Henry Goodlud, Woking, 1:06.65
3. James Simpson, Trafford Metro, 1:07.60
30-34 Years
1. Richard Ayre, East Leeds, 1:06.56
2. Joseph Keeley, Trafford Metro, 1:07.76
3. Samuel Redman, Portsmouth N, 1:08.53
35-39 Years
1. Ian Surrage, Kidlington, 1:07.68
2. Paul Wilkes, Birmingham Masters, 1:09.61
3. Christopher Kelleher, Cork Masters, 1:11.72
40-44 Years
1. Ross Turner, Rugby, 1:11.18
2. Peter Williams, Kidlington, 1:11.26
3. Alex Godforth, Hastings, 1:13.03
45-49 Years
1. Leonardo Lari, York City, 1:13.91
2. Stuart Hamer, City of Lincoln P, 1:14.07
3. Neil Morton, Kidlington, 1:15.41
50-54 Years
1. Ian Swift, City of Sheffield, 1:10.15
2. Geoff Boddie, Aer Lingus, 1:14.04
3. Andrew Cooper, Kenilworth Masters, 1:15.29
55-59 Years
1. Marcel Scholten, Modernian, 1:17.15
2. Andrew Carr, East Leeds, 1:20.45
3. Darren Beer, EXE Masters, 1:20.61
60-64 Years
1. David Milburn, Basingstoke, 1:18.94
2. Mark Jones, Warrender Baths, 1:20.26
3. Martyn Fresher, Team Anglia, 1:25.33
65-69 Years
1. David Pirrie, Hemel Hemp, 1:25.95
2. Luis Martinez Del Pozo, Otter, 1:27.26
3. Nicholas Hunt, Witham Dolphin, 1:30.51
70-74 Years
1. Peter Gulyas, Torokbalint, 1:31.04
2. Brian Taylor, Adwick, 1:31.92
3. J Macpherson-Stewart, Free Style, 1:44.27
75-79 Years
1. Chris Jessup, Salisbury, 2:06.63
Multi-Classification by British Para-Swimming Points
1. Joseph Seage, City of Sheffield, 1:14.72, 620 points
2. Sam Bradley, Team Luton, 1:49.44, 374 points
