Gold Medal Success for Stroud Masters at the World Masters Swimming Championships – Riccione Italy

Stroud Masters swimmers recently travelled to Riccione in Italy to compete in the 2012 World Masters Swimming Championships, an event which provides an opportunity for masters swimmers (aged 25+) from around the world to compete against each other at the highest possible level. Riccione proved to be the ideal location for this year’s championships with superb hotel, restaurant and sports facilities, all supported by a warm welcome and very sunny weather.

Sean Kinsey, Richard Searle, Lorraine Savagar, Jessica Wooddisse, Mark Patridge

Geoff Twinning and Scott Nelson arrived ahead of the rest of the team to compete in a number of pool events. Geoff started the week with the 800m freestyle where he gained an excellent 4th place in his age-group, his best placed position of the week. Geoff also gained a 7th place in the 200m IM and 200m butterfly, as well as a 10th in the 400m IM. Scott competed in the 50m and 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke where he finished within the top five British competitors in each event. Towards the end of the week Geoff and Scott were joined by the rest of the team, with Richard Searle swimming in the 50m backstroke where he achieved a creditable 35th position in his age group and the 100m backstroke where he finished in 29th position.

The 3km Open Water sea swim was held on the final weekend of the competition. With over two thousand competitors the event was held over two days with competitors taking to the sea in waves of sixty swimmers. Both days turned out to be bright and sunny and all of the competitors and spectators congregated on the beach which made it a great setting for the event.

In what proved to be an extremely hard fought race, as well as being the closest race of the weekend, Jessica Wooddisse held off local rival Kate Nimmo from Cheltenham to finish in first place in her age-group. Jessica was in the leading group of swimmers from the start however the race turned out to be a head to head battle with Kate from the final turning buoy with Jessica holding on to the lead and crossing the finishing line two seconds ahead of Kate, winning the Club’s first World Championship Gold medal. Jessica also finished as fastest British lady competitor and as third fastest lady from any country across all age-groups.

Lorraine Savagar swimming in her first World Championships also swam well to achieve an overall position of 50th in her age-group. Mark Partridge, Sean Kinsey and Richard Searle all entered the water as part of the largest age-group of 239 competitors. All three put in good performances with Sean achieving 14th, Richard 38th and Mark 87th place. Richard would have finished in a higher position had he not been hampered by fellow swimmers losing his hat and goggles as part of the general mayhem of the start of the race.

Overall a couple of great days of swimming by the Stroud team at a great venue in great weather. The results were a fantastic achievement for all, and just reward for all of the many hours of training put in at the pool and lakes over the past twelve months.

Pool Events

Swimmer	Event	Place	Time	In Age Group
Geoff Twinning	800m Freestyle	4th	9.16.14	Fastest GB Swimmer
	400m IM	10th	5.05.99
	200m IM	7th	2.21.66
	200m Butterfly	7th	2.19.36
	100m Butterfly	21st	1.02.74	2nd Fastest GB Swimmer
Scott Nelson	50m Freestyle	178th	27.77	2nd Fastest GB Swimmer
	100m Freestyle	114th	1.00.11	4th
	50m Breaststroke	95th	35.59	5th
Richard Searle	100M Backstroke	29th	1.13.67	2nd Fastest GB Swimmer
	50m Backstroke	35th	34.00	Fastest GB Swimmer

Open Water

Swimmer	Age Group	PLACE	TIME	In Age Group
Geoff Twinning	30-34	5th	29.44.6	Fastest GB Swimmer
Jessica Wooddisse	35-39	1st	31.36.0
Lorraine Savagar	40-44	50th	39.21.3	2nd Fastest GB Swimmer
Sean Kinsey	45-49	14th	30.23.2	Fastest GB Swimmer
Richard Searle	45-49	38th	32.20.8	2nd Fastest GB Swimmer
Mark Partridge	45-49	87th	35.43.7	4th Fastest GB Swimmer