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After two years away from competing due to Covid-19 restrictions the PSUK Swimming Team finally managed to get to race in the pool again.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions it’s been two years since the PSUK Swimming Team travelled to Sheffield to compete in the Masters National Championships, a well-established short course event, known as being the pinnacle of the short course swimming calendar. The event is held in the famous Ponds Forge International Sports Centre which hosts an Olympic sized swimming pool. Competitors travel from all over the UK to compete in this 3 day event.
Some of the GB Police swim members were going to use the Swim England Masters National Championships as a lead up race to their ‘A’ race, the European Police Swimming Championships, hosted by Russia in November 2021. However, again due to Covid-19 restrictions this event was also cancelled days before the Swim England Nationals commenced, the nationals now became the final race of 2021 season for the GB Police swimmers.
A small team of eight swimmers travelled to Sheffield. The team members competing were: – Richard Evans (retired), Claire Thorn (retired) Nigel Gaskin, Aimee Ramm, Thomas Allen, Sam Hobbins, Callie-Ann Warrington and Dylan Conway.
Richard Evans was first in the water, competing in event number 1 of the championships, the mixed 1500m freestyle, a gruelling 60 lengths of the pool. Richard finished 3rd in his 50-54 age group and secured the first medal of the weekend for GB Police. Richard also raced in the 100 freestyle (6th), 50 freestyle (9th), 100 Individual medley (7th) and the 400 freestyle (4th).
Richard Evans winning a bronze medal
It didn’t take long for the medals to start rolling in. In event 2, Aimee RAMM won her first gold medal of the weekend, finishing first in the 100 freestyle 35-39 AG in a time of 1:01.46. Aimee went on to win a silver medal in the 100 fly, silver medal in the 50 freestyle, bronze medal in the 50 fly and a fourth place in the 50 backstroke.
Claire THORN again showed her brilliance in the water winning two of her events. Claire won a gold medal in the 100 breastroke 50-54 AG and a gold medal in the 400 freestyle. Claire also won a silver medal in the 200 breastroke.
Team Manager Nigel GASKIN raced in three individual events, 100 freestyle, 40-44 AG (13th), 200 freestyle (8th) and the 400 freestyle (5th). Nigel also raced in all three team mixed relays.
Thomas ALLEN also raced in three individual events, 50 freestyle, 30-34 AG (17th), 200 freestyle (20th) and the 400 freestyle (11th). Tom also raced in the team mixed relays.
Callie-Ann WARRINGTON started her weekend of racing by competing in the 100 freestyle, 18-24 AG finishing 23rd in a time of 1:02.24. Callie also raced in the 50 freestyle (14th) the 200 freestyle (22nd) and the 50 butterfly (15th). Callie also raced in the team mixed relays.
Dylan CONWAY our newest team member and representing GB Police for the first time started his weekend of racing by taking part in one of the toughest events, the 200 butterfly, 18-24 AG. Dylan finished 6th in a time of 2:11.73. Dylan then went on to race yet another tough event, the 200 IM. Dylan finished 10th in this event. Dylan also raced in the 100 IM (15th), the 50 butterfly (16th) and took part in the team mixed relays.
Sam HOBBINS also had a great weekend of racing. Sam raced in three individual events and took part in the team mixed relay. Sam’s individual swims were 50 backstroke, 25-29 AG finishing 8th in 31:25, 50 freestyle (39th) and the 50 butterfly (14th).
The team events were always going to be difficult this year, having only a small team of eight swimmers, five males and three females, then the complication of the age restrictions meant we were only able to field swimmers in the mixed 72+ age group relays. Potentially this meant our swimmers could be racing against teams that have selected their super-fast teenagers.
Mixed 4 x 50 IM – finished 6th in a time of 2:03.38
Dylan CONWAY / Aimee RAMM / Sam HOBBINS / Callie-Ann WARRINGTON
Mixed 4 x 100 FC – finished 6th in a time of 4:03.24
Tom ALLEN / Callie-Ann WARRINGTON / Aimee RAMM / Nigel GASKIN
Mixed 4 x 50 FC – finished 8th in a time of 1:49.53
Aimee RAMM / Nigel GASKIN / Callie-Ann WARRINGTON / Tom ALLEN
Following two difficult years of Covid restrictions it was a pleasure to welcome back our team members to the pool. Hopefully 2022 will bring more success for our swimmers and the team.
Well done everyone!