Seven swimmers from Ryde Swimming Club Masters achieved an impressive medal haul when they competed in the Hampshire Masters County Championships at Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Centre last weekend.
Facing a strong field of competitors from over 16 clubs – some entering more than 30 swimmers – Ryde Masters recorded one of their best-ever results. It was the largest team the club has taken to this annual event, and every swimmer returned home with at least one medal.
For 5 of the swimmers it was their first Masters County Championships, making the achievement all the more memorable.
Sinead Hailes won 2 Gold medals and a Silver in the 35-39 age group, while Imogen Sussmes secured a Gold in the 30-34 category. Matthew Sussmes, competing in the 60-64 age group, claimed 3 Gold medals and a Silver.
Veteran swimmer Jenny Ball, still recovering from a shoulder injury, won 2 Gold medals in the 85-89 category. Meanwhile, despite carrying bruised ribs, Isobel Foster picked up 2 Silvers and a Bronze in the 18-24 group. Teammate Harry Beacham-Clapp also performed strongly, taking home 2 Bronzes in the same age group.
There was further success in the pool for the club’s Mixed Medley relay team, with Coach Jacob Jenner joining Hailes, Foster and Beacham-Clapp to win Bronze in the 200m Medley Relay in the competitive 72+ age group.
The club also narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the 200m Freestyle relay, with the team of Matthew and Imogen Sussmes, Foster and Jenner finishing just over half a second behind 3rd place in the 120+ category.
Ryde Swimming Club Masters say the section continues to go from strength to strength and are looking forward to fielding an even bigger team at their next competition.
