The team left for Sydney at the beginning of October expecting to spend 2 ½ weeks in the Australian sunshine competing at the World Masters Games.  Unfortunately the weather was not as kind but the competition certainly lived up to all expectations.

The first few days allowed the team to get the sightseeing out of the way and to engage in some longcourse training at some of Sydney’s many 50m pools.  One of particular note was the Olympic Saltwater pool, which couldn’t be beaten for location, but tasted awful.

The World Masters Games this year attracted over 28,000 competitors and the RN team were in high spirits at the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, but it was soon into the serious part of the trip, the competition.

Saturday 10 Oct  .The first day of competition saw the distance guys in the pool, a long day at the pool which brought the first medal for the team in Chris Bumby gaining 2^nd place in the Men’s (25-29) 800 Freestyle, the competition in the 800’s was tough as Ali Witt (30-34) came close to a medal but was just piped into 4^th place other top ten places were Sarah Buchan 6^th (30-34), Steve Berry 5^th (40–44), Spike Buchan 6^th (40-44), Louise Mittens(55-59) Rosemary Johnson (65-69).

Sunday 11 Oct.  The 200m Individual Medley and 100m Breaststroke. Medals came a little quicker in the 200 IM which saw our oldest team member in Lyndsay Lant (70-74) coming home in second place, this was followed by Grant Robins with a 3^rd (40-44), Mike Nolan 2^nd (35-39), Ali Witt 3^rd ( 30-34), other top ten places Neil Tate 4^th (40-44), Mark Franklin 8^th (40-44), Si Hornby 4^th (25-29), Gary Timbs 5^th (25-29), Jim Warwick 8^th  (25-29), Rosemary Johnson 7^th (65-69), Gail Henry 7th (35-39), Gemma Howells 8^th (25-29). Lyndsay Lant in a very close race was just piped into 2^nd for silver medal in the 100m Breaststroke. Top places in this event went to Karen McCullough 7^th (30-34), Gary Thomas 4^th (45-49) and Si Hornby 4^th (25-29)

Monday 12 Oct.  A busy day in the pool with the 400m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke 50m Butterfly and relays taking place. Chris Bumby was the first of the medal winners with a 2^nd in the 400m F/s (25-29), top ten places in the 400 went to Sarah Buchan 7^th (30-34), Sarah Feltham 8^th (25-29), Spike Buchan 4^th (40-44), Mark Franklin 7^th (40-44) & Ali Witt 4^th.  In the 100 Backstroke Gail Henry won Gold in the 35-39 age group, Sarah Feltham an unexpected 3^rd (25-29), Grant Robins 3^rd (40-44), Mike Nolan 2^nd (35-39), Stu Mantle 2^nd (25-29), other top ten places Rosemary Johnson 6^th (65-69), Louise Mittens 10^th (55-59) & Caitlin O’Malley 5^th (25-29).  Gemma Howells in a hard race finished 2^nd to get silver in the 50m Butterfly (25-29), this was followed up by Nic Vaughan who finished 1^st (45-49), other notable top ten places were Steve Berry 10^th (40-44), Karen McCullogh 5^th (30-34), Gary Timbs 6^th (25-29) & Jim Warwick 7^th (25-29).  The final swimming of the day saw the mixed Medley Relays taking place with the following finishing in the medals:  Mixed 100-119 1^st, 120-159 5^th, 160-199 3^rd, 200 -239 12^th.

Tuesday 13 Oct.   A quiet day in the pool as events were concerned but definitely not for medals! First up to grab a medal was Stu Mantle winning Gold (25-29) in the 200m F/s, which also saw Jim Warwick who was unfortunate to finish 4^th and Chris Bumby finishing 5^th. Ali Witt was the next, who finished 3^rd (30-34), Neil Tate came 2^nd (40-44). After the 200 F/S saw the girls in the 50m Backstroke were Caitlin O’Malley (25-29) finished 3^rd, Gail Henry 3^rd, Stu Mantle came up trumps again in the 50 back finishing 2^nd (25-29), not being out done by Stu, Mike Nolan 1^st (35-39) and Grant Robins 1^st (40-44). Top Ten places came From Sarah Feltham 7^th 200 F/S (25-29) and Louise Mittens 7th 50m Backstroke (65-69), after the individuals the Mixed Freestyle relays and they did not disappoint with a 1^st place going to the 100-119 yrs,  which was followed by a 2^nd in the 160-199 yrs and 6^th for the 200-239.

Wednesday 14 Oct.  First of the Medals came from Gary Timbs in the 200 Butterfly finishing (25-29) 1^st in one of the best swims of the meet going out from the gun and winning by a good 25m, another outstanding swim next was from Sarah Feltham (25-29) who had a gutsy swim to finish 1^st,  Stu Mantle again in the medals with a 2^nd in the 25-29 200 Backstroke, this was followed by Mike Nolan with another 1^st (35-39) and Grant Robins (40-44) 2^nd in the 200 backstroke. Top ten places in the 200 Backstroke went to Caitlin O’Malley (25-29) 5^th,  Louise Mittens (55-59) 9^th, Rosemary Johnson (65-69) 4^th and Mark Franklin (40-44) 6^th 400m Individual Medley.

Thursday 15 Oct.  A very busy day with the majority of the team making a splash and the medals still kept coming with the following with Neil Tate (40 – 44) 2^nd, Nic Vaughan (45-49) 1^st 100 Freestyle and a 2^nd in the 200 Butterfly with Gary Timbs (25-29) also picking up a 2^nd in the 100 Butterfly and Lyndsay Lant (70-74) 50m Breast Stroke. Top ten places in the 100 Freestyle going to Sarah Feltham 10th (25-29), Stu Mantle 5^th (25-29), Jim Warwick 6^th (25-29), Ali Witt 6^th (30 -34), Gail Henry 6^th (35-39), 50m Breast stroke top ten another 4^th to Si Hornby (25-29), Chris Bumby 10^th (25-29), Mark Franklin (40-44) 6^th and Gemma Howells in the 100m Butterfly.  The Relays again brought home medals with the 100-119 Women’s Medley relay finishing 2^nd, the women’s 240-279 finishing 4^th not being out done by the women’s relays the means Freestyle relays in the 100-119 were 1^st, 160-199 ‘A’ 1^st & ‘B’ a very unexpected but brilliant 3^rd.

Friday 16 Oct.  Last Day in the pool and the medals still kept coming in from Lyndsay Lant (70-74) 1^st, Karen McCullough (30-34) 3^rd, Si Hornby (25-29) 3^rd in the 200m Breaststroke, Neil Tate (40-44) 1^st & Nic Vaughan (45-49) 1^st I the 50m Freestyle. Other top ten were Alison Oliver(40-44) 5^th & Gary Thomas (45-49)4^th both in the 200 Breast stroke & finally but not least Gail Henry (35-39) 6^th in the 50m Freestyle.  Again not to be out done by those gaining individual medals the relays pulled it out of the bag again with the Women’s 100-119 200m Freestyle relay finishing 3^rd and the 240-279 yrs coming 4^th, not being out done by the women’s relays the men’s 100-119 200m Freestyle relay finished 2^nd and the 160-199 yrs 200m Freestyle ‘A’ team finished 3^rd with the ‘B’ finishing 4^th.

Saturday 17 Oct.  The last day was supposed to see the 3km open water swim, where many of the team were hoping to add to their medal tallies, but unfortunately due to the water temperature (and Australian rules) it was cancelled, so the team enjoyed a nice swim in the sun instead.

Total tally of medals are as followed:

Gold 16,    Silver 19,   Bronze 13.

There were also excellent swims from swimmers who didn’t make the top ten but did do personal best swims these were from Jeannie Roberts, Ritchie Metcalfe, Rob Heatley, Deborah Thomas, Andy Grundy all making top 25 places in an entry of nearly 2000 competitors.

This was by far one of the most successful overseas tours by an RN swimming team and thanks must go to Gary Thomas for the majority of the organisation and to Andy Grundy who was ever present at the pool in his role as Team Manager.

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