Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club hosted their first ever ‘Masters Winter Swim Meet’ at Everyone Active on Saturday 15th February. Over 220 swimmers attended from 67 clubs, travelling from clubs between Paignton to Harrogate to compete in this inaugural event. The meet was an outstanding success for HHSC with two of the swimmers
attending, Sally Winter of Bishop Stortford and Jo Corben of South Downs Trojan Swimming Club setting new EUROPEAN Records!

The HHSC team of 20 swimmers included 4 attending their first ever Masters meet, Liberty Regan, Chloe Kennedy, Ellie O’Keefe and Emily Presland, between them they picked up 22 medals.Tom Osborn took on the challenge of swimming 7 events, setting new Age Group PB’s in all his swims. Shane Coulson swam 5 events setting 5 new
Club Records, 4 PB’s and taking 4 Golds and 1 Silver. Hannah Smee and Heidi Lisher, having only recently returned to the club after a maternity break, swam 3 new Club Records and took 3 medal spots. Jojo Lea-Pearce swam 2 events setting two new Club Records, with Hilary Coulson also swimming two events taking 4 medals between them. Dave Pirrie and Dan Capozzi set 3 Club records taking 7 medal spots. Charles Gloor and Dom Kelly swam 3 PB’s with 4 podium spots. Returning to swimming after a long break, Bill Woodhouse took a podium spot, with Russ Simpson taking a Gold and Kevin McKenna taking 4 podium spots. New to the club, Helen Cox swam 7 events, setting 7 new Club Records and taking 7 podium spots. Finally, we had Mark Ayres and Matt Rafiq-Craske taking on the challenge of swimming, whilst running the event.

Of the 20 HHSC swimmers attending, they achieved 2 new East Regional Records, 24 new Club Records, with 66 of the 69 swims finishing in the top 5 placings and 51 taking a podium spot.

HHSC Masters would like to extend their thanks to all the swimmers who took part and say a special Thank You, to all the Officials for giving up their time to attend. Without you all the event could not have taken place and would not have been such a success. Special thanks goes to Richard Daniell (Masters Coach) and Matt, Mark, and the HHSC Volunteers for all their time and work on the event. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!