Chris
06-05-2002, 10:23 PM
Taken From ThisIsGuernsey (http://www.thisisguernsey.com), Monday 6th May 2002:
At 89, Dorothy Weston smashed the British 50-metre butterfly age group record at Beau Sejour.
The octogenarian Londoner shaved two seconds off the national mark and was the first record-breaker of this year’s Barclays International Guernsey Masters’ Meet.
Weston’s success story was particularly remarkable considering that event organisers had presented her with a bouquet of flowers in 2000, fearing it may have been her last swim in Guernsey.
‘She really is a remarkable woman and we’re delighted that she is still coming at the age of 89,’ said event organiser John Eyre.
Weston herself was unaware that she had become a new British record-holder until Eyre revealed the good news on Saturday evening.
‘I didn’t realise, but that’s very satisfying. Now I just hope I can come back next year when I’m 90 and do even better,’ said the delightful, cheery woman.
‘I keep coming back to Guernsey every year because I love it. It’s the best Masters event in the UK, it’s the best pool and the people are so friendly.
‘I couldn’t do many Masters events last year because I had to have two eye operations. At my age you can’t look too far ahead into the future. I’m just lucky to be alive and lucky to still be able to do all of these things.’
The event, now in its 11th year, has grown massively since 125 swimmers attended in 1992.
This year 168 Masters swam at Beau Sejour over three days of intense, but enjoyable competition.
‘Last year we had 21 records broken, including many British and European records,’ said Eyre.
‘There’s a wonderful atmosphere, which has been there since the beginning. They come over to spend an enjoyable weekend in Guernsey and to swim in a good pool with great facilities.
‘This may be a Masters’ event, but it’s taken very seriously indeed.’
Jane Asher, 71, from Wimbledon, is proof of the Masters’ competitive element.
Another wonderfully amiable woman, Asher broke 35 British records last year and this year has already broken three more at meets in Holland, the Isle of Wight and New Zealand.
She has missed only two Guernsey meets and praised the ‘tremendous spirit’ of one of the most prestigious Masters events on the calendar.
‘It’s exceptionally well run and it’s efficient and friendly,’ said Asher, who began swimming seriously in 1980 after a 10-year coaching career.
Asher is intent on smashing more records when she travels to a meet in Spain next month and to one in France in August but she will be forced to take a rest at the end of the year when she is due to undergo a hip replacement.
Joaquin Canales de Mendoza, Masters co-ordinator for Andalucia in Spain, is another who made the trip to Guernsey.
‘I have been coming for four years and I will come back for as long as I can because I love this event. I have got to know the people so well, Guernsey is beautiful, the accommodation is very good and we just have a great time,’ he said.
Unfortunately, very few Guernsey swimmers entered this year’s event, but Eyre was still delighted with the field of competitors he attracted.
Forty-eight clubs were represented in 1,100 events ages ranged from 25 to 89 and the gala was described as a magnificent success by swimmers and organisers.
At 89, Dorothy Weston smashed the British 50-metre butterfly age group record at Beau Sejour.
The octogenarian Londoner shaved two seconds off the national mark and was the first record-breaker of this year’s Barclays International Guernsey Masters’ Meet.
Weston’s success story was particularly remarkable considering that event organisers had presented her with a bouquet of flowers in 2000, fearing it may have been her last swim in Guernsey.
‘She really is a remarkable woman and we’re delighted that she is still coming at the age of 89,’ said event organiser John Eyre.
Weston herself was unaware that she had become a new British record-holder until Eyre revealed the good news on Saturday evening.
‘I didn’t realise, but that’s very satisfying. Now I just hope I can come back next year when I’m 90 and do even better,’ said the delightful, cheery woman.
‘I keep coming back to Guernsey every year because I love it. It’s the best Masters event in the UK, it’s the best pool and the people are so friendly.
‘I couldn’t do many Masters events last year because I had to have two eye operations. At my age you can’t look too far ahead into the future. I’m just lucky to be alive and lucky to still be able to do all of these things.’
The event, now in its 11th year, has grown massively since 125 swimmers attended in 1992.
This year 168 Masters swam at Beau Sejour over three days of intense, but enjoyable competition.
‘Last year we had 21 records broken, including many British and European records,’ said Eyre.
‘There’s a wonderful atmosphere, which has been there since the beginning. They come over to spend an enjoyable weekend in Guernsey and to swim in a good pool with great facilities.
‘This may be a Masters’ event, but it’s taken very seriously indeed.’
Jane Asher, 71, from Wimbledon, is proof of the Masters’ competitive element.
Another wonderfully amiable woman, Asher broke 35 British records last year and this year has already broken three more at meets in Holland, the Isle of Wight and New Zealand.
She has missed only two Guernsey meets and praised the ‘tremendous spirit’ of one of the most prestigious Masters events on the calendar.
‘It’s exceptionally well run and it’s efficient and friendly,’ said Asher, who began swimming seriously in 1980 after a 10-year coaching career.
Asher is intent on smashing more records when she travels to a meet in Spain next month and to one in France in August but she will be forced to take a rest at the end of the year when she is due to undergo a hip replacement.
Joaquin Canales de Mendoza, Masters co-ordinator for Andalucia in Spain, is another who made the trip to Guernsey.
‘I have been coming for four years and I will come back for as long as I can because I love this event. I have got to know the people so well, Guernsey is beautiful, the accommodation is very good and we just have a great time,’ he said.
Unfortunately, very few Guernsey swimmers entered this year’s event, but Eyre was still delighted with the field of competitors he attracted.
Forty-eight clubs were represented in 1,100 events ages ranged from 25 to 89 and the gala was described as a magnificent success by swimmers and organisers.