masters magic moments!

[Limerick]

:)What are your masters magic moments, the memories of great swims/times that you cherish?
Here are my top 3;
1/Mar 07 - Our Masters club went on a 1 week training camp in Club Santa in Lanzerotte - the first dive into the pool, on a Monday morning, when everybody else back home was at work, the clear warm water, sunlight streaming down, nothing to do except swim with some friends, and the whole week ahead of me - magic!
2/Aug 05 - the European Masters in Stockholm - my first (and so far only European or World Masters) - what a shock to the system, the sheer size and scale of the event, 50 - 80heats for most swim events, and all the incredible bodies, everybody (expect me) looking like top class Olympics swimmers! It was great to see swimmers swimming in the 70 and 80s, even their 90s, and some incredible times in these groups. The town was lovely, the hotel great, the whole experience was mind blowing and it moved my swimming on so much in terms of motivating me for the future.
3/Mar 06 - our own Masters gala (University of Limerick) - it was one of those days when you seem to swim perfectly, and I got PBs in my 2 key events - the 100 and 200m fly, and if I had won gold in the olympics I couldnt have been happier!
So thats my top 3 masters swim memories!

[Vincent]

GB Masters 2005, Sheffield, for me. Massive buzz!!! :)

[happySwimmer]

My first open water race - September 2004.

It was in Majorca, 7k across Pollenca Bay. The feeling when I finished and walked up the beach was incredible, the sun was shining and music and refreshments awaited us. Absolute bliss!

[laserblazer]

:aarrgghh::aarrgghh:My first open water race - September 2004.

It was in Majorca, 7k across Pollenca Bay. The feeling when I finished and walked up the beach was incredible, the sun was shining and music and refreshments awaited us. Absolute bliss!

Sounds great, how long it did it take you. It's the jelly fish that put me off. I got stung in Menorca ( well me leg actually) and it hurt like hell. A couple of days later I swam into a plastic bag and nearly fouled me budgies :aarrgghh:

[Spidey]

Walking in to Ponds Porge for my first Worlds in 1996. Looking down on to the pool was just pure joy. The fact that I was in a Wold Record Breaking Team just added to the moment.

[missjackiechan]

I haven't been swimming long enough!! but today was a really great session and I was told by the coach I should think about moving up a lane (which sounds a bit pants compared to you guys......but to me felt brilliant!!)

[Speedy Gonzalez]

My magic moments : the first sea swim, 2001, 3.5k in rough sea. While I was swimming I spent the whole time swearing to myself I would never do another one.
This year's Navia sea swim was pretty good too; not for the swimming though, just for the atmosphere.

Swimming pool stuff : the Spanish National Championships 2006. After being DQ'd for the first time in my life in my first race, I went on to get gold in 400m IM (though if you compare my time to any British Masters time it is pretty s***e).:zip:

[Spidey]

I haven't been swimming long enough!! but today was a really great session and I was told by the coach I should think about moving up a lane (which sounds a bit pants compared to you guys......but to me felt brilliant!!)

mjc, you stop it now, you are not pants. I can remember being moved to the top lane and thinking that I have finally made it. You keep going girl, and stop doing a Stevie.

[KatieBun]

My first 50 fly...but few people saw it, as they'd gone to sleep by the time I finished.
I'm not discussing times...they're laughable.
I did enjoy my 50 brs at the GBs in Tollcross in 2005, but that weekend was really memorable because of the company. Nearly asphyxiated myself laughing, thanks to Linny, GF and FB.

[GettingFaster]

Yes, it sure was a brilliant weekend, and to think I nearly didn't get to go. But that's another story.

Another fab weekend also included FlyingBean, accompanied by Leprechaun and the delicious Biggles. Spanish Nationals or summink a couple of years ago, but it really didn't matter what it was, it was a weekend that will stay with me forever. End of Jan/Beginning of Feb, sitting outside a restaurant at the edge of the sea with tiny waves lapping the shore, eating a yummy meal with three fantastic people with whom I'd shared a weekend of smiles and laughter. My face was sore from the laughter and smiles. Remember the IM where my goggles came off and I was trying to swim with them in my hand? And the GOLD medal for 200 fly for the wonderful FB? And the abortive breaststroke record attempt where Leppy didn't even get wet? And Manuel the Birdscarer? And Jorge the masseur with fists of iron? And the bloke and his girlfriend in the hotel who got in a state? And the filthy looks from the Saga lot when Biggles and Leppy came down together for breakfast?

I think the alternative was South East Regions in CP so you can understand our decision, but I'm so glad I've got that weekend to keep with me.

[missjackiechan]

mjc, you stop it now, you are not pants. I can remember being moved to the top lane and thinking that I have finally made it. You keep going girl, and stop doing a Stevie.

..sorry I think its catching!, cheers for the support :)

[FlyingBean]

So many good memories, too many to choose just one, so a short(ish) list:

:) Spanish Nationals that GF mentioned, it was an absolute blast. A long weekend that was full of laughter and stories

:) Channel Relay 2005, it was the inspiration of a solo attempt

:) Going sub 6 mins on a 400 free in 2005, still don't know how I did that

:) Watching GF swim a 200 IM 20 mins after steak, chips, peas, mushrooms and a pint of Guiness

:) 1500 at the Nationals in 2004, smashing my PB by minutes and lapping every other swimmer in the pool

:) Actually 2005 generally as I competed just about everywhere, chasing and achieving European qualifying times and then going on to swim in the World Masters Games (managed a bronze), European Masters Championships and then the Channel Relay. Don't know about best gala, but certainly one of my most memorable years (to date of course!!)

[GettingFaster]

That was 20 mins from the food turning up at the table, so only about 15 from the time the last chip was popped into my mouth. And you forgot to mention that despite having spent the whole of the previous week in bed with flu (proper flu, not just a cold) that I actually managed an 8 second PB with that swim. And the turn judge nearly falling in with laughter when you yelled "GO!!!!" as I turned from fly to back and I yelled back "I am ****ing going!"

[Spidey]

That was 20 mins from the food turning up at the table, so only about 15 from the time the last chip was popped into my mouth. And you forgot to mention that despite having spent the whole of the previous week in bed with flu (proper flu, not just a cold) that I actually managed an 8 second PB with that swim. And the turn judge nearly falling in with laughter when you yelled "GO!!!!" as I turned from fly to back and I yelled back "I am ****ing going!"

Is that Man Flu that you are referring to?

[LAZy]

not done enoug yet but .....
being laughed at by turn judge touching the wall on backcrawl IM turn, then next session a timekeeper telling me he hadn't seen legs out of the water & swimmer staying on back re-a backcrawl turn for nearly 30 years !
But then you can't teach an old dog new tricks... or can you?

watch that wall Verity - may take a while mind!

Got to laugh at myself - along with others!!

[FlyingBean]

That was 20 mins from the food turning up at the table, so only about 15 from the time the last chip was popped into my mouth. And you forgot to mention that despite having spent the whole of the previous week in bed with flu (proper flu, not just a cold) that I actually managed an 8 second PB with that swim. And the turn judge nearly falling in with laughter when you yelled "GO!!!!" as I turned from fly to back and I yelled back "I am ****ing going!"

It really was hilarious. Still makes me laugh now!! Wasn't it the same gala where we went out for a curry and the waiters picked on you for a practical joke? :aarrgghh:

[Spidey]

I was cheering Mrs A during one of her swims in Guernsey a few years back and a similar occurance happened. 200m Breaststroke and with me standing at the end I was shouting words of encouragement each time she turned. The last turn I shouted "push it" only to get a reply "I am". Even with time to answer back I am sure it was a British Record swim

[happySwimmer]

It was in Majorca, 7k across Pollenca Bay.
:aarrgghh::aarrgghh:

Sounds great, how long it did it take you. It's the jelly fish that put me off. I got stung in Menorca ( well me leg actually) and it hurt like hell. A couple of days later I swam into a plastic bag and nearly fouled me budgies :aarrgghh:

2 hours 22mins (not very fast, but just finishing was enough for me). I never seen to have a problem with jellyfish I think my pheromones must put them off. I rarely get bitten by mosquito, I assume for the same reason.

[GettingFaster]

It really was hilarious. Still makes me laugh now!! Wasn't it the same gala where we went out for a curry and the waiters picked on you for a practical joke? :aarrgghh:
Oh yes, I'd forgotten about that one! Curry Mile in Manchester is absolutely fantastic, that weekend was another fantastic one.

And no, Spidey, it really was proper flu, not just a bad cold. I'd been in bed for the whole week as I just didn't have any energy to get up. Horrid.

[animal0800]

The funniest moment at the Guildford meet yesterday was the poor old boy who missed the start of his 200 Fly, so he came running up the side of the pool, found the first empty lane, dived in about 10 secoonds after the start, finished the race and promptly got DQ'ed for swimming in the wrong lane !!!!

[Leprechaun]

The best thing about Masters Swimming is that there are great swims - everyone had their own targets - and great days of fun too.

In terms of the crazy stuff there is nothing to beat an away Meet - Sheffield yes, can be too sensible at times but we have had some wild times in Manchester at the GB's (The Sh!tannia Hotel - G/F?? - where all of the wedding party on my corridoor were either fighting or shagging each other all night), any of the Irish Meets (Aer Lingus, Dublin and Cork are memorable) and I look forward to Guernsey next year.

In terms of swims, everyone has to have a great one sometime somewhere. For me it was Cork 2005 when I swam a 78.7 (Masters pb and NI record) 100 breast finally getting one over on my great rival Trevor W of Cork and proving that I could swim a controlled 100. Mind you he and I had shared a fair few Guinness the night before....

[GettingFaster]

Ah, the joys of sabotage-induced victories, eh?

The Aer Lingus meet, one particularly memorable 200 free where the swimmer hadn't tied up the string on his budgies and every turn the entire pool came that little bit closer to seeing what he'd had for breakfast... got the biggest cheer of the whole meet when the race finished!

[adamlelean]

In the order in which they occured:

1 Meeting my wife - alright so it took a few years before she became my wife.
2 My first ever 100 Fly, I think it was at the first every Barnet Distance Meet. I needed to switch to breaststroke legs (it was legal even for kids then) for the last 5 metres, it was the only way I was going to reach the wall.
3 On the last swim of a swimtrek holiday in Greece, being allowed to swim with one other swimmer, the sea was dead calm, the other swimmers were at least 400m away, it was a nice sunny day, the water was a perfect blue. When we arrived at the target beach 2 young ladies that had been sunbathing topless decided to enter the water to play with a ball.
4 Doing a 17 second PB on my 1500 free at Barnet last year, after a terrible 1500 at the Nationals.

[Speedy Gonzalez]

Just remembered another one. A weekend at the end of May last year, in Valladolid (the heart of the wine-making area). Outdoor pool, 30ºc. Fantastic atmosphere on the Saturday and my swims were OK with a pb in 100m f/s. Saturday night we all got taken out for a wine-tasting + dinner at a local vineyard.

Needless to say the atmosphere on Sunday was still excellent but the level of swimming dropped somewhat.

The only downside - our car got towed away as there was going to be a procession and the floats couldn't get past. It took us two hours to find out where the car was, and then an hour to find the place.