Claremont Masters Success in Tasmania

Fourteen members of Claremont Masters Swimming Club have recently returned from the National Championships in Launceston with a swag of medals and records. The impressive club haul totalled 28 Gold, 19 Silver and 20 Bronze medals, 2 National Records and no fewer than 46 State Records.

Leading the charge was club stalwart Perc Edwards, 85, of Mt Claremont, who returned home with 7 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medals and 6 State Records to his name.

Anthony Dunne, 47, of Dalkeith came away with 4 Gold, 1 Silver and 3 State Records – and the achievement of being the fastest overall competitor for 25, 50 and 200 Breaststroke, despite racing against men 20 years his junior.

Three other members won 3 Gold medals each – and a handful of Silver and Bronze – namely Graham Croft, 62, of Doubleview, Paul Blackbeard, 52, of Como and Nicola Corsbie, 48, of Cottesloe. Paul set 7 State Records, Nicola set 4 and Graham another 2.

Sally Stanford, 50, of Dalkeith won 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 6 Bronze medals and set a State Record in every one of her swims. Cottesloe residents Trish Burton, 40, Gary Bradley, 52, and Bastiaan de Boer, 49, also recorded impressive individual achievements, with Trish taking away 1 Silver medal, 3 Bronze medals and 3 State Records, Gary 3 Bronze and 1 State Record, and Bastiaan 1 State Record.

“The highlight of the meet was definitely the relays,” said Club Captain Nicola Corsbie. “We came away with 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze in relays – our best ever performance at a National Championships,” she said.

Two of the relay teams swam National Record times – a major achievement in Masters competition. Both teams were in the 200-239 age group, reflecting the combined ages of the four team members. Nicola Corsbie, Sally Stanford, Gary Bradley and Paul Blackbeard broke the record in the 4 x 25 Mixed Medley Relay while Gary and Paul teamed up with Anthony Dunne and Bastiaan de Boer to rewrite the record books for the 4 x 25 Mens Medley Relay.

Sally Bell, PR Officer

A response to the article by Sandra Mutch in the Spring Edition of Different Strokes on the viability of second claim membership

Claremont Masters Swimming Club have wholeheartedly embraced the option of second claim membership in the past twelve months opening up our training sessions to other clubs and providing further racing opportunities for those swimmers who enjoy the competitive aspect of swimming. Our Friday morning training session regularly attracts more than 20 swimmers from up to as many as four different Masters Clubs including second claim members of Claremont and casual visitors to the session. The atmosphere at these sessions is one that embodies the motto of Masters Swimming – fitness, friendship and fun – where everyone enjoys the social and physical advantages to training in a large, friendly and welcoming group.

For those non-Claremont swimmers who were regularly attending our sessions the ease of paying one lump sum second claim membership fee instead of a weekly lane hire contribution was not only appealing but also considerably cheaper. From an administrative point of view, it is easier for us to accept a one-off fee and have these members listed on our database as well as our club email distribution list so we can keep them well-informed of club and Masters Swimming activities, something that some of the smaller clubs simply do not have the infrastructure or man-power to deliver. We do still offer casual attendance for those swimmers who cannot make the sessions regularly and prefer to pay each time they attend.

We welcome all our second claim members as full and equal members of our club as they effectively pay the same club component as all our first claim members. We endeavour to promote a cohesive, friendly and inclusive atmosphere at our club rather than make the distinction between social, second claim or first claim members. Second claim members, like all our members, are invited to attend our social functions and asked to contribute to club activities and, if they so choose, compete at carnivals. The concept that you have competing loyalties by being a member of two clubs is reminiscent of the arguments against dual-citizenship and ignores the idea that two clubs can be complementary entities.

For those swimmers who do enjoy competing and relish the opportunity to swim at more than their allocated BACC each year the attraction of being able to swim as part of a team is considerable. As we welcome our second claim members as equal members to our club there is no exclusion of swimmers from relay team selection based on first or second claim membership status, ability or any other factor for that matter. ALL our swimmers who want to swim relays at carnivals are given the opportunity to swim. At carnivals where the first claim club of our second claim members are competing we actively encourage them to swim with their first claim club as was the case in the recent Short Course Relay Carnival. Contrary to common belief, Claremont is not interested in “stacking the decks”. We are interested in offering our members an atmosphere of encouragement where each individual can realise their full potential within a team framework.

Several of our second claim members joined Claremont with no intention of ever competing for either their first or second claim clubs, but have subsequently decided to give racing a try and have loved the experience competing for both their clubs. Had we not been able to provide the opportunity of competition for those swimmers they may never have taken the plunge into racing.

We accept that there may be some issues with the recording system for those few swimmers who choose to swim at an interclub for their second claim club but from a club administrative point of view it is clearly easier to have one simple membership that gives members the flexibility to choose whether to race or not. Surely in this day and age it is not too difficult to override the existing system or even introduce a new facility whereby second claim members can be accommodated on the very rare occasions where they are competing for their second claim club?

We had two second claim swimmers swimming as part of the Claremont team at the 2009 Nationals as their first claim clubs could not field teams or their teams were too small to field relays. There were absolutely no issues arising from this from a recording point of view.

The concept of the Black Swan Club is a great one and would be terrific for a situation like the Worlds and possibly to some extent at the Nationals although at the Nationals if there was the option of competing for a disparate Black Swan team or a second claim club for which you had already established an association with we know which one we would rather compete for. If, however, the Black Swan team idea is reinstated then surely this is a second claim issue anyway and presents all the associated recording problems that Sandra has mentioned so would it not be better to try and make the system work better and accommodate second claim membership across the board?

Claremont Masters is strongly in support of retaining the option of second claim membership. We do not see that it presents issues of club loyalty rather it strongly promotes interclub friendship and support and surely this is what Masters Swimming is all about. We should not see our clubs as cliques but rather as part of the bigger Masters Swimming family. Second claim membership is just one of the many ways we can help promote fitness, friendship and fun to all Masters swimmers.

Committee, Claremont Masters Swimming Club

Read what some of our second claim members have to say;

Mark Barlow – 1^st Claim Bold Park, 2^nd Claim Claremont

As a shift-worker who loves his swimming, I must tell you how much I appreciate the opportunity to be a second-claim member of Claremont AUSSI Masters.

1. Claremont AUSSI is a great club, professionally run with excellent coaches and facilities, but its greatest asset is its welcoming inclusive culture – you feel very strongly this club’s ethos is to enable its members be the best swimmer they can be whilst enjoying their swimming to the maximum.
2. Claremont AUSSI’s welcoming culture sets an example to all AUSSI Masters clubs. I may be a second-claim member but have never been made to feel second-class at Claremont AUSSI Masters.
3. I am a primary member of Bold Park AUSSI Masters, but can only regularly get to one session. Being a second-claim member of Claremont AUSSI enables me get to another quality session with a qualified coach on deck.
4. AUSSI Masters is all about participation and has a strong social aspect – you get to meet other swimmers from all over the place. For the record, I often attend the Stadium Snappers Saturday afternoon session en route to work and would be happy to be a ‘third claim’ member there. Also, when I visit my mum in Melbourne, I attend the Malvern Marlins sessions and am made to feel very welcome – at my fourth-claim AUSSI Masters club!

Gale Martin – 1^st Claim Bold Park, 2^nd Claim Claremont

1. Pool-side coaching is not always available at some First Club training sessions. Second Claim club members are able to take advantage of other coaching opportunities

2. A small membership club might not be able to field sufficient entrants in events such as relays. Being a Second Club member may enable a swimmer to compete in a team with others known to them.

3. The camaraderie engendered by belonging to more than one club is invaluable.

Lucy Stuart – 1^st claim Bold Park, 2^nd claim Claremont

As a generally non-competitive and social masters swimmer, I do not feel strongly about what other individuals care to do when they compete, and I can understand the reasoning of a couple of very good swimmers who have swum for their 2nd club on occasions, even when it has disadvantaged my 1st membership club.

Therefore, can only speak for myself, and I chose to join Claremont as a 2nd claim member purely as I get a lot from attending your sessions – good coaching, another approach, great social group, fits into my weekly routine well – but I would never intend to compete for Claremont (that is the cross that Bold Park has to bear!). I joined in order to make some sort of a financial contribution to Claremont, as the club does not charge lane hire and we get great coaching. I did not want to be too much of a freeloader. Plus I enjoy the inclusiveness.

Robyn Wilson – 1^st claim Stadium Snappers, 2^nd claim Claremont

I became a second claim member primarily for financial reasons – rather than pay lane hire every week for the Friday morning Claremont session, it was cheaper to become a second claim member. However, since coming to the Claremont morning session, I now find that the social aspect has become equally, if not more important, than the financial aspect. I swim with the Snappers – my first club – twice a week but because I am now retired I prefer to do my swimming during the day. Even though the Snappers do swim during the day, Claremont offers me another group of swimmers to socialise with as well and I am more than happy with the combination of what both clubs offer me as a swimmer.

So far I see no disadvantages in belonging to more than one club. In fact, the advantages are numerous – different coaching styles, a bigger choice of times and days for swimming, new swimming buddies and last but not least new ”coffee” mates! It is certainly a definite plus for being able to join more than one club and I am certain that more members could become second club members depending on their circumstances and their needs.

Ray Plowman – 1^st claim Osborne Park, 2^nd claim Claremont

I would be most disappointed if 2nd claim memberships were abolished as I have gained so much improvement from the Friday morning sessions with Claremont Masters for more than a year now. I don’t swim nights and this is the only opportunity I have to get extra training and expert coaching from Elena and Sally, when she is there.

Karen Sandover – 1^st claim Bold Park, 2^nd claim Claremont

In response to the article “To Second Claim or Not To Second Claim” in September’s Different Strokes, I would like to make the following points:

1. My motivation in joining Masters swimming is involvement in club recreational swimming, with competition being the secondary consideration.
2. Masters swimming with my first club and with my second club allows me to attend a wider choice of training sessions and club activities which I otherwise would be denied due to work and family commitments.
3. I have found over the past year that involvement with my second club has increased my enjoyment of recreational swimming, introduced to me to a wide circle of like-minded people, and improved my swimming beyond my expectations.
4. At no time have I felt any pressure to compete for my second club, nor have I found any conflict of loyalty.

In summary, by joining both clubs my swimming has improved, the swimming social network has increased, and as a consequence swimming has become a very enjoyable part of my life which would not have occurred through just my first club.

Second Claim Membership – A Response

Gary Bradley (Claremont Masters President) recently handed over a cheque for $3500 to Nigel Glass (left in photo) and Shane Yensch (right in photo) from the Para-Quad Association. The money represented the net proceeds from the Swim Thru Perth for 2009.

Thanks to all members that attended the club’s Annual General Meeting on January 12 and helped make it a success. A new committee was voted in for 2009:

President – Gary Bradley
Vice President – Duncan Booth
Secretary – Elena Nesci
Treasurer – Patrick Verryn
Recorder – Richard Johnson
Coach – Frank Glass
Captain – Nicky Corsbie
Vice Captain – Alison Farmer
Social Committee – Nat Roberts, Tom Engelbrecht, Trish Burton & Joy Johnson

We still require one more member on the social committee and a Public Relations Officer so if you are interested please let me know.

Gary Bradley was a very deserving winner of the Craig Bell Service to the Club Award for his outstanding contribution to club life and in particular to his assistance, support and friendship extended to Colin Mayrhofer over the past 9 months during his arduous rehabilitation process.

Fees for 2009 have been set at $110.  There is a new online registration system that Patrick will inform you about when he returns from his travels so you can keep hold of your cash for  a bit longer.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Claremont Masters Swimming Club Inc. will be held on Monday the 12th of January 2009 at the clubrooms at Challenge Stadium.

The meeting notice and agenda is attached below.

AGM 2009 Notice – Adobe PDF

Wouldn’t a similar plate look great on your car?

If at least six more plates are not sold before December 31 this year, the series will be cancelled, and only those who were smart enough to get moving will have the chance to display these collectors’ items for all time!

They are only $140….  and there are plenty of 2 digit numbers left to choose from.  You could even buy one as a present!

To place an order, contact Masters Swimming WA on 9387 4400 or email ua.nsa.awgnimmiwssretsamnull@ofni

Hi Gropers,

If you are interested in looking up your individual swim time(s) from the FINA World Masters on the Internet, they can be found at:

http://www.fina.org/project/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=74&Itemid=333

The top half of the page are heats, the bottom half of the page results.

Professional photos from the event are available from:

http://www.picturesystems.com/winkipop/sports.cfm

Paul

SALLY BELL’S RELAY AND INDIVIDUAL RESULTS SUMMARY

Hi All !!!
 
Please find attached all results and individual splits in our wonderful relays at Worlds.  Apologies in advance if there are any errors… I’ve double checked so hopefully not! In summary, the highlights were:

• 3 bronze medals
• 13 state records and 1 national (and state) record (but one of the state records was rebroken in the next heat)
• 1 team broke the old National Record by 4 seconds but was beaten by an Australian team
• 1 team missed a National Record by 0.5
• 1 team broke the old state record but was beaten by 2 WA teams
• 1 team broke the old state record but was DQd (dodgy)
• 1 team missed a State Record by 0.5s

And there were some amazing split times by ALL swimmers!  Congratulations everyone.  We calculated after the relay day that Claremont now has more than 20 men who can break 30 for a 50 Freestyle (and most of these have swum under 29 seconds). We also have 3 women under 30 seconds.
 
We’ll do a big individual performance summary at a later stage, but here’s a quick run down of our individual medal (1,2,3) and record tally (just from my dodgy memory – and not including the Open Water Swim because as I write this it hasn’t started!):

• 3 Gold medals (Sally Bell (2), 50 Backstroke & 100 Backstroke; Tom Stachewicz (1), 50 Backstroke)
• 3 Silver medals (Anthony Dunne (1), 200 Breaststroke; Dean Stockwell (1), 50 Breaststroke; Sally Bell (1), 200 Backstroke)
• 8 National Records (Tom Stachewicz (4), 50 Freestyle & 100 Freestyle, 50 Backstroke twice; Sally Bell (1), 50 Backstroke; Anthony Dunne (1), 200 Breaststroke; Dean Stockwell (1), 50 Breaststroke; Ross Leighton (1), 50 Freestyle)

and I’ll be mortified if I missed anyone!!!
 
And of course we had numerous 4-10th placings…  Off the top of my head, those who got infuriating 4ths were Sally Stanford (2), Anthony Dunne (2), Sally Bell (1), Sam McLennan (1 or 2?)… and there were no doubt others that I’ve forgotten… Most importantly our swimmers recorded a swag of monumental PBs…. So many performances spring to mind…. But as I said, we’ll do a proper summary in the near future…

Sal

Relay Results and Splits (MS Excel 2003 Document)

MEDIA RELEASE – WORLD CHAMPS MEDAL HAUL FOR CLAREMONT

Claremont Masters members brought home 12 medals from the FINA World Masters Swimming Championships held at Challenge Stadium last week.

The club won nine individual medals (3 Gold, 3 Silver and 3 Bronze), and 3 Bronze medals in relays.

Local mum Sally Bell won 2 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal in the 45-49 year age group, breaking one National record in the process.  Former WA swimming legend, Tom Stachewicz, won 1 Gold medal in the 40-44 age group, and set a total of 4 National records.

Silver medals were won by Anthony Dunne, in the 45-49 age group, and Dean Stockwell, in the 40-44 age group, both in National record time.

The club’s three individual Bronze medals were won in the three-kilometre Open Water Swim, by Bett Montgomery (55-59), Lesley Meaney (60-64) and Perc Edwards (80-84).

Claremont had a very successful time at the day-long relay competition, breaking no fewer than 13 State records and 1 National record.

The women’s 200-239 relay teams (with an average age of over 50 years) won Bronze medals in both the freestyle and medley relays, with their team of Sally Bell, Lesley Meaney, Sally Stanford and Nicola Corsbie.

The men’s 160-199 relay team (with an average age of over 40 years) won a Bronze medal in the freestyle relay with their team of Tom Stachewicz, Dean Stockwell, Anthony McDonald and John Bowden.

Many other Claremont Masters swimmers gained top 10 placings and a swag of State records, and enjoyed the great competition and international camaraderie on offer at the week-long championships.

ENDS

Contact: Elena Nesci, Secretary, Claremont Masters Swimming Club
 Ph: 0415 314 082  ua.moc.liamezonull@icsen.anele

Media Release (MS Word 2003 Document)

The policy may be downloaded by clicking here. More information can be obtained from Heathway – www.healthway.wa.gov.au.