Croydon Amphibians Masters are a friendly and sociable group with over forty members. Many of our swimmers compete in Masters' competitions or triathlons, others swim to improve their fitness level, so our sessions are organised accordingly. Unfortunately our sessions are not suitable for beginners, but age is no barrier.

We currently train four nights a week in a variety of pools in and around the Croydon area. We have aimed to make the structure of the Masters' section as flexible as possible as we appreciate that many of our members have other commitments outside of the club. Simply decide how many sessions a week you would like to swim and come on whichever evening suits you best, even though this may vary from week to week. Our fees are structured accordingly.

Still interested? For further information the Masters Secretary, Pam Pollington

Timetable      
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Whitgift Royal Russell Trinity Crystal Palace
7.30-9pm 8.30-9.45pm 8.30-10pm 7.30-9pm



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Huge congratulations to Lauren Sullivan who took part in the National Junior Disability Championships, Sheffied. Lauren won Gold for the 400m f/s, Silver 200m I.M and 100m Backstroke, Bronze 50m f/s and 4x 100m medley team.

She was also an Olympic torch bearer.



Congratulations to Emma Warrington. Emma also swims for the Sharks diability club and recently won 8 out of the ten trophies in their Club Championships. She came second in the other 2. Well done Emma!



A World Record for Croydon Amphibians Masters swimmer Mark Bayliss


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With the cheers for the Olympic Triathletes still ringing in our ears from London 2012, CASC Masters swimmer Mark Bayliss broke the world record for, perhaps, the most challenging and iconic "Triathlon", the "Arch to Arc" Enduroman Challenge. This challenge saw him run from Marble Arch to Dover, swim the English Channel and then cycle into the record books along the Champs Elysees to finish at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. He started at 10:30 on Wednesday 5th, finishing 73 hours and 39 minutes later just after noon on Saturday 8th September.

In 2007 he first swam the English Channel and this provided the baseline for planning this momentous feat of endurance.

Mark is the 11th athlete to complete this challenge, but, maintaining Surrey's premier position in cross Channel swimming, is the first to complete the swim without a wetsuit, fully compliant with Channel Swimming rules.

Congratulations to Mark - the full story is on his website: www.teambayliss.co.uk

Full-Screen Gallery



London Olympics 2012


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Paul Hare and several of the Olympic lifeguards swam in the rehearsal for the broadcasters to get their TV shots and angles lined up for the start of the real competition at the Aquatics Centre the following day. Paul, Training Team Member, came in first in the 50m freestyle in a respectable 28.42. Paul then went on to win the 100m freestyle but only because the broadcasters said he must do! This again was for lining up their cameras and equipment. Paul later said, "its the best ever thing I've done in swimming."



Marie Curie Cancer 5k Swim

Mary and Anna completed their 5k swim on 30 April for Marie Curie Cancer - 200 lengthss each!

Mary did it in 1 hour and 50 minutes and Anna not far behind as she had a costume change in 1 hour and 57 minutes!

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Nationals - Ponds Forge, Sheffield - October 2011


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Congratulations to all the swimmers who travelled to Sheffield for the Nationals. Another highly successful weekend both in and out of the pool!

Andrew Collins
1500m F/S - 6th

Paul Hare
1500m F/S - Silver
100m F/S - Bronze
200m F/S - Gold
400m F/S - Gold

Tammy McDermott
100m Backstroke - 11th
50m Backstroke - 6th

Emma Warrington
200m IM - 6th
200m Fly - 6th

Julie Pilcher
100m Backstroke - 8th
100m Breaststroke - 9th
50m Backstroke - 6th

Rebecca Mulcahy
50m Fly - 7th
100m F/S - Bronze
50m F/S - Bronze
100m IM - 4th
50m Breastroke - 4th

Anne Raymond
100m Breaststroke - 5th
200m Breaststroke - 6th
800m F/S - 5th
400m F/S - 6th

Frances Penwarden
100m Breastsroke - Gold
200m Breaststroke - Gold
200m Fly - Gold

Vicky Panagiotidou
100m Breastsroke - 9th
50m Breaststroke - 11th
200m Breaststroke - 6th

Matthew Stone
100m Breaststroke - 13th
800m F/S - 7th

Clare Grundy
50m Fly - 4th
50m Backstroke - 7th
100m IM - 5th

 


Cross-Channel Relay, 15th August 2011

On Aug 15th 2011, four Croydon Amphibians, Lucinda, Mark, Paul Hare and Paul Finch swam a cross channel relay. The calm flat sea that they had hoped for didn't transpire. The conditions mid channel became quite rough and Paul Hare (who in a moment of mental lapse had agreed to take part) found himself swimming in mid air before crashing back down into the sea again. Under any circumstances their time of 11hrs and 37 mins was fantastic but given the conditions they all deserve a medal!

Cross-Channel Relay Gallery



Surrey County Champs, June 2011.

The 25th June had to be national wedding, christening, anniversary and birthday day as 75% of our usual team seemed to be at one or the other!!! Our small but select team swam incredibly well and finished in 4th place. As usual a special mention of Frances Penwarden who swam all 14 events to win her Victor Ludoram, also congratulations to Emma Warrington who won the Victor Ludoram for her age group for the second year running.



Eastbourne, 15th May 2011

As defending champions, we were determined to retain our title. We did this in some style beating our main rivals, Mid Sussex Marlins handsomely to retain both the top club and top visiting club awards. As a sign of our maturing membership,for the first time ever we were able to enter a 240 + relay team. (everyone has to be over 60!) Congratulations on a great day to everyone who took part.



To illustrate the diversity of the masters,on 31st March 2011 Mark Bayliss arrived in Morocco to compete in the Marathon des Sables. This is not one, but the equivalent of six marathons run across the Sahara in six days. Not for the faint hearted. Mark successfully completed "marathon" and arrived home very happy and except for slightly swollen feet, none the worse for wear.

April 30th saw fiancé Lucinda undertake a marathon of her own at Guildford Lido. The aim, to swim 1 mile every hour for 24hrs in aid of "Help for Heroes". The weather at 9.30am was warm and sunny but the temperature dropped dramatically once the sun went down, making this not only a physically but mentally gruelling event. Lucinda was the youngest swimmer taking part and one of only 24 from an original entry of 124, to finish.

To see more pictures, training tips and future events, go to their web site, www.teambayliss.co.uk




Bracknell Open - 5th March 2011

Although narrowly pushed into 2nd place by a very strong team from Teddington, our swimmers still managed to win a very impressive 20 Gold, 16 Silver and 11 Bronze medals.



National Masters Results from Ponds Forge, Sheffield - 29th - 31st October 2010

The Masters had their best-ever results from the Short Course Nationals:

Rebecca Mulcahy
100m F/S - Silver
50m Breast - 4th
50m F/S - Gold
100m IM - Silver
50m Fly - Gold

Frances Penwarden
50m Breast - Gold and NEW BRITISH RECORD
400m IM - Gold
100m Breast - Gold
200m Breast - Gold and NEW BRITISH RECORD

Tammy McDermott
200m Back - 5th
50m Back - Bronze
100m Back - 4th

Clare Grundy
100m Fly - 5th
50m Breast - 8th
100m IM - 5th
50m Fly - 4th

Vicky Panagiotidou
100m Breast - 15th
200m Breast - 10th

Emma Warrington
100m Fly - 13th
400m IM - 8th
200m Fly - 7th

Anne Raymond
100m Breast - 7th
200m F/S - 11th
400m F/S - 11th
200m Breast - 6th

Alan Parkins
100m Fly - Gold
200m IM - Silver
100m IM - Silver
50m Fly - Gold

Paul Hare
1500m F/S - Silver
400m F/S - Bronze
50m F/S - Silver

Relay Teams
4 x 100m Mixed Medley - Alan, Paul, Vicky & Clare - Silver and NEW BRITISH RECORD
4 x 50m Mixed F/S - Alan, Paul, Frances & Anne - Silver

3 British Records, 8 Gold Medals, 8 Silver & 2 Bronze...




S.E Regions at Guildford Spectrum - 3rd October 2010

Only 5 of our Masters were able to complete in the S.E Regions this year but the results were superb:

Clare Grundy - 4 Golds, 1 Silver

Alan Parkins - 4 Golds, 1 Silver

Frances Penwarden - 3 Golds - she went home after lunch!

Anne Raymond - 1 Gold, 3 Silvers, 1 Bronze

Emma Warrington - 1 Gold, 2 Silvers, 1 Bronze

Many congratulations to all of you.



Zurich Open Water Race

In August Mark and Lucinda returned to Zurich to take part in the annual 26.4 km open water race.

Lucinda came 6th overall in a time of 7hrs 52 mins, a massive 1hr 36min p.b. Must be something to do with the change of hair colour!!

Mark was not far behind with a 8hr 17 min swim, a 30 min p.b. and placing him 8th overall.

Watch this space. Lucinda, Mark, Paul Hare and Paul Finch are swimming a cross channel relay in Aug 2011.



FINA World Masters Championships

Congratulations to Frances Penwarden, Christine Goodair and Anne Raymond, who travelled to Sweden to complete in the Fina World Masters Championships.

Frances was in superb form, becoming world champion for the 200m breaststroke in a new course record, as well taking silver in the 100m breaststroke and 200 I.M, and bronze in the 200 fly. A fabulous result.

Christine and Anne, although not in the medals, achieved long course P.B's for every event they swum. A really great achievement.



Surrey County Championships

Croydon Amphibians Masters were narrowly beaten into second place at this year's Surrey County Championships, a result that we have every intention of reversing next year. Our small but talented team won 45 Gold, 20 silver and 14 bronze medals.

Congratulations to Ciaran, Emma , David, Alan and Frances all of whom won Victor Ludorams.



Masters Long Course National Championships Results - Glasgow

100m Breast

Anne Raymond - 4th
Frances Penwarden - Gold

200m F/S

Anne Raymond - 8th
Paul Hare - 4th

200m IM

Alan Parkins - Silver

50m Fly

Alan Parkins - Bronze

200m Breast

Anne Raymond - 4th
Frances Penwarden - Gold
Christine Goodair - 6th

800m F/S

Anne Raymond - 6th

50m F/S

Paul Hare - 5th

200m Back

Christine Goodair - 5th

400m F/S

Esther Iseppi - Gold

Anne Raymond - Bronze

And now for the relays:

4 x 50m Medley - Silver

4 x 50m F/S - Gold

4 x 100m F/S - Silver

4 x 200m F/S - Gold and NEW WORLD RECORD

4 x 100m Medley - Gold and NEW WORLD RECORD


 


London Marathon

Congratulations to Masters swimmers Mike Kazimierskiand Lucinda Pollington, both of whom ran the London Marathon. Mike in a blistering time of 2hrs 45mins and Lucinda in 4hrs 23mins. A fantastic result for both.


 

Masters at Haslemere

On Sat 13th Feb, Alan Parkins and Mat Stone carried the momentum from K2 to Haslemere.This was a brand new format. 50s in all strokes plus 100 I.M and a "virtual 200 I.M" The result for this was achieved by adding together the times and points from the 50s. Alan won 5 golds ( including the 200 I.M) 1 bronze, a slight slip up there! Not to be outdone, Mat won a medal in each colour.

They celebrated afterwards in the time honoured fashion, a curry.


Creme de la Creme at K2

South East Counties Long Course Meet - Jan 30th/31st

Birthday boy Paul Hare along with Alan Parkins, Mat Stone, Mark Bayliss, Lucinda Pollington, Frances Penwarden, Clare Grundy, Emma Warrington and Marianne Rooke-Allden, had an amazing weekend at K2. They amassed 14 Golds, 7 Silver and 3 Bronze individual medals, and 1 Gold and 6 Silvers in the relay events. The highlight for me as a coach was having all 5 swimmers who participated in the 400f/s winning a medal of one colour or another.

Thank you all. It was a priviledge to be there with you - Pam

 

"My hobbies include sunbathe. Please, you see"


Our Masters swimmers avoid getting bogged down during the recent floods


Frances Penwarden's British Record 400m IM swim at Sheffield

        

 

ASA Masters Short Course National Championships Results

Clare Grundy:

100m IM - 5th
50m Back - 5th
50m Fly - Silver
100m Back - 5th
100m Fly - Bronze

Matt Stone:

100m IM - 14th
100m Breast - 15th
400m Free - 11th
100m IM - 10th
200m Breast - 9th

Frances Penwarden:

100m Breast - Gold
200m Breast - Gold
400m IM - Gold and new British Record

Fantastic results!

Many congratulations from your very happy coach.


 

Results from the European Masters, Cadiz

Congratulations to Frances Penwarden who won Silver in a new British record time for the 200m I.M. , Gold in the 200m Fly, Silver 100m Breaststroke, Gold 200m Breaststroke.

A fantastic result!

6000 competitors took part in this years event!


Congratulations to Frances Penwarden who broke the British record for the 400 I.M. long course in Zurich on 21st August '09

Coach Pam says she's a star!!


Lake Zurich Swim

On 26th July Lucinda Pollington and Mark Baylis swam Lake Zurich in Switzerland, a 26.4km open water race.

Lucinda came 5th in the ladies 16 - 35 age group with a time of 9 hrs 28 mins 57secs.

Mark was 4th in the mens 16 - 35 age group with a time of 8 hrs 47 mins.

Well done to both of you!

 

Results from the Blue Seventy 3K open water swim at Dorney Lake, Eton

189 competitors took part, 10 from CASC Masters

 TimeOverall PositionAge Group Position
Mark Bayliss36.2842
Paul Finch39.49126
Lucinda Pollington40.04172
Mark Lee42.14245
Mat Stone43.35387
Russ Thornton47.565723
Rosh Lewis52.5712621
Mark Eardley54.2012641
Karen Macenhill58.3814827
Justin Macenhill58.3814943

(To put things into perspective: the first guy out of the water was Maarten Van der Weijden, the Beijing Olympics 10K Gold Medal winner, next Richard Stannard, World Aquathon Champion 2003/6. The first 3 out of the water were professional triathletes! Makes our achievements even more impressive!)