Our swimmers compete in World, European, National, regional and local competitions in varying numbers throughout the year.

The times recorded by three of our Masters saw seven of their swims included in FINA’s 2021 listings of the top ten fastest in the world. Two of our male Masters also had individual top ten placings in the 2022 LEN European listings. World & European rankings for 2023 are awaited but three of our members (aged 25, 44 and 62) headed British Masters rankings in their age groups.

As of July 2024, eleven of our current squad held 46 Short Course and 69 Long Course Beds County Masters & Seniors records over distances ranging from 50m to 1,500m, as well as eight relay records. Five of them also held 12 Short Course and 15 Long Course Eastern Region records. Such is the breadth of talent and age range of our squad.

A great feature of all our competitive swim meets is the friendship and support shown poolside to everyone. Personal achievements however small or large are always acknowledged.

Click on the links below for details of some of our recent past successes at Masters competitions.

2023

At the GB Masters a rare if not unique double was achieved by father and son, Dave & Matt Wright, both claiming the British 200m Butterfly titles in their age groups.  Jo Mitchinson meanwhile won the 200m Backstroke title despite  being at the top end of her age group whilst Sam Bradley was a double para-swimmer champion over 50m & 100m Backstroke.

Although for various reasons some of our “regulars” competed less than in previous years, Club Masters records were still claimed for more than 50 swims during the year. 

• GB Masters Decathlon 2023 – Men’s Team 42nd; Ladies 114th
• 2023 Masters Meet Reports
  • East Region Inter Counties – Nov: 3 County records for Matt
  • SE National Masters – Oct: Dave reigns supreme in 200m Fly
  • Sth East & East Regions – Sept/Oct: Golds for Sam & Alastair
  • Barnet Sprints- Sept: Lifetime best swims for Michelle
  • GB Masters- June: 14 Medals & 35 Records
  • Newmarket- April:  All 6 win 200m IM medals
  • Welsh National LC & Bracknell SC – March: Jo & Karen break County records
  • Sth East Long Course – January: 2  East, 4 Regional & 8 Club records

2022

After two years of interrupted training, our Masters endeavoured to shake off their competitive cobwebs claiming numerous East Region, County and Club records along the way.

Kelly Cooke and Karen MacKenzie claimed their first British Long Course titles.

It was also encouraging to see some of our “younger” members return to competition and others having their first experience of Masters’ meets.

Graham Powell had no fewer than ten Top 10 65-69 years’ Masters’ rankings according to LEN. That included two 3rd LC and two 4th SC places. Dave Wright was 7th in the European 60 -64 years’ LC 200m Butterfly rankings. Together with Malcolm Barton & Colin Mayes they were ranked 5th in the 240+ years’ Medley Relay.

• GB Masters’ Decathlon – Men’s Team 23rd, Ladies Team 71st
• 2022 Masters’ Meet Reports
  • Sth East, Welsh LC & Bracknell – January – March: Travels Reap Records and Medals
  • Newmarket – April: Triumphant Return To Newmarket
  • British Masters (LC) – Aberdeen – June: FOUR Individual Champions
  • Barnet Distance & East Region Open Water – July : Versatility On Show
  • Gloucester, Berks & Sth Bucks – Aug & Sept: More County & Club Records for Graham Powell
  • Barnet Sprints Plus – Sept: Gold & Silver Sprinting Skills
  • East Region Championships – October: Five Claim Medals & Records
  • English Nationals – October: Records & Lifetime PBTs
  • Inter- Counties, Etwall & Welsh SC – Oct -Dec: 18 – 24’s Claim Their First Records & Medals

2020 – 2021

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic bringing a rapid early halt to all swim meets in 2020, our Masters had still managed by March to set three new East Region and 17 Beds County records. Five of our Masters were already signed up to compete in the Europeans ….until they were cancelled. Roll forward 18 months and the Masters were immediately back in County record- breaking form….leading up to one of the Club’s best ever performances at the Swim England National Masters Championships.

Jo Mitchinson was subsequently named by FINA in their 2021 World Masters rankings as 3rd fastest (1500m Freestyle), 6th (400m Freestyle) and 7th (200m Backstroke) in the Ladies 40 – 44 years’ age group. Dave Wright was 6th (Men’s 60 -64 years’ 200m Butterfly) and Graham Powell 5th (50m Back), 6th (100m Back) and 10th (200m Back) in the 65 – 69 years’ age group.

• GB Masters Decathlon 2021 – Men’s Team 31st; Ladies 58th
• 2020 & 2021 Masters’ Meet Reports
  • Welsh Open (SC)  – November 2021 – Medals End Masters’ year
  • National Short Course – October 2021 – Best Ever Performance(?)
  • East Region Masters – October 2021 – Masters’ Record Breakers
  • Barnet Masters Sprints + – Sept 2021 – County Records On Competitive Return
  • Bracknell Masters – March 2020 – 4 More Beds Records
  • Welsh Open (LC) – February 2020 – Medals For Jo Mitchinson
  • South East Long Course – January 2020 – Record Breaking Start

2019

It was in many ways a  year for the Ladies, setting their first Beds County relay record whilst breaking into GB’s Top 50 Decathlon Teams, despite not competing in the maximum potential number of qualifying events. Individual male honours included long-standing member, John O’Rourke, win his first ever GB medals whilst our 60 -64 years’ Medley Team still recorded the 10th fastest time in the world despite all being a year older.

•  GB Masters Decathlon 2019 – Men’s Team 12th & Ladies 48th
• 2019 Masters Meet Reports
  • Welsh Short Course – November 2019 – Three Medals for Kelly Cooke
  • National Short Course – October 2019 – Medals and County Records
  • East Region Masters & Seniors – Sept 2019 – Nine Individual & Two Team Champions in 25 Medal Haul
  • Barnet Masters Sprints Meet – Sept 2019 -Ladies Shine & a new Country Relay Record
  • Swim England Open Water – Sept 2019 – Bronze Medal For Dave Wright
  • Barnet Masters Distance Meet – July 2019 – Two More County Records For Sam Bradley
  • GB Masters – May 2019 – Masters Go The Distance To Medal
  • Newmarket Masters & Seniors – April 2019 – Lucky 13 Strike 35 Medal Haul
  • Bracknell & Essex Masters – March 2019 – Masters & Seniors- Never Too Old To Improve!
  • South East Long Course 2019 – Nine Medals & Two County Records To Start 2019

2018

Our 60 – 64 years’ Mens 400m Medley relay recorded the 7th fastest time in the world whilst at the other end of the age spectrum Sam Bradley collected his first Beds County Masters record. Alex Mason meanwhile added Welsh Seniors medals to his English collection.

• GB Masters Decathlon 2018 – Best Ever Placings In Team Competitions (Men 9th, Ladies 92nd)
• 2018 Masters Meet Reports
  • Swim Wales SC, Barnet 1500m & Etwall Masters- November 2018 – National Medals, County Records & Decathlon Points
  • National Short Course – October 2018 – Eleven National Medals
  • East Region Masters & Seniors – September 2018 – “Youngsters” Spearhead East Region Masters ‘ Medal Haul
  • Open Water -July 2018 – Success Across The Ages
  • Barnet Masters Distance Meet – July 2018 – Another Record For Alex
  • GB Masters – June 2018 – 4 Silver, 2 Bronze & 4 County Records
  • Midland & Erith Masters- May 2018 – 11 Medals at Midland Masters
  • Newmarket Masters – April 2018 – Ladies Shine At Newmarket
  • South East Long Course 2018 – Flying start to 2018

2017

The year saw an expanding squad with younger swimmers returning or joining the Club and quickly achieving personal successes. Our Men reached the Top Ten in the GB Team Decathlon competition for the first time. Three of our swimmers competed in the World Masters championships in Hungary.

• Bedfordshire Masters & Seniors 2017 – Final Decathlon Results
• GB Masters Decathlon 2017 – Team Luton’s Men in GB Top Ten
• 2017 Masters Meet Reports
  • Barnet 1500m & Etwall Masters – November 2017 – End of the Masters’ 2017 Campaign
  • National Short Course – October 2017 – Seven Medals including a Gold for 21 year old Alex Mason
  • East Region Masters & Seniors – October 2017 – Medal Strike At East Region Masters
  • World Masters – August 2017 – Three Compete
  • Barnet Masters Distance Meet – July 2017 -“New Kids on The Block”
  • GB Masters – June 2017 – Ten Medals & Six County Records
  • Newmarket Masters & Seniors – April 2017 – Karen Heads Medal Sweep
  • South East Long Course Masters – January 2017 – Trio Win Golds

2016

Individual glories came thick and fast, topped by Graham Powell breaking a British record at the GBs and going on to win two medals at the European Championships in London. Karen MacKenzie went from setting her first (of what has since been many) Beds County records to competing on the European stage .

• Bedfordshire Masters & Seniors 2016  – Final Decathlon Results
• GB Masters Decathlon 2016 – 3rd Year in Top 20
• 2016 Masters Meet Reports
  • Etwall Eagles – November 2016 – Masters End 2016 Meets Ion A Team High
  • National Short Course – October 2016 – Successes Galore At The 2016 English Nationals
  • East Region Masters & Seniors – October 2016 – Trio Win East Region Medals
  • Barnet Masters Meets – July & Sept 2016 – Every Master A Medal Winner (Again)
  • Open Water – July 2016- Medals For Barton & Wright
  • European Masters – May 2016 – Two European Medals For Graham Powell
  • Newmarket Masters – April 2016 – Everyone A Medal Winner
  • GB Masters – April 2016- Powell Smashes British Record
  • Bracknell Masters – March 2016 – 4 East Region & 5 Beds County Records
  • South East Long Course 2016 – Record Breaking Start

2015

National success came across the board, be it in Open Water or in the pool at the British Long Course or English Nationals. We also retained the Top Non-Midlands Team Award at the “end of season” Etwall Masters Meet.

• Bedfordshire Masters & Seniors 2015  – Final Decathlon Results
• GB Masters Decathlon 2015 – Our Men’s Team Finish 13th
• 2015 Masters Meet Reports
  • Etwall Eagles – November 2015 – We Retain Top Non- Midlands Team Award
  • National Short Course – October 2015 – Team Luton Excels
  • East Region Masters & Seniors – Medals Galore
  • Barnet MasterSprint Meet – Sept 2015 – Stunning Debut For Eloise Turner
  • Open Water – July 2015- National Silver For Dave Wright
  • GB Masters – June 2015- GB Medals For Malcolm Barton & Alastair GIbb