Beckenham SC Masters
Beckenham Swimming Club Masters is a friendly and sociable group catering for adult swimmers of 18 years of age and over. Our members train for Masters Competitions, Triathlons, Open Water Swims, or simply to keep fit. We train at the Beckenham Spa on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 9.00 pm to 10.00pm, paying for the session on the evening of attendance.
Our sessions are structured to cater for a wide range of ability so why not come along and give it a try.
For further information about Beckenham Swimming Club Masters contact:
Peter Sutherland
Masters Secretary
020 8658 4068
petersutherland938@btinternet.com
About Masters Swimming
Masters swimming is a special class of competitive swimming for swimmers 25 years or older (Canada and the USA allow adults 18 and over and have an 18-24 age group, while Australia allows adults 20 and over and has a 20-24 age group). They compete within age groups of five years, with a swimmer's age group in a certain year determined by his/her age on the last day of that year:
Age Groups: 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, and so on at 5-year increments, the last group being for any age above 100 years.
The rules and distances are nearly the same as for competitive swimming. However, meet programs include 2 mixed (2 men/2 women) relay events in addition to the all men's and all women's relay events. Mixed relays are swum exclusively in masters' competition. The age groups for the relay events is determined by the sum of the ages of each team component, allowing for swimmers of very different ages to compete together in the same team. Age groups for relays are 100-119, 120-159, 160-199, and so on at 40-year increments.
Masters swimming began in the USA in the 1970s when some ex-élite swimmers organised a competition for adult swimmers. Since then the sport has spread all over the world but, although there are World Championships at the top end, the sport remains one in which all who want to compete at any level can do so. The broad objectives of better health, better fitness, and the friendship between swimmers are paramount - with no compulsion to compete.
The ASA (Amateur Swimming Association) is keen to encourage swimming as a fitness-improving pastime and recreation as well as a sport. It is currently in the process of developing initiatives for fitness swimmers and has a national Masters Committee whose remit is to promote masters swimming and to encourage new masters-based activities.
There are currently some 5,000 Masters registered with the ASA, and about 400 clubs either dedicated to masters swimming or are masters sections of larger clubs.
For further information on Masters swimming and competitions see also:
ASA British Swimming Masters website 
European Masters News 
London Swimming Masters website 
Scottish Masters Swimming 
South East Region website 
USA Masters Swimming 
The ASA report compiled by Kelvin Juba which outlines a strategy for the future of Masters Swimming in England over the next 10 years. The report deals with the future of competitive Masters swimming and with fitness ('lap') swimming, and makes some radical recommendations regarding the future of Masters Swimming in England. Click here for a copy of the Juba report.
Do the Beckenham SC Masters swim competitively?
Yes they do but this is not compulsory - some swimmers just train with the Masters. Everyone has his or her reason for swimming-health, general fitness, camaraderie, just for fun. How far you go is up to you. A major survey of British Masters swimmers showed that the majority of them rarely competed.
ASA Masters Newsletters
Taken from the ASA British Swimming website Masters News section and posted here as a source of information for Beckenham SC Masters. The masters newsletter is the means used by the ASA Masters Committee to keep in touch with all registered Masters swimmers and Senior (18/24 year old) swimmers:
Issue 19 Autumn 2009
Beckenham Masters Swimming Results and News
Our congratulations go to Robert Farish who had some excellent swims at the ASA Masters Swimming Championships 2009 meet swimming in the 45-49 year category.
He pushed Beckenham’s name to the head of the results of the Mens 800m Freestyle easily winning it in 9.30.63. He followed this up with 3rd place in the 400m Freestyle and 5th place in the 200m Freestyle.
See the results here: Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, Session 4, Session 5 and Session 6.
ASA South East Region Masters and Seniors Competition on 3rd October 2009 at the Spectrum, Guildford RESULTS.
Congratulations to Robert Farrish, who achieved good results in the European Masters in Cadiz, competing in the 45-49 years age group. He came 7th in the 400m Freestyle, 8th in the 800m Freestyle and 9th in the 3K Open Water event.
Well done Robert.
Congratulations to Paul French who swimming in his last year in the 40-44 year Age Group in the above Championships, achieved 1st in the 100m Freestyle, 2nd in the 50m Freestyle, 3rd in the 100m Backstroke and 4th in the 50m Backstroke.
Click here to view the results from the Kent County ASA website.
Click here to view masters championships information and placing of the various teams.
Congratulations to Robert Farish who competed in the above championships in the
45-49 year age group, obtaining silver in the 400m Freestyle and bronze in both the 200m and 800m Freestyle.
Click here to view the results from the ASA website
Master's Fixtures
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