Swim England Norfolk Masters Gala 2025
18 West Norfolk Swimming Club masters swimmers competed at the Norfolk Masters Championship Gala on Saturday, 7th June at The Sportspark, Norwich.
Swimmers from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire competed in age groups ranging from 18 to 78! It was a fast and furious non stop gala held over 2 ½ hours with the pool in its 25m mode.
There was some fantastic swimming from WNSC swimmers with lots of medals and personal best times. Nathan Wells gained an East Region record in the 25 to 29 year old age group 100 metre individual medley, a record that had stood since 2010!
The gala was rounded off with the skins event. This event consisted of the top 10 male and female swimmers of the 100 metre individual medley who battled it out over 25m races swum every 3 minutes….the stroke for each race was pulled out of a hat and the losing swimmer from each race was dropped until you had a winner! Five West Norfolk male swimmers lined up with three others, the club dominating the prestigious event. The Purple Army’s 50 year old Phil Baxter was the oldest qualifier for the skins. by far! West Norfolk took the top 5 places, being won by Nathan Wells, second Rhys Burrell and third Sam Rose followed by Harvey Isle and Phil Baxter.
The Masters swimming age groups start at 18 to 24, 25 to 29, 30 to 34 and in 5 year increments and the relay events are in the combined age range of all the swimmers. This was the second year the club has competed at this event with fantastic performances by all.
During a brief break for presentations, 3 West Norfolk swimmers, Sam Rose, Lucy Rodwell and Robert Addis were awarded their prestigious County colours gold awards in recognition for representing the county in excess of 6 times. These awards were presented by SE Norfolk President and WNSC Secretary Lois Addis.
Full West Norfolk results;
18-24 male age group
Sam Rose 22 won gold in the 100 metre individual medley and silver in the 50m freestyle.
Rhys Burrell 18 won gold in the 72+ male medley relay, 50m breaststroke, silver in the 72+ male freestyle relay, 100 individual medley, 50m backstroke and butterfly and 4th in 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle.
Harvey Isle 20 won gold in the72+ male medley relay and 50m backstroke, silver in the 100m freestyle and 72+ freestyle relay and bronze in the 50m butterfly and 100m individual medley.
18-24 female age group
Molly Lee 24 won bronze in the 50m Breaststroke, 4th in the 72+ female medley relay and 5th in the 72+ female freestyle relay.
Abigail Nicholson 19 won silver in the 50m backstroke, 4th place in the 72+ female medley relay and 5th place in the 100m freestyle and 72+ female freestyle relay, 8th in the 50m butterfly and freestyle.
Libby Collins 19 was 4th place in the 72+ female medley relay and 50m Breaststroke, 5th in the 72+ female freestyle relay, 7th in the 100 individual medley and 9th in the 50m butterfly.
25-29 male age group
Nathan Wells 27 won 4 gold medals in the 100m individual medley, 50m freestyle and backstroke and 72+ male medley relay and silver in the 50m Breaststroke and in the 72+ male freestyle relay.
30-34 male age group
Greg Brown 33 won 2 gold medals in the 50m freestyle and the 72+ male medley relay and silver in the 100 individual medley, 50m butterfly and the 72+ male freestyle relay
30-34 female age group
Cara Rose 30 won 3 gold medals in 100m individual medley, 50m Breaststroke and 100m freestyle and silver in the 50m freestyle, 4th in the female 72+ medley relay and 5th in the 72+ female freestyle relay.
35-39 male age group
Howard Mason 39 won 2 gold medals in both the male 160+ medley and freestyle relays and silver in the 50m freestyle, butterfly and Breaststroke.
Will Wakefield 36 won 3 gold medals in the 50m Breaststroke and the male 160+ medley and freestyle relays, and silver in the 50m and 100m freestyle.
35-39 female age group
Lucy Rodwell 39 won 2 gold medals in the 50m butterfly and backstroke and silver in the 50m freestyle and the female 160+ medley and freestyle relays.
40-44 female age group
Lucy Chadderton 43 won a gold medal in the 50m breaststroke, silver in the 100 individual medley and bronze in the 50m freestyle and backstroke.
50-54 male age group
Phil Baxter 50 won 4 gold medals in the 100m individual medley, 50m backstroke and the 160+ male medley and freestyle relays and silver in the 50m butterfly, freestyle and Breaststroke.
Iain Taylor 53 won 2 gold medals in the 160+ male medley and freestyle relays and bronze in the 100 individual medley and the 50m butterfly and freestyle.
50 to 54 female age group
Hayley Turner 53 won 4 silver medals in the 100 individual medley, 50m freestyle and both the female 160+ medley and freestyle relays and bronze in 50m Breaststroke.
55 to 59 female age group
Tracy Dodds 55 won 4 silver medals in the 50m butterfly and freestyle and in both the 160+ female medley and freestyle relays.
Cheryl Rose 59 won 2 silver medals in the 160+ female medley and freestyle relays and 5th in the 50m freestyle and Breaststroke.
