National and international success has been celebrated at Stowmarket SC over the past month after its masters section excelled at two recent events.
Dale Barker travelled to Nice in France to take part in the European Masters Games, held between September 30 and October 11.
The games attracted around 6,000 competitors from all over the globe with the swimming taking part from October 2 to 4.
Despite severe storms forcing Barker to be evacuated from his hotel, he managed to perform well in the 50-54yrs age group events.
In the pool he secured two silver medals in the 50metres backstroke (34.78secs) and 200m backstroke (2mins 51.65secs) and was fourth in both the 800m freestyle (10mins 48.27secs) and the 200m individual medley (2mins 51.33secs).
In the 3km sea race, Barker narrowly missed out on a medal due to some navigational mishaps, finishing fifth in a time of 48mins 41secs.
Back in the UK, Stowmarket sent a squad to the British National Masters Championships in Sheffield from October 23-25.
The six-strong team included Sue Holdich, the 72-year-old winning five medals from six races – three golds, a silver and a bronze.
Since 1991, Holdich has won 70 national championship medals and been crowned national champion 10 times. Also competing were Shaun Harrison, in his first serious competition for two years; his brother David, who had to withdraw from some events following injury; husband and wife duo Kim and Peter Lynch; and Ollie Bumstead, who produced some of his best times for several years.
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