Post by Fran Lou
With temperatures forecast for a sunny 25 degrees C, Richard, David, Charles and I packed our swim gear and Penguin mascot Stu, and headed south for our next Masters’ swim competition in Eastbourne.
The traffic was horrendous as we shared the motorway with many others heading towards the beach, and with Minis completing the London to Brighton Mini Cooper car rally. When we encountered yet another delay thanks to a detour just off our exit from the motorway, we thought all was lost and we should change the sat nav to locate the nearest pub and beach! However we finally arrived at the pool just as the referee’s horn was starting the first event. Having completely missed the warm up, it wasn’t the best way to start a meet!
The thoughts that crossed my mind as I prepared to dive off the blocks for the first time in 15 years included belly-flopping and water-in-goggle issues, but thankfully it was like riding a bike — you just don’t forget.
 | With my first two medals – just checking whether they are made from chocolate! |
It was a really friendly swim meet and run very smoothly, although competition was fierce and there were many exceptional swimmers.The team brought home three silver and two bronze medals, and many personal best swims. We watched as Richard avoided disqualification in his first attempt at 50m fly by eyeing-up the female marshal at the end of the first lap. (His time could have been a lot faster and possibly a gold medal swim if he hadn’t appeared to attempt to ask her for her number, although it did somehow lead to the swimmer beside him to be disqualified!) Nice work Richard!
We ended the day on the Eastbourne seafront, with a quick dip in the sea and an al fresco meal at Bexhill-on-Sea.
Richard and Charles pose while David is already in the sea. |  |  | Stu enjoys a post-race seaside beer, still wearing the team’s medals. |
I really enjoyed the meet and it was good to know how fast I can swim under race conditions; interesting to see other people’s swim techniques and to support and cheer my fellow team mates too. It has given my swim training more meaning as I have some work to do to catch my rivals at the next meet. Most of all I had a really fun day and encourage everyone to have a go.
See the team’s results here.