Mid Sussex Marlins Masters bring home impressive medal haul after Sheffield success

Mid Sussex Marlins Masters wracked up an impressive medal haul at the Swim England Masters National Championships event at Sheffield's Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.
On the podium, the new British and European record holders receiving their medals for the Ladies 4x100m Medley relay. From left to right; Jill Rocky, Sally Mills, Judith McKerchar and Kathy Bidnall. Picture courtesy of Lisa Mills.On the podium, the new British and European record holders receiving their medals for the Ladies 4x100m Medley relay. From left to right; Jill Rocky, Sally Mills, Judith McKerchar and Kathy Bidnall. Picture courtesy of Lisa Mills.
On the podium, the new British and European record holders receiving their medals for the Ladies 4x100m Medley relay. From left to right; Jill Rocky, Sally Mills, Judith McKerchar and Kathy Bidnall. Picture courtesy of Lisa Mills.

A team of 16 swimmers representing the Mid Sussex club competed over the three day event held from 26 to 28 October, swimming in a total of 67 individual events between them and a further ten relays over the course of the championships.

The Marlins picked up a raft of silverware, with the individual medal totals being; eight golds, seven silvers and nine bronze medals as well as 19 new club records.

On poolside, the new British and European record holders, the winning ladies freestyle team. From left to right; Jill Rocky, Sally Mills, Allison Gwynn and Coral Wallis. Picture courtesy of Lisa Mills.On poolside, the new British and European record holders, the winning ladies freestyle team. From left to right; Jill Rocky, Sally Mills, Allison Gwynn and Coral Wallis. Picture courtesy of Lisa Mills.
On poolside, the new British and European record holders, the winning ladies freestyle team. From left to right; Jill Rocky, Sally Mills, Allison Gwynn and Coral Wallis. Picture courtesy of Lisa Mills.
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Out of the ten relays swam, Mid Sussex Marlins brought home a further four golds, and two silvers. On top of this two of the ladies relay teams swam to victory by also breaking the British and European records, in the (240+ age group) 4x100m Medley Relay and the (240+ age group) 4x100m Freestyle relay.

And to complete the championships, as well as the medal podium finishes, swimmers also gained a total of 32 top ten places, and a further 12 top 18 places. Many of the Mid Sussex swimmers also set new personal best times in the pool capping off a great weekend for the team.

Amongst the 16 Marlins swimmers, it was a first time for three of the ladies competing at the notorious Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. These were Lisa Mills, Ann Gale and Vickie Davies.

All 16 of the men and women representing Mid Sussex Marlins, that competed at the National Championships last month. Back row (left to right): Liz Griffin-Hind, Sally Mills, Mark Salway, Clare Chilton, Sarah Dennis, Sarah Davison, Vickie Davis, Ann Gale, and Mary Johnson. Front row (left to right): Andrew Burgess, Allison Gwynn, Lisa Mills, Jill Rocky, Judith McKerchar, Kathy Bidnall, Coral Wallis. Picture courtesy of Lisa Mills.All 16 of the men and women representing Mid Sussex Marlins, that competed at the National Championships last month. Back row (left to right): Liz Griffin-Hind, Sally Mills, Mark Salway, Clare Chilton, Sarah Dennis, Sarah Davison, Vickie Davis, Ann Gale, and Mary Johnson. Front row (left to right): Andrew Burgess, Allison Gwynn, Lisa Mills, Jill Rocky, Judith McKerchar, Kathy Bidnall, Coral Wallis. Picture courtesy of Lisa Mills.
All 16 of the men and women representing Mid Sussex Marlins, that competed at the National Championships last month. Back row (left to right): Liz Griffin-Hind, Sally Mills, Mark Salway, Clare Chilton, Sarah Dennis, Sarah Davison, Vickie Davis, Ann Gale, and Mary Johnson. Front row (left to right): Andrew Burgess, Allison Gwynn, Lisa Mills, Jill Rocky, Judith McKerchar, Kathy Bidnall, Coral Wallis. Picture courtesy of Lisa Mills.
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For the other Marlins swimmers it was one of many times they had competed at the event. Current British and European record holder in the individual 200m Butterfly (60-64 age group) Sally Mills retained her title this year, which she broke at last year’s National Championships in Sheffield. This was a record that had stood for 13 years.

Some of these medal-winning swimmers are looking ahead to the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea next year. In a bid to raise funds to get to the event, the Marlins have set up a crowdfunding page on JustGiving.

To read more and to support them, please go to their page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lisa-mills-1