Masters Inter-Counties Competition 2025

Masters Inter-Counties Competition 2025

9th November 2025 – LAC

Another action-packed inter-counties competition, this time featuring 33 Masters swimmers from Middlesex competing in the South-East Region heat of the National competition.

Unlike the centralised event in Sheffield for the younger swimmers, the Masters competition is broken into regional heats and the results from each region then combined to establish a National ranking list of the competing counties.

The events are swum in 10-year age groups 18+, 25+, 35+, 45+, 55+, 65+ featuring 50metres of each stroke with an additional single event of 50metres Freestyle for 75+ swimmers.

Relays also add to a very busy and fast-moving gala of 72 events.

Huge thanks to Mark Deakin and Will Roberts for compiling the team and for Simon Griffiths as team manager on the day. A huge effort from everyone. Brilliant job as usual.

Thanks also to Nik Takev, Ruth Richardson and Stephen Roberts operating as our officials for the competition on behalf of Middlesex.

Our swimmers performed brilliantly as individuals and provided great support for each other especially in the relay events where the final event is an old fashioned and chaotic 12x25 freestyle “cannon” relay consisting of a female and Male/Open swimmer from each age group. Those who know the LAC in short course configuration will know the boom is very narrow and trying to fit six adult swimmers from each team was quite a challenge…

Surrey overwhelmed the rest of the field with Hampshire in second place and Middlesex a close third. The South-Esat regional heat is always one of the strongest galas with 4 teams in the top ten Nationally. Surrey were the overall National Inter-Counties winners.

Middlesex team unfortunately suffered two disqualifications and a “no swimmer” event which affected our overall national ranking finally finishing 9th. Nevertheless, an exciting and enjoyable competition. We will be back next year. Watch this space…..

Ian Woollard