1982
1982
United States and Masters Swimming
History by National Historian -
Hamilton Anderson
Master swimming continues to make waves. The 1981 convention at Snowbird, Utah ended with many changes. On the final day rain turned to beautiful snow covering everything like... Fairyland.
A new slate of officers and Zone chairman were voted into office at this convention. The other Sub-committee's were appointed by the president, Mike Laux .
United States Masters Swimming Inc. is now completely self governing with its own logo, championship emblems, stationery, and new design and size of medals are.
Master swimmers are registered by their local registrar, who sends in reports to the National Registrar, Enid Uhrich and with the fees to cover insurance and National and the U.S. r in egistration. All data is placed into a computer by Enid.
Penn Mutual Insurance Company is still our sponsor for National and Regional Master Meets. We no longer have any ties with the AAU to register Master swimmers, issue sanctions, and register Master Clubs. This is now processed through our local registrar. If a meet is not sanctioned, the swimmers are not covered by insurance and times will not be accepted by Tabulation Chairman for Top Ten evaluation. One other change is reversing the 400/500 after the Medley Relays.
Anyone placing first in any event in National Top Ten is declared an All American and may purchase an All American emblem of the National All American Chairman.
Clarence Ross
, 82 years young, has won over 100 Gold Medals during the
years he has been swimming in the Master National Swimming Meets.
Ashby Harper
, 65, Albuquerque, New Mexico who has been swimming in
Masters Meets for least ten years is now the new oldest swimmer to swim
the English Channel at Dover. Sharon Beckmen, 25, Connecticut swam the
English Channel in the summer of 1982.
The 1982 Short Course National Master Meet held at The Woodlands, Texas under director, Thomas Boak and staff, and the Long Course held in Portland, Oregon under Earl Walter , Barbara Frid , Registrar, Mike Popovich, Starter each fielded over 900 contestants, with many foreign swimmers. Both meets were a success with excellent officiating. The gift packets from both meets were useful and fine the souvenirs.
Weather is always a risky factor. The SC at The Woodlands ran according to schedule, despite the two interruptions of rain and power failure. This was the second time a meet was affected by rain. Rain stopped the 200 meter Individual Medley in Dearborn, Michigan ...was swum the following day. It was unusually cold for the SC San Mateo meet in 1972 and the LC in Spokane, Washington in 1977.
In Portland, Oregon, after a temperature of 95 degrees, there was an extreme drop in the temperature in the mornings followed by sunny skies in the p.m.
The social at The Woodlands was a Texas barbecue and dance; Portland was a sit down dinner with a short program, both enjoyed by all.
The U.S. National Masters SC Swim Meet held in conjunction with a National Masters Sports Festival in Philadelphia, PA, sponsored by Penn Mutual was a success, even though it was held two weeks before the Long Course Nationals.
This festival was held in conjunction with the Century IV celebration. The festivities at the Civic Center was filled with excitement and entertainment with free ice cream, popcorn, apples, and soft pretzels.
Long Distance Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming, and open water swimming are continuing to draw increased interest. The interest and participation in Masters Swimming, etc. has taken a leap forward this year with more local, state, and Regional meets. The Kansas-Missouri area have included the 800 meter freestyle and 150 meter individual medley breast -- back -- freestyle as a new venture.
A World Master Swimming Championship Meet is scheduled for April, 1984 in New Zealand.
