1985
1985
National Master Swimming
Our flyer included covers the early Master swimming. It seems there is a difference of opinion in the early history/meaning of Master Swimming.
We do know the program is still growing. It must be close to 20,000 since the 14,000 from last year's registered master swimmers. Local meets have definitely expanded. Some areas more than others.
The Short Course Nationals held an Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center had 370 women and 650 men registered; a total of 1020. Possibly not all registered swam in the meet.
This year was a year of NO FALSE STARTS, enforced in the Short Course, and most local meets. It seems to be difficult for the starters to enforce this rule, and see all swimmers across the field. The starters feel sorry for the contestants. As in one case a swimmer with a fast start was disqualified. We do hope a better method can be found, if this rule is to continue to be enforced.
The 800 Meter/1000 Yard event was added to our events. Chicago, Illinois, held a successful 1000 yards meet on one of their unusually cold days. This event will not be added to the National meets.
The 20-24 year age group well NOT be accepted in National, unless excepted by FINA. Our Nationals are very long now. There is discussion from many areas about how to decrease the number of contestants. A suggestion was made from one of our swimmers to a forget the cutoff times and "eliminate the 25-29 age-group" (200) in the Wisconsin S. C. Nationals. Those for who the program was aimed, resent the long days and waiting between events. Many in the older divisions are not attending the Nationals. It is tiring.
The Master swimming group is unique. Many seem to find time to be active in many other activities, such as writing articles and stories, publishing magazines and newsletters, clinics, modeling, acting in movies, TV, etc. and still swim.
More clinics are being held, one even in Bellaire, Texas by Keith Bell . Many swimmers are in the program for their health and therapy for past injuries, as well as for fun and achievement.
Mike Laux , National President, is the 13th Ransom J. Arthur recipient. We are anticipating how he will be represented at the convention.
Rhode Island was the site of the Long Course National Masters Swimming Meet with approximately 800 registered contestants. No weather problem in an Indoor Pool. But acoustics are bad. Heats were not announced at meet. A beer, wine, lemonade blast was sponsored by Speedo. Saturday lobster, clams, and chicken Kiev were served at Dinner- Dance.
Most everyone would like to see record holders names included on the list of records, as they were in the past.
This year, among others we do not know about,
Wally Spence
, a Master
swimmer since 1979 and one of the Spence brothers, who set a world
record in the medley relay; and Jack Kelly, brother of Grace Kelly,
famous as an Olympic rowing champion, Past-president of National AAU,
and Hall of Fame, recently elected as President of the U.S. Olympic
Committee, an asset to Master Swimming, have passed away.
Hamilton and Mildred Anderson are the only two left, who have swum in ALL the of the SC and LC National Master Championship meets, since the program started in 1970.
June Krauser , Florida, Art Welch, and Jim Welch , Hawaii have swum in all the National Meets since 1972. F H Ted Haartz has swum in all since 1971.
Dorothy Donnelly
has been acting Executive Secretary for the past year
on a trial basis.
An amateur 25 years and older master swimmer may compete in open competition and be registered in both USS and USMS as of January 1, 1985.
The 1986 SC Nationals will be held in Fort Pierce, Florida May 15-18, and the LC in Portland, Oregon Aug. 21-24.
The 1985 International Master Swimming Meet is scheduled for Aug. 8-14 in Toronto.
The Master Swim History Book starting in 1970 through the years is now available. Price $8.50 $10.00 if mailed
Hamilton Anderson
, 506 Bolivar, Bellaire, Texas 77401
