World record, 4 golds for masters swimmers

The all-female Masterton contingent produced stunning results at the World Masters swimming championships held in Perth late last month.
Alison Brewer, Liz Brown, Kirsten Cameron, Ngaire Clarke, Jo Matthews and Cathie Morton had one world record, seven New Zealand records, four gold medals, eleven top 10 placing medals and 16 personal best times to show for their efforts.
A magnificent achievement when you consider the championships held at Perth's Challenge Stadium attracted 5000 competitors from 72 different countries.
It was Kirsten Cameron who provided the individual highlight for the Masterton squad. Not only did she win gold in her age group in the 800m freestyle but she eclipsed the world record in doing so.She also won gold in the 400m freesytyle and 200m freestyle, both in New Zealand record time, and she earned herself a fourth place medal in the 100m freestyle.
Away from the pool Cameron also made a huge impact, winning the 3km river swim in a remarkably quick 39min 18secs.It was a close go though with Cameron having just 2secs to spare from th second placegetter in the end.
Alison Brewer was in superb form, securing four top 10 placing medals and one eleventh place. She took out sixth and seven placings in the 50m and 100m backstroke with the latter effort coming in New Zealand record time.However,another Kiwi took that record from her in the next heat by just splits of a second!.
Brewer excelled herself in the gruelling 400m individual medley where she took 11secs off her previous best time by clocking 6mins 46secs.
Jo Matthews had a splendid meet, breaking her own New Zealand record by 7secs in the 200m butterfly where she took out a sixth place medal.She also won a sixth place medal in the 100m butterfly in a time which equalled her national record and took 11secs off her personal best time in the 400m individual medley where she placed 12 th.She also contested the 800m freestyle, placing 25 th there. Ngaire Clarke swam in the 800m freestyle and clocked a personal best time by 9secs. She gained 16 th placings in the 100m and 200m butterfly events and her 50m butterfly was another pb for her. Cathie Morton swam personal best times in all her races, the 200m, 100m and 50m backstroke events and the 200m freestyle.
Liz Brown also went quicker than ever before in each of her breaststroke races over 200m, 100m and 50m . Clarke, Morton and Brown took part in the 3km river swim too and despite the large number of "blubbery"" jellyfish they all finished in under 1hr 12mins.
The Masterton Masters swimmers will now turn their attention to the North Island short course championships which they will host in October.