Peninsula swimmers from a pair of clubs excelled in Vancouver earlier this month, at UBC Masters swim meet on Nov. 13.
In overall points standings, the White Rock Wave finished finished fifth out of 22 teams, led by 12 swimmers who made up different relay teams, four of which won gold medals, while two others won bronze. One team, in the 4×100 freestyle event, not only won gold, but also set a B.C. record in the process.
A slew of individual swimmers also found themselves on the podium at UBC, including Meghan Wilson, who was first in 400-m free and 200m breaststroke, second in 50-m free and third in 100 backstroke; Rachel Venner, first in 50- and 100-m breast, 100-m individual medley and 800-m free, and second in 200-m IM; and Benji Hutton, who was first in 50-m back and 200-m free, and second in both 50-m fly and 100-m free.
Andy Ji picked up a silver medal in both 50- and 100-m free and 100-m breast, and was third in 200 IM; Natalie Bayley won gold in 100-m breast and bronze in 100-m back and 100-m IM; Karlene Clapham was first in 100- and 200-m breast, and second in 50- and 100-m free; Nancy Waterman was third in 50-m breast; and Joanne Christopherson was second in 200-m free and third in 100-m IM.
Rounding out the Wave team’s performance was Theo Manley, who was first in 400-m free and 100-m back, and second in 100-m free and 200-m IM; Ted Willmer, first in 50-m back and third in 50-m breast; Gladys Willmer, first in 50-m breast and second in 100- and 200-m breast; and Tony Pease, who was first in three events – the 50- and 100-m free and the 100-m breast.
Swimmers from the Semiahmoo/White Rock Masters swim club also found themselves on the podium.
Gerry Spence won three golds, in 100-, 200- and 400-m free, and was second in 100-m back; Dale Freeman was first in 50-m fly and second in 400-m free and 100-m IM; Friedrich Buxham won two silvers, in 50- and 100-m breast; and Danica Stockstad won gold in 50-m fly, silver in 100- and 200-m free, and bronze in 200-m IM.
Other Semi swimmers to win medals at the UBC meet – the first of the swim season – were Lisa Rodgers, silver in 50-m free; Robyn Sawyer, first in 50-m back, 50-m breast and bronze in 100-m free and 100-m IM; Aart Looye, first in 100- and 200-m back and second in 50-m back; Kerry Duvall, who won gold in 100-m free, 100-m breast, silver in 200-m IM and bronze in 50-m butterfly; Bonnie Hartney, first in 200-m breast, second in 50-m breast and 50-m free, and third in 100-m breast; and Brad Ibbott, who won three bronze medals – in 100-m IM, 50-m back and 50-m free.
