Vernon snagged several medals in the 2012 Canadian Masters Swimming Championships last weekend at the H20 Adventure and Fitness Centre in Kelowna.
More than 500 athletes, ranging in age from 19 to 93, competed with Vernon well represented by 10 swimmers.
Megan Butler, in the women’s 45-49 class, won titles in the 50-metre breaststroke (38.46 seconds), 100 breast (1:24.98) as well as gold in the women’s 4×50 free relay alongside Melissa Spooner, Laura Medcalf and Chantal Dyck. The ladies were second in the 200m medley relay.
Dyck, competing in women’s 40-44, garnered bronze medals in the 50 breast (41.49-PB) and 100 breast (1:30.68-PB). She was fourth in the 100 IM.
Medcalf, entered in women’s 30-35, was third in the 1,500 freestyle (21:22:00) and fourth in the 50 free.
Spooner swam in the women’s 40-44 division and took silver in the 1,500 free (21:17.85) and bronze in the 400 free (5:19.54-PB). She posted PBs while finishing fourth in the 100 and 200 free.
Calgary’s Grant Boeckx, who trains at the Vernon Aquatic Centre, posted a personal best while striking silver in the men’s 40-44 200 IM (2:33.76). Boeckx bagged bronze medals in the 400 free, 100 fly, 100 free and 200 breast. He had PBs in all but the 100 butterfly.
John Holmwood of Vernon was in men’s 55-59 and delivered a silver in the 200m fly (3:49.2) and fourths in the 400 IM and 200 breast.
Vernon’s Marion Roberts, of Kelowna’s Wine Country Masters, dominated the women’s 75-79 category with five gold medals: 1,500, 800, 400 and 200 free and 200 mixed free relay. Roberts was second in the 200 breaststroke and third in the 200m back.
Mira Grypink (women’s 80-84) of Wine Country also produced five gold: 400, 200 and 100 free, 100 breast and 4×50 mixed medley relay. She was second in the 50m breast and third in the 50 free.
Vernon’s Gary Hurry (men’s 55-59) of the Kelowna-based Okanagan Masters took first in the 400 mixed medley relay, was second in the 200m medley relay and fourth in the 50 and 100 free.
Clubmate Dave Dawson (men’s 55-59) uncovered gold in the 400 mixed medley relay with Hurry, Marjon Zambon and Jennifer Leach-Trask for a provincial record. Dawson was fifth in the 200 free relay.
A pair of world records, 26 Canadian and a dozen B.C. records were set in the nationals which attracted 86 clubs. Penticton’s Karl Donoghue set a Canadian record (age group 70-74) for the 800m freestyle in 12:09:79.
“The Okanagan once again expressed its generosity with almost 200 volunteers assisting at the meet and tremendous support from our sponsors,” said Jeanette Hoft, media director. “The organizing committee – comprising Okanagan Masters, Westside Thunder Masters and Wine Country Masters – received several compliments on a well-run, fun and enjoyable meet with helpful and friendly volunteers and officials and a fast H2O pool.”
In the Club Division competition, Okanagan Masters placed second after Edmonton Masters in the Large Club Division. The Wine Country Masters won the championship division for Small clubs.
