A number of White Rock and Surrey swimmers figured prominently into the results at a masters long-course swim meet Nov. 29 at Richmond’s Watermania.
Five members of the White Rock Wave dipped their toes into the pool, and each returned with gold medals. Alana Slater led the way with four first-place finishes – in the 50-m freestyle, 50- and 100-m butterfly and 200-m free; Natalie Bayley was first in the 50-m backstroke, second in 100-m breaststroke and 200-m individual medley and third in the 50-m butterfly; and Michael Collins was first in four swims – the 50-m breast, 200-m IM, 100-m back and 400-m free.
Rounding out the medal haul was Craig Slater, who claimed top spot in the 50-m butterfly, 200-m IM, 100-m back and was third in the 50-m free; and Alida Brichon, who was first in the 50-m back, and three breaststroke distances, the 50-, 100- and 200-m.
As well, two Wave mixed relay teams won gold medals in their age divisions.
Another Peninsula-based club, the Semiahmoo Masters Swim Club, also fared well in Richmond, led by Sofi Hindmarch, who was brought home gold medals in a variety of disciplines – the 400-m free, 200-m IM, 50-m breast and 50-m back. Robyn Miller had two first-place finishes, in 50-m free and 50m back; Heike Beer was second in 50-m free and 50-m back; and Diana Davidson won gold in both 50- and 100-m free.
On the men’s side of the competition, Brian Coote led the way with four golds – in 400-m free, 50-m fly and back, and 200-m fly – while Friedrich Buxbaum won his 50- and 200-m breaststroke events, while finishing second in two others.
Rick Gali won silver in 200-m breast and bronze in 100-m, while Aart Looye, competing in his first event in nearly two years following shoulder and arm surgery, scooped up four silver medals.