With no competitions at the weekend, it provides an opportunity to continue ‘Pathway to the Top’. In fact, the 200m breaststroke is the penultimate event, and it is also the second of two special events in Fins CSC’s relatively short 43 year history.
We will start with the male information first as this is where the special element was achieved. The current record holder for this event is Gary Watson, who set the record, at the East District Championships at Whitburn, in March 1986, with a time of 2 minutes 23.36 seconds
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However, the person who made this event special to Fins is ranked in 3rd place with a time of 2 minutes.24.60 seconds recorded at the Scottish Short Course Championships at Johnstone in 1988. But it was his long course time of 2 minutes 28.39 seconds that was extremely important to Martin Lee (NB. Long course rankings were not recorded at this time as there were very few opportunities to swim long course events, especially in Scotland).
Martin was selected for the GB Deaf team for the Deaf World Championships held in Christchurch, New Zealand, in January 1989, and not only did he win the 200m breaststroke, but the time above was a World Deaf record. Deaf World records can only be set at the World Championships, or they did at that time.
If my memory is correct Martin was a multi medal winner at the Championships with a further two gold medals in 200m and 400m individual medley and a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke, quite an achievement.
Within the current squads two swimmers are in the top 50 rankings namely Steven Pate in 28th place, with a time of 2 minutes 42.52 seconds set in June this year at the Warrender Meet, and Adam Selbie in 48th place with a time of 2 minutes 56.76 seconds set in May this year at the Carnegie Spring Meet.
Those swimmers aspiring to enter the top 50 rankings ranking will have to better a time of 2 minutes 57.71 seconds.
There is quite a gap to the next swimmer in the current squads with no one under the 3 minute mark, but we are now in the short course season so there is hope.
In the female side of the rankings the current record holder is Erin Taylor with a time of 2 minutes 31.38 seconds set at the Scottish National Short Course Championships in December 2022.
There is one other swimmer from the current squads in the top 50 and that is Kimberley McCabe in 49th place with a time of 3 minutes 11.06 seconds, set at the Carnegie Meet in October 2017.
Those swimmers looking to enter the top 50 need to beat a time of 3 minutes 11.66 seconds. Almost there is Charlotte Wardlaw who just needs an improvement of 0.50 seconds.
‘Labore et Scientia’ – through hard work and understanding.
Ken White
Club Press Officer