Swim record smashed in Oldham pool
A new European record has been set by a swimmer in the pool at Oldham Leisure Centre (OLC). Julie Hoyle of East Leeds Swimming Club set a new LEN European Short Course* backstroke record over 50m, in the 55-59 age category.
The record was broken in the 25m pool at Oldham Community Leisure’s flagship site on Sunday 12th November 2017. Hoyle swam 50m in 33.15 seconds.
Hoyle, who is a primary school teacher in Leeds, broke her own recent short course record of 33.37 seconds, which she set in October in Ponds Forge, Sheffield during the Swim England Masters National Championships. She recently won silver at the World Masters Championships in Budapest for the 200m backstroke in the 55+ age category, as well as silver in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the 50m backstroke.
“I first got into swimming aged 10 and swan consistently through teenage years, but gave it up due to an injured shoulder. I got back in the pool aged 29, but didn’t start competitive swimming again until I was 50, and I haven’t looked back since,” says Hoyle. “I just didn’t expect to go that fast! Of course, I always try to beat my personal best, all athletes do, but I can’t do that every time I go in the water. As I’ve not competed recently due to an injury – I only got back into the water in August – I was amazed. It felt brilliant! When I looked up at the clock I just went ‘oh wow’; I never thought I’d swim that fast again.
“I keep thinking I’ll start becoming slower as I get older, but I don’t think I’m ready to slow down yet. I’d like to break my own record again.”
Stuart Lockwood, Chief Executive at OCL, says: “We’re thrilled Julie’s record-breaking achievement happened in our pool. It’s great to have a certified competition-sized pool; this was our first formal external event, and we have two more booked in for next year, as well as a number of local swim galas.”
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Notes to editors:
*SC= short course = 25m pool as compared to LC which is Long Course or 50m pool.
Masters categories operate in five-year age groups. Internationally, for both men and women, Masters start from 25 years old, so the first category is 25-29, then 30-34, 35-39 etc. In the UK, swimmers aged 18 and over can take part in Masters Swimming competitions in am 18-24 category, but they cannot set Masters records.
For further information please contact:
Wendy Golledge at Big Fish Public Relations
Tel. 07921 319517
Email: wendy@bigfishpublicrelations.co.uk
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