Okanagan Masters Swim Club » Articles

Masters swimming – what’s it all about?

Tony — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:27:51 +0000

OMSC features prominently in Masters Swimming Canada’s promotional video (click image on left). If you’re not a Masters swimmer yet, see what we look like, spot friends … get inspired … come join us!

Register for the Penticton KISU Meet on March 9

Mya — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:56:36 +0000

Registration is now open for the Penticton KISU Masters Swim Meet on Saturday, March 9th!

Vernon Swim Meet results

Mya — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:37:57 +0000

It was a successful day for OMSC on Sunday, Jan 27 at the annual Vernon Winter Carnival Masters Swim Meet. OMSC accounted for just over 15 of the 50 swimmers who competed and many had some personal best times! Congrats to those who swam especially those who competed in their first meet. Many more to come. A huge thank you for dedicated coaches Jon and Pascal! Their enthusiasm and support was greatly appreciated and definitely contributed to the overall success of the day. Even Pyper cheered on the swimmers!

For complete results, visit the MSABC website.

2012 Awards

Tony — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 02:28:08 +0000

Congratulations to our 2012 award winners. You make us proud!

Several OMSC members were recognized for outstanding achievements in several categories at the 2012 Annual General Meeting and Awards ceremony held Sunday November 18.

Award winners	Criteria
Most Improved Female swimmer Allegra Rogers Most Improved Male swimmer Neil Wyper	Candidate demonstrates a significant, sustainable improvement in skills, speed or fitness over the course of the swimming season. Improvement may be measured by: Timed swims during OMSC training sessions Local, provincial and national swim meets times Open water swim times Ability to complete or compete in additional and more challenging events and/or distances
Swimmer of the Year Carmelle Guidi-Swan	Awarded to an OMSC swimmer who is in good standing with the club and participates regularly in OMSC practices and events. Candidate excels as a competitor and team member Candidate will achieve a high level of performance swimming Candidate exhibits good sportsmanship Candidate contributes to the betterment of the OMSC and Masters Swimming
Most Inspirational Swimmer Brent Hobbs	Candidate embodies the spirit of Masters Swimming “Spirit of masters swimming” may be demonstrated by the following: Is a positive role model Inspires and encourages others to swim their best or take on new challenges Motivates by example Is interested and enthused by the accomplishments of others Contributes significant time and effort as an OMSC volunteer Projects a positive image of the OMSC Club
Eli Dimitrov Award for Courage and Determination Mike Stamhuis	Awarded to one member of the OMSC community who regularly supports or participates in OMSC events. The award will only be presented if a truly deserving candidate is identified. Candidate demonstrates exceptional courage and determination in life. Candidate inspires others by continuing to pursue goals despite facing difficult circumstances This award is not necessarily related to swimming achievement
Volunteer of the Year Jeanette Hoft and Tony Hoft	Awarded to one member of OMSC who plays an active role in supporting OMSC business and events and/or those of other swim clubs in the Okanagan. Volunteers at swim meets Organizes/hosts special events Gives time and expertise willingly to the club Actively supports the club in achieving its goals for the year
Community Volunteer of the Year Cailla Patterson	Awarded to a non-OMSC member who plays an active role in supporting OMSC business and events. The award will only be presented if a truly deserving candidate is identified. Candidate contributes to supporting the goals of OMSC in numerous ways. Contributions may include: Volunteers at swim meets Organizes/hosts special events Gives time and expertise willingly to the club Actively supports the club in achieving its goals

2012 “The people we met”

Tony — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 23:38:42 +0000

Relive the fun and excitement at the national Masters championships held in Kelowna May 18-21

Nine minute video clip [ scroll down below the image of "the Hobbs and Martin Show" ... it's just too hot to handle! ] comprising assorted interviews with many of the participants, our guests and OMSC members, at the Canadian Masters Swimming Championships 2012 (“Nationals”). Find out why people came all the way to Kelowna!

2012 Ten Lakes in One Day

Tony — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:07:32 +0000

OMSC member Paul Duffield successfully completed his personal challenge to swim 1000m in each of 10 lakes in the Okanagan, totalling 10kms on Saturday. As Paul describes his experience: “Yesterday was amazing. Starting in complete darkness at 6am I set out to swim ten lakes in the Okanagan in one day. At 8.53pm I swam across Gellatly Bay to make Okanagan Lake the tenth and final swim leg of the day.”

Thank you to everybody that sent messages of support and donated to the Lake Monsters YMCA Strong Kids campaign.

http://campaign.ymcastrongkids.ca/paulduffield

Oh yes … in case you didn’t notice, that was WITHOUT a wetsuit!

2012 Jan Morrow Award

Tony — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:10:08 +0000

Conny Stamhuis receives 2012 Jan Morrow Award - photo by Jeanette Hoft

Conny Stamhuis, our MSABC Registrar and founding member of OMSC, decided that she would do the Across The Lake Swim for the first time this year, and finished it in a smokin’ time of 50:48. WELL DONE CONNY!

At a youthful 80, Conny has been training in her new wetsuit at the Gyro Beach open water training swims on Saturdays!

In recognition for her (bubbly personality and) remarkable contribution to Masters Swimming and volunteering in the Okanagan over several years, Conny received the 2012 Jan Morrow Award at the ATLS awards function at Hot Sands Beach on Saturday July 14.

Pictured above with her family, Conny is joined [L-R] by son Mike Stamhuis, friend Gladys Hambrook and daughter Jonie. Absent from the photo but not forgotten: thanks also to Carmelle Guidi-Swan for guiding Conny across the water for her inaugural ATLS on Coach Pascal Sutherland’s paddle board. A great team effort!

View or Download the Article

2013 Lake Monsters Qualification Swim

Tony — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 23:20:35 +0000

June 9, 2012 – A few people might be very certain that they spotted Ogopogo in Okanagan Lake on Saturday morning in windy and rainy conditions. They in actual fact saw ‘monsters’ of another kind. Dubbed the ‘OMSC Lake Monsters’, five members of the Okanagan Masters Swim Club (OMSC) braved 13 degree Celsius, white-capped waves to do their qualifying swim for crossing the English Channel as a relay team next summer.

In order to swim the 35 kilometer crossing (if swum in a straight line), team members Denise Cesselli, Leora Dahl, Paul Duffield, Phred Martin and Tracy Sutton had to do a two-hour qualifying swim in 15 degree Celsius (or less) without the aid of a wetsuit during which they each covered approximately 7.5 kilometers. The sixth OMSC member of the relay team, Mike Stamhuis, is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and will do his qualifying swim at a later time.

The OMSC team was joined by Mike Humphreys from Seattle who trained for six hours.

Humphreys is hoping that his next solo attempt at crossing the Channel will be successful.
Supported by a number of friends and family members, the team is mentored by another OMSC swimmer and open water coach, Brent Hobbs who successfully crossed the channel as a solo swimmer in 2008 in a time of 10 hours and 43 minutes. Just how demanding the Channel crossing is, is evidenced by the fact that fewer people have successfully crossed the English Channel than have climbed Mount Everest.
When asked why they have taken on such a challenge Denise Cesselli said, “It’s a childhood dream come true! I get to swim the English Channel and the best part – I get to do it with a group of friends!” Leora Dahl responded, “I love a challenge and this seems like one of those once in a lifetime opportunities to really see what I can do.” Paul Duffield went back to his roots, “For an Englishman the English Channel is steeped in history. From the Roman conquest of Britain to the second World War, and of course the first successful swim across by Captain Matthew Webb in 1875. As part of the OMSC Lake Monsters I am looking to make my own little bit of history.”
All six members of the relay team are either competitive swimmers or triathletes who hope to join the record books for crossing the Channel. The next challenge for the OMSC Lake Monsters is the Salish Sea Swim in August, which will require them to swim from Sechelt to Nanaimo. This will serve as a practice run for the English Channel.

Two of the relay swimmers are keeping blogs of their experiences leading up to the channel which can be found at NothingGreatIsEasy.com and LeoraEnglishChannel.com Brent’s experience is captured at http://englishchannelogopogo.blogspot.ca/

Photo by Angelique Duffield

Canadian Masters Nationals – Kelowna May 18-21

Tony — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:52:18 +0000

IT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN KELOWNA!

When? May 18 –21, 2012
Where? H2O Adventure & Fitness Centre, Kelowna,BC
Hosted by? Okanagan Masters Swim Club, Westside Thunder Masters Swim Club and Wine County Masters Swim Club.

How big was that? The meet is SOLD OUT at over 500 swimmers from across Canada and the United States

This is the largest swim meet ever to be held in Kelowna, made possible by wonderful support from a range of grantors and sponsors including Hosting BC, Gorman Bros, Team Aquatic Supplies, MSABC, CIBC Wood Gundy – Brock Aynsley, BDO, Kal Tire, Farris, Tail Blazers, Russo Auto Sales, Redthirteen Communications, Combined Effect and many others.

The H2O pool has a reputation for being ‘fast’; as such, there is a strong likelihood that a World Record will be broken at this competition.

There is still space to accommodate timers and other volunteers. If you’re interested, please contact Cailla Patterson at cp.combinedeffect@gmail.com or (250) 765-0268

OMSC Swimmer sets Canadian Record

Tony — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:22:09 +0000

Kelowna, BC, April 6, 2012 – Okanagan Masters swimmer, Carmelle Guidi‐Swan broke the Canadian Masters 40‐44 age group record for Short‐Course 100m butterfly in a time of 1:07.50 at the BC Masters Swimming Championships held recently in Victoria. Guidi‐Swan said “The meet was a lot of fun with great people to hang out with. There are so many inspirational swimmers to watch!”
Seventeen participating swimmers with Okanagan Masters Swim Club (OMSC) included several who achieved personal bests. “Victoria was a great opportunity to view swimmers of all ages compete in a fun and supportive setting. What was super is that OMSC had two swimmers participating in a meet for the first time and some old hands who have been swimming for many years” said accompanying coach Pascal Sutherland.

The next big meet is the 2012 Canadian Masters Swimming Championships to be held in Kelowna, May 18‐21 at the modern H2O Adventure & Fitness Centre.

According to Meet Manager Laura Garrett, registrations are coming in rapidly and the 500 limit will be reached shortly. [Ed: Note: subsequently SOLD OUT!] Additional volunteers ‐ specifically timekeepers ‐ are still required. “Timekeeping is often seen as challenging, but it really just requires fast reaction on a button. Two timekeeping clinics will also be held before the event” says Jeanette Hoft, OMSC communications director. Volunteer support is also required in several other areas. For more information visit the CMSC 2012 Website.