Essex Masters Championships 2025

A team of 14 swimmers travelled to Basildon to compete in the Essex Masters Championships at the weekend.

There were medals galore for the swimmers as they competed against the top swimmers in their age groups, gaining overall 5th place in the County out of 20 teams, their best ever performance in the Club’s history.

Katie Holmes (40–44)

Star of the show was Katie Holmes, who entered 11 individual events, placing in all events in the 40–44 age group.

She won gold medals in:

• 50m backstroke
• 100m Individual Medley
• 100m breaststroke
• 50m breaststroke

This together with 4 silvers (200m and 400m freestyle, 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke) and 3 bronzes (100m freestyle, 50m and 100m butterfly) earned her the Ladies overall points championship title.

18–24

In the 18–24 age group Molly Richardson and Gabby Williams competed in their first master’s championship.

Gabby won gold in the 400m freestyle and just missed out on medals in 50 fly and 200m freestyle.

Molly earned a well deserved silver in the 200m freestyle with 4th places in 50 breaststroke and freestyle.

25–29

The 25–29 age group saw Jack Howlett shine.
He won the 50m freestyle and gained silver medals in the 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 50m breaststroke.

Dom Baxter swam well just missing out on medals in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle.

Steph Rice competed well and gave her all in the 50m butterfly, 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle but sadly finished outside the medals.

30–34

In the 30–34 age group, Bethany Godfrey won a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle and gained a 3-second personal best in the 100m breaststroke placing just outside the medals.

Danny Marvan acquitted himself well in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and freestyle events, placing just outside the medals.

35–39

In the 35–39 age group Martin Cooper competed in the 50m butterfly and freestyle, the 100m and 200m freestyle finishing in fast times but just outside the medals, finishing 4th in the 50m and 200m freestyle.

40–44 / 45–49

The 40–44 age group saw Dan Turner return to competitive swimming.
He won a well deserved silver medal in the 50m backstroke and also competed in the 50m and 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.

Paul Higgon-Williams swam well in the 45–49 age group, winning a silver and bronze medal in his favoured stroke, the 50m and 100m breaststroke.
He just missed out on medals in the 50m butterfly and 100m Individual Medley.

50–54

Clare Richardson proved herself to be a talented swimmer in the 50–54 age group, swimming strongly and placing 3rd in the 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle.

65–69

Paddy O’Toole swam with style in the 65–69 age group, gaining two well deserved 1st places in the 400m freestyle and 50m backstroke and two bronze medals in the 50m breaststroke and freestyle.

First-Ever Gala – Age 66

Jo Higgon, swimming in her first ever gala at the tender age of 66, competed in the 200m and 400m freestyle, gaining gold in the shorter distance and silver behind teammate Paddy in the 400m freestyle.

Relays

Harwich also won medals in the relay events.

The mixed 120+ age freestyle team of Dominic Baxter, Katie Holmes, Gabby Williams and Jack Howlett won bronze.

The mixed 200+ age medley team of Paddy O’Toole, Paul Higgon-Williams, Dan Turner and Clare Richardson won silver.

Summary

All in all, a very successful day of competition for the ever growing Harwich Masters team.