There’s no place like home say swimming jetsetters and Miami Masters teammates Denise Robertson, 77, and Margaret Fittock, 71.
Both were looking to make a splash on the first day of the 2012 Pan Pacific Masters Games (3-11November) swimming competition at the Southport Olympic Pool on Thursday.
Despite returning home from June’s 14th FINA World Masters Swimming Championships in Riccione Italy with three gold medals, Denise declared that the Pan Pacific Masters Games will always be her favourite event.
“Everything is just fun here, it always runs so smoothly, even if the weather isn’t always cooperative,” Denise said.
“I’m not looking to do personal best times at this meet, it’s more about just about having fun, but I would like one of those massive gold medals!”
Whilst agreeing that Italy is a beautiful place to visit, Denise and Margaret concurred that competing on the Gold Coast isn’t nearly as stressful.
“There was something like 9,700 competitors in the swimming, so you can imagine there was hardly any room to move around, let alone actually try and warm up in the pool,” said Margaret, a classy sprint distance specialist.
Denise said the men swam in one pool and the women swam in the other.
“It would have been a nightmare to organise – there was just so many things happening I’m surprised everyone was keeping up.”
Margaret said the ladies’ European sojourn was much more than a medal assault.
“Italy was such a beautiful holiday destination – we spent about a month there in total, but only competed for about ten days.
“It was my first World Masters, and will probably be my last as I’m getting towards the end of my age category.
“The Pan Pacs is such a great competition though, I think, so long as I keep my training up, I’ll be here in 2014,” she said.
Denise and Margaret have set themselves a heavy competition schedule over the next three days.
Swimming continues at the Southport Olympic Pool at Marine Parade, Southport until Saturday with competition being held between 8:00am and 4:30pm on Friday and Saturday.
The new system was born here and filagra this is not something that we would like to see. Caverta although better in some elements but not significant for us.
