The Open Netherlands Masters Swimming Championships SC 2023
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A new year brings new challenges. In January, FINA published the qualifying times for Kyushu: Surprise! Some of the qualifying times were lowered. So, instead of having three qualifying times based on the Gwangju times, I now have …ONE! Bit of a psychological blow; but on the other hand, it makes for bigger – and tougher – challenges.
My next milestone after the Open Masters in Luxembourg last October, was the ONMK Korte Baan 2023 or, in plain language, the Open Netherlands Masters Swimming Championships- short course. It presented an opportunity to set a new baseline, swim faster times than those achieved in Luxembourg and, hopefully, try to achieve at least one qualifying time. This open championship was held over four days from 16-19 February 2023 at the Sport Stad swimming pool in Heerenveen. The turnout was one of the biggest: 113 clubs from 9 countries with 837 swimmers and over 3000 starts. Needless to say, the 25m pool was heaving on all four days. I had two starts on Day 2, two on Day 3 and one on Day 4.
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17/02/2023: My first start, the 50m Butterfly was at 1.00pm in the first series after the lunch break. We arrived in good time to warm up and try to settle some nerves. The first race always sets the adrenaline racing. It was time, under starters orders and into the cool water for the 50m ‘fly. I went out too fast and after 35m my arms began to tire; but touched on a stroke. Had the first one under the belt. Tired; but still swam 58”, which surprised me although 3” off a qualifying time for Kyushu. My Luxembourg time was 1’06”. So a big improvement on that time. The 200m individual medley was almost 3 hours later – a long wait; but I was well rested. The race resulted in some good news and bad news. Bad news first: I was disqualified in the 200m medley for an illegal turn, missing out on second place and silver; but the good news was that I swam a massive 20” faster than in Luxembourg. Still some way from a qualifying time for Kyushu; but heading in the right direction. That evening I got a lift back home with my swim friends Dennis and Celine, who also had a great swim day. Overall, a good day and particularly pleased with the times.
18/02/2023: We arrived at the pool in good time for a warm-up for the afternoon session; but was met with organized chaos. All eight lanes with swimmers, head-to-toe. So, warming up was somewhat restricted. My first start was the 50m backstroke. The nerves were definitely better under control than the previous day. I went a bit early into the first turn and had a weak push off the wall. I still managed to swim 1” faster than Luxembourg; but again some 3” off a qualifying time. The next race was the 100m Breaststroke at 17:15 – a wait of almost 4 hours, a long wait. The turns went well and I touched at 2:04.15, which was 4.7” faster than Luxembourg, a bronze and a qualifying time for Kyushu. Official timing indeed confirmed a QT for Kyushu. Couldn’t have gone better!
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That evening I stayed overnight at a hotel close by the pool, as the team was going to get together for dinner. It was a great evening and great team spirit.
19/02/2023: I only had one start on the last day of the Championship: the 100m Freestyle. I had not been doing much sprint training for this event, so was a bit apprehensive. I felt good off the block but then had a poor first turn again. The other two turns went well and I ended 1.5” faster than my time in Luxembourg. Unfortunately, the time was 0.8” outside a qualifying time for Kyushu. Another poor poor turn cost me that QT. So a bit disappointed in that. But I’ll have a couple of chances to get a qualifying time in April at the regionals in Alkmaar (my ‘home’ pool) or May at the next Long Corse Open Championships in Amersfoort. The afternoon session ended in party sfeer to music with the 11 series of the 4x50m mixed relays.
Warming up: Organised chaos in the pool
The team did well: DAW placed 7th overall with 13 gold, 17 silver and 12 bronze. For me, a successful weekend with faster times, a bronze and a second qualifying time for Kyushu.
The 4x50m mixed relays
