Manx swimmer Sophie Casson breaks European and British masters records

Sophie Casson has broken European and British masters records in the women’s 200m freestyle at the Swim England Masters National Championships in Sheffield, Manx Radio Sport reported.

Casson won the 40-44 age group race at Ponds Forge on Friday 23 October in 2:05.11. According to Manx Radio, the swim was just 0.05 seconds outside world record pace.

The following day she won two more golds in her age group, in the women’s 400m and 800m freestyle.

She was one of three island competitors at the championships, which ran from 23 to 25 October. Gaby Cooper finished second in the women’s 45-49 200m backstroke in 2:41.59. Sean McLaughlin was fourth in the men’s 55-59 event over the same distance in 2:33.43. Both times were masters personal bests.

The pair improved their personal bests again in the 100m backstroke on the Saturday, with Cooper clocking 1:14.80 and McLaughlin 1:10.99. On the final day Cooper set further bests in the 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle, and McLaughlin did the same in the 100m freestyle, Manx Radio said.

Casson, Cooper and McLaughlin are among six masters swimmers in a pilot training group on the island. Two others from the group, Nial Killey and James Wright, recorded personal bests of their own on Saturday 24 October, competing at the Utmost IOM SA Future Stars meet at the National Sports Centre in Douglas.