CREDITON and District Swimming Club member Darren Beer recently returned from the 17th FINA World Masters Championships in Budapest, where he completed from August 12 to 17.

In his own words, Darren wrote a blog about the venture, which reads:

"Although the event had long been in the planning, the day arrived and off to Budapest I went. After travelling by taxi, bus, plane, and taxi I was in downtown Budapest at the Duna Arena, which was the recent venue of the elite World Championships. I was able to pick up my accreditations which allowed access to the pool complexes and transportation system and headed for the hotel.

"The first full day was spent orientating myself with the city and competition pools and managing a first training swim in the Arena pool. Later we met up with some of the 400 British competitors for a welcome drink and chat.

"My first event of the Championships was the 100 metre breaststroke in the Duna B pool and my heat contained swimmers from four continents. Even though this was really a warm up pool, there was still a great atmosphere as there were around 500 people in the balcony cheering friends and relatives. Five months of training hinged on this event and I produced a long course PB by nearly one-and-three-quarter seconds, touching in 1.18.99 and coming 24th in the world gaining 20 places on my seeded time.

"The next day took me to ‘Peaty’s Pool’ in the Duna Arena where Adam Peaty broke his 50 metre breaststroke world record. This was a colossal pool with spectator space for 12,000 people!

"I was swimming two very different events – the 400 metre Individual Medley in the morning and 50 metre Butterfly in the afternoon. Timing is crucial in the 400 metre event and after a slow start, picked up the pace through each of the strokes touching six seconds quicker than my previous long course effort in 5.40.77 and coming 11th in the world.

"After some rest and a warm down/warm up in the outdoor 50 metre training pool it was back indoors for the butterfly event and although slightly disappointed with the time, equalled my personal best of 30.29.

"The final day entailed a very early 7.15am warm up in the Margaret Island complex along with a couple of thousand competitors.

"My first race was 50 metre Freestyle along with another 230 competitors in my age group, although not a PB (28.70) it was the best time I had swam in 10 years and probably the earliest in the day I had ever competed.

"The last race of my Championships was the 200 metre Individual Medley and although very tired, I swam as fast as I could, touching home in 2.39.64 which took me to 22nd in my age group.

"None of this could have been achieved without the support of my partner, Mid Devon District Council my employer, Crediton and District Swimming Club and Jane Brimacombe/Martin Williams, my coaches for supporting with all my water based training."

Alan Quick