STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY 

AMATEUR SWIMMING ASSOCIATION

LINDSAY GOWLAND
Started swimming at 16 years of age (late for a swimmer), and went on to teacher training college, spendng 13 years playing basketball.  The cam a crucial day - THE MOM'S RACE - at Brierley Hill in 1997!
Lindsey then found Master's swimming, and answered an advertisement placed by Worcester County, who directed her to a well known chap from Staffordshire in 1998 - his name Tony Ward.  Lindsey was selected to represent Staffordshire in 1998 at the very young age of 40 years - where she has remained an ever-present since.  Her first open meet followed, The Wolverhampton Masters and Lindsey competed in both the medley and freestyle relay team. This resulted in a new British 4 x 50 freestyle record.  In the same year the team also gained a new European record.
After Lindsey became more adventurous, and with her friend Kath Tunnicliffe, she travelled to Munich to compete in the World Masters, where her best place was 10th in the 50m breast stroke.  She was also amazed at the time to see swimmers in the 90 -94 year's age group!!

The year 2002 saw a new age group - E, and some outstanding successes.  Along with a few others from Staffordshire she travelled to New Zealand for the World Masters.  She achieved silver in the 50m fly, bronze in the 50m freestyle and breast plus the 100m breast stroke.  there was also a fourth place in the 100m freestyle.  Although she did not realise at the time Lindsey had also broken a number of British records at this event.  Not satisfied with this she then swam at Sheffield in the British Masters and broke the 50 free short course record.

Throughout all of this time she has trained at Brierley Hill Swmming Club; having progressed from watching her own children at the club and also teaching there.  She still trains with the Brierley Hill squad.