Borough of Southend Swimming Club

VETERAN Mark Foster hopes to force one more medal winning performance out of his ageing limbs before bidding farewell to major international competition.

The former Borough of Southend ace confirmed that his appearance at the Commonwealth Games in both the 50m butterfly and freestyle events will be his last on the big championship stage.

Obsessive trophy collecting specialist Foster, 35, is the most decorated swimmer this country has ever produced -- with a grand total of 44 awards to his name.

And the Billericay born star aims to bow out in style in Melbourne, before officially bringing the curtain down on his medal marathon at the World Short Course event in Shanghai next month.

"I've had a great career, but I've decided it is time to go out on a high," said Foster, whose mother still lives in Southend.

"All good things have to come to an end for everyone eventually. My mind could carry on at top level for another 20 years, but the body couldn't that's for sure.

"I'm still in good shape, but the aches and pains are taking longer to go away these days and I decided it was time to call it a day."

From the archive, first published Thursday 11th Aug 2005.

OWEN Coughlan proved to be the golden boy of Southend in the national age group swimming championships at the Ponds Forge Pool in Sheffield.

The 14-year-old struck gold in the 1500m freestyle, having earlier bagged his first ever national medal with bronze in the 400.

In the shorter event he recorded a personal best of 4min 11.47sec in the final, having seen off local rival Roberto Pavoni from Brentwood for the first time.

His success inspired him to the race of his life in a hotly contested 1500m final.

Coughlan made a slow start, and was trailling the field after 50m but clawed his way steadily back into contention.

Six swimmers were all in contention when Coughlan made his break in the later stages of the race.

And his stamina told in the last 200m as the benefits of 90,000 metres of training every week saw him stretch out a three-second lead and take the title in 16:20.29.

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Mark Foster added a silver to the gold medal he won at the World Short Course Championships at Indianapolis.

The Billericay sprinter clocked 23.22 in the 50m butterfly to finish runner up to American Ian Crocker, who swam 22.71.

"I am delighted with the silver," said Foster.

"Realistically I knew it was always going to be about Ian Crocker and I thought he was in world record form, but I would have liked to have got closer.

"My main focus is the freestyle and that is what I have been training for all season, while Crocker has been concentrating on butterfly so the outcome could have been expected really.

"That takes my tally of medals won at international meets during my long career to 40 and I have to be happy with that."

The silver followed gold in the 50 freestyle for former Borough of Southend Swimming Club member Foster, who is now based in Bath.

Borough of Southend swimmer Daniel Mason will be aiming to show the Dunkirk spirit when he takes part in the French Open Water Cup.

He earned his place after capturing the bronze medal for third place in the Open Water Championships in Nottingham.

Mason, who lives in Shoebury, competed in the 2000 metres in the category for 17-24-year-olds and had a time of 25 mins.08 secs, with victory going to Khalid Jhugroo (24.39) from John Wood (25.02).

The first three home were told of their Dunkirk selection by Mike Hemmings of British Swimming following the Nottingham event.

An England Development squad is to be formed for open water swimming with up to eight participants being offered the chance to compete in France.

Apart from performances in Nottingham, other criteria used for selection were the British 5K Indoor Championships and performances at district and national 800 and 1,500m events.

The district are hoping to hold a distance development camp in February 2005 to coincide with ASA distance camps.

From the archive, first published Wednesday 14th Apr 2004.

Former Borough of Southend swimmer Mark Foster is to appeal to British Olympic officials after failing to qualify for this summer's championships in Athens.

Billericay born Foster, who has competed in four previous Olympics, missed out on the 50m freestyle qualifying mark at the British trials by just 0.05 seconds.

But Foster hopes to be handed another opportunity to compete in Greece later this year.

"I can't believe the criteria does not include provision for wild-card selection," he said.

"I could win a medal for Great Britain."
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From the archive, first published Friday 25th Apr 2003.

A golden hat-trick signalled that Nathalie Brown is well on the road to recovery after her prolonged bout of flu.

Twenty-year-old Brown took top spot in the over-16s 100m and 400m freestyle at the Essex Open and Age Group Championships at Barkingside, clocking 59.93 secs and 4mins 21.21secs respectively.

She added senior 800m free gold and completed her medal haul with silver in the 200m backstroke, touching home in 2.24.72. She was also fourth in the 100m backstroke (1.11.86).

Michelle Barber claimed her first ever Essex gold in the 200m breaststroke, slashing 11 seconds off her personal best as she won in 2.50.30. She narrowly missed out on another medal over 100m (1.23.45) and recorded new bests in the 200m (2.16.67) and 400m (4.40.63) free, and 100m individual medley (1.12.52).

Jonathan Sayer was 1500m freestyle champ for the 12-year section, registering a PB of 18.14.84 and beating nearest rival Chris Chenery by a whopping 15 metres, but has to settle behind the same swimmer over 200m despite clockinh a best of 2.37.45.

Sayer also collected 100m butterfly bronze in a PB of 1.12.74 and was fourth in the 100m free (PB 1.03.28).

County Championship debutant Owen Coughlan was a bronze medalist in the 12-years 1500m, his time of 19mins 32secs just seven seconds outside the national qualifying time - not bad for someone still atending swimming lessons ten months ago!

Sammy Ace collected bronze in the 14-years 400m IM, slicing five seconds off her PB with 5.25.58, was fourth in the 200m fly and sixth in the 200m IM.

Published Friday, April 25, 2003

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From the archive, first published Friday 2nd Aug 2002.

Southend swimmer Nathalie Brown has vowed to rise to the occasion in tonight's 800m freestyle final at the Commonwealth Games.

The 18-year-old student clocked the fifth fastest qualifying time of 8min 46.51sec yesterday - but she believes she is ready to go faster.

Her personal best is 8min 43.46 - and the Borough of Southend Swimming Club star says that overcoming that barrier is vital in her first major international final (8.30pm).

Nathalie, who will start in lane two, said: "I know I will have to do a pb to get anywhere near the medals. Hopefully I can do that but you never know.

"I'm very positive. My England team-mate Becky Cooke is miles ahead, but I'm hoping one day to beat her. It might be tonight, it maybe next year."

Published Friday August 2, 2002

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From the archive, first published Monday 15th Apr 2002.

Borough of Southend Swimming Club was today toasting double delight following successful performances in the Commonwealth Games trials.

Current member Nathalie Brown looks set to represent Britain at this summer's games after coming second in the 800m freestyle.

And former Borough of Southend sprint specialist Mark Foster, who now competes for Bath University, was fastest in the 50m butterfly.

Confirmation of their Commonwealth call-up was expected today when the Amateur Swimming Association announces the English aquatic squad for the games in Manchester.

Brown faced a running battle with County of Glasgow swimmer Rebecca Cooke throughout the British Long Course Championships, which also served as the trials.

She was second behind Cooke (8:40.87) in the 800m freestyle heat with a time of 8:46.53. Brown turned up the heat in the final with an 8:43.42 to ensure second behind Cooke (8:35.75).

Cooke was the swimmer setting the pace in the 400m freestyle too, setting the fastest heat time of 4:15.71 before winning the final in 4:22.20.

Brown was sixth in the heats with 4:22.20 and achieved the same place in the final with a 4:21.31. Foster was eighth in the butterfly heats with a 25.50, but the former world record holder went fastest in the semis with a 24.70.

And in the final he clocked 23.88 to push County of Leeds' James Hickman (24.72) into second.

The other Essex swimmers competing at the Manchester Aquatics Centre were Brentwood's Ross Hughes in the 400m freestyle heats and Michelle Kiff in the 100m breaststroke heats and semis of the 50m breaststroke.

The £32m pool complex features two 50m pools and will host the swimming and diving events at the games between July 25.

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From the archive, first published Thursday 20th Apr 2000.

Nathalie Brown continues to be the splash queen of the Borough of Southend Swimming and Training Club.

She is just back from the third and final round of the Essex Open and Age Group Championships at the Fulwell Cross Pool, Barkingside, where she won three more gold and two silver medals.

That latest success followed straight on from a trip to the United States with coach Mike Higgs to compete in the USA National Swimming Championships in Seattle, Washington State.

Nathalie had been given permission at last year's Essex Championships to swim a time trial in the men's 1500m freestyle in order to gain an entry time for the USA nationals.

In the States she swam exceptionally well to record 16 min 46.1 sec to place 10th overall in this event - only two-and-a-half seconds outside Olympic star Sarah Hardcastle's senior county record, which has stood for a period of 15 years.

Sarah, of course, was also a member of the crack Borough of Southend squad.

Also in America, Nathalie was placed 11th in the 800m freestyle (8.48.0), and fifth in the consolation final of the 400m individual medley (4.55.5). She placed 27th in the 4500m freestyle.

Nathalie's times in Seattle place her in the current world rankings in four events. She and other Borough members fly out on Friday to compete in the Jersey Open Easter Meet.

At the Essex event Nathalie's three golds came in the senior women's 200, 400 and 800 freestyle events.

The latter two were won with event-best performance times. Nathalie also had a personal best in the 100m breaststroke, in which she took the silver. She also collected the silver in the 200m breaststroke and a fifth in the 200m backstroke final.

Beverley Ford had a good weekend, winning the 19 years and over 400m freestyle as well as collecting silver in the 200m breaststroke. She then took a bronze in the final of the same age group 200m backstroke.

Jonathan Sayer was a silver in the boys 10 years 400m freestyle as well as being placed fourth in the 200 individual medley.

Susannah Carroll continues to make good progress and took three seconds off her personal best time to win the silver in the 12 years 100m freestyle.

She also achieved her second qualifying time for this year's national age group championships, to be held later this year.

Adam Hickey, the Southend High pupil who has recently also produced sensational performances in the athletics world, was another to produce his second national qualifying time in the final of the boys 100m freestyle, in which he won the bronze medal.

Gareth Hand recorded a personal best time to place fifth in the boys 14 years 200m butterfly and Adam's sister Maria was also fifth in the 10 years 400m freestyle -- again in a personal best time.

Daniel Mason also bettered his previous top time in the 13 years 100 freestyle.

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From the archive, first published Friday 28th Apr 2000.

The 16-strong Borough of Southend swimming squad which travelled to Jersey for the Easter Meet had a hugely successful time.

They won the best visiting team award of £300 by a margin of three points from Essex rivals Waltham Forest.

Their swimmers won a total of 20 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals as well as three members taking the "best swimmer award" in their own age group.

Top star Nathalie Brown won ten individual golds as well as establishing new allcomers records in six events.

The most astonishing reduction came in the 800m freestyle where she reduced the record from 9 mins. 04 secs to 8.44.

She took gold in the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle, 400 and 200 individual medley - where she broke all meet records - 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke.

She took one silver and two bronze as well and was presented with best swimmer prize for the 17 plus age group.

Adam Hickey, who combines his swimming career with enjoying huge success at athletics, won eight golds in the 12 and under age group.

His victories came in the 100, 200 and 400 freestyle, the 100 and 200 breaststroke, the 200 butterfly and 200 and 400 individual medley. He also achieved two national qualifying times and took the best swimmer award for the 12 and under age group.

Susannah Carroll was competing a year young in the 12-13 years category. She took gold in the 100 freestyle and butterfly along with three silver and three bronze.

Like Hickey she achieved two national qualifying times and took the top swimmer award for her age group.

David Crichton had a busy weekend and his silver in the 12 and under 200 butterfly was the highlight. He also collected two bronze.

Beverley Ford won a silver in the 100 breaststroke, but was unfortunately unable to swim her stronger events due to a sudden illness.

Southend's medal winners were completed by Kristina Marshall, swimming a year young in the 14/15 girls category. She collected a silver in the 200 butterfly.

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From the archive, first published Monday 16th Nov 1998.

The future is looking decidedly sunny for Southend's star swimmer Nathalie Brown.

She's just back from her latest visit to the Florida training camp of 800m world record holder Brook Bennett.

Now the 15-year-old, who attends Rayleigh's Fitz-Wimarc School, is in Wolverhampton for the British Grand Prix this weekend hoping to earn a place in the European Short Course Championships in Sheffield next month.

Nathalie, whose number one ambition is to make the British Olympic team, is a member of the Borough of Southend Swimming and Training Club squad at Southend's Warrior Square Pool.

Mike Higgs, the club's coach, has previously taken the likes of Jackie Willmott, Sarah Hardcastle and Mark Foster on the international glory trail and now hopes to do the same for Nathalie.

Along with two other top British girls who have been making the regular trips to Bennett's training camps, Nathalie's times have been cut by up to 10 seconds over 800m in the past year.

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