THE Basingstoke Bluefins masters ladies 4x200 metres freestyle relay team have smashed the British Masters record by 14 seconds.

The team, made up of Michelle Matson, Jo Taylor, Sarah Adams and Fleur Parker, broke the record at the South East Regional Masters Long Course Championships in Crawley.

It is the Bluefins’ first British Masters record and the team have set their sights on breaking it again at the British Championships in June.

The swim also smashed the regional record by over a minute and the team returned to pick up another gold medal with victory in the 4x50m medley relay later the same day.

In total, nine masters swimmers swam at the Surrey event and the team claimed 12 individual golds, six silvers and 10 bronzes, as well as the two team victories.

Matson, still fighting her way back from injury, added more medals to her collection with silver in the 50m backstroke and bronze in the 50m breaststroke and butterfly.

Taylor was in superb form, winning her first individual gold medal since her masters comeback in the 800m freestyle. She added silver in the 100m and 200m free and bronze in the 400m free and 200m individual medley.

Club captain Adams added two more golds, adding the 100m backstroke and 50m breaststroke to her relay golds.

Parker retained her 200m backstroke title and also won silver in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the 100m free.

Catherine Shearn had some excellent swims, winning bronze in the 50m and 100m fly and silver in the 800m free, with times very close to lifetime personal bests.

Lottie Preston-Howes joined the team for her first masters and had a great debut, taking gold in the 100m free and 200m breaststroke.

She then added bronze medals in the 50m and 100m breaststrokes and 50m free.

The Bluefins’ male team of Dave Davenport, Steve Greenfield, Olly Espinasse and Andy Taylor had a great weekend.

Davenport was consistent over the weekend with no sign of injury, which was great to see.

All of his times were faster than he managed in Plymouth at the British Championships last year.

He won golds in 100m, 400m, 800m free and a silver in the 200m free.

Coach Greenfield swam 50m free and 50m backstroke, picking up two gold medals in both.

Espinasse swam a superb 50m fly to win gold.

Taylor swam well over the weekend in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and the 50m fly.