THE Basingstoke Bluefins Swimming Club had a hugely successful World Masters Championships held in Budapest, Hungary, the biggest event on the Masters Swimming Calendar this year.

There were 7,500 swimmers at the championships and in most races there were at least 80-100 swimmers per age group, including many ex-Olympians that have now turned to masters swimming.

The relay team of Olly Espinasse, Lizzie Godfrey, Spencer Turner and Fleur Parker swam to fourth place with a huge personal best in the 4x50m medley relay – a great swim especially given they were ranked 10th.

The team’s best event, the 4x50m freestyle relay, saw them swim to a world bronze medal and another personal best, moving up the rankings after seeding fourth.

Jack Staples started the meet with the Open Water swim in Lake Balaton where he placed 21st.

He then made the move to the main Duna Arena to kick off the pool programme for the Bluefins where he placed 30th in the 800m freestyle, 48th in the 400m freestyle and 23rd in the 200 all with PBs.

Matt Wright swam some tough events and came 19th in the 800 freestyle, 22nd in the 200m individual medley and 25th with a masters PB and outstanding last length in the 100m fly.

Godfrey swam superbly to pick up fourth in the 50m and 200m backstroke, 5th in the 100m backstroke and seventh in the 200 individual medley with the 50m, 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley being masters PBs.

Espinasse came 15th in the 50m fly, 23rd in the 50m freestyle, 33rd in the 100m freestyle with a masters PB in the 50m freestyle.

Turner set a Masters personal best in the 50m freestyle, coming 10th, then adding 12th in the 100m freestyle and an outstanding fifth in the 200m freestyle with his fastest time this year.

Parker picked up a fourth place in the 50m freestyle, fifth in the 100m freestyle and seventh in the 200m freestyle with the 50m and 100m freestyle events both being PBs.

Keeping with World Championships, Wright has also qualified for the World Triathlon Championships later this month in Rotterdam.