The 2010 PSUK Swimming & Water polo Championships were hosted by Merseyside Police over the weekend of 17/18th April.

Numbers were very slightly down on the previous year and although some open events competitors were sparse there were plenty competitors in the Masters competitions and for the longer distance open events.  33 forces entered teams from across the UK with 259 competitors taking to the water.

The 4 x 1 I.M skins qualifier kicked off the first days competition which saw Ryan Long (West Mids), Ed Clayton (Lancs) & Brian Steatham (West Mids) take the top 3 places; Ryan also broke the PSUK record in a time of 61.65. In the ladies event the winning order was Aimee Ramm (Leic), Hayley Bird (West Mids) & Alison Willis (West Mids). Other open event winners were 400 f/s Garry Dixon (Thames Valley) & Teresa Dray (Sussex); 100 back Hayley Bird (West Mids) & Chris Jones (South Wales); 200 I.M Hayley Bird & Matt Adamson (Staffs); 100 f/s Aimee Ramm & Nick Jackson (GMP); 100 b/r Laura Chidgey (D&C) & David Morgan (Gwent).

Day two saw Garry Dixon and Teresa Dray take their second title wins in the 200 f/s as did Laura Chidgey in the 200 b/r with Geoff Boddie (GMP) winning the men’s event. Aimee Ramm went on to win both the 100m fly and 50m f/s events with the men’s equivalent being won by Ed Clayton & Brian Steatham respectively. The closest race of the championship came in the men’s 100 back with West Mids’ Ryan Long being out touched by .11 of a second by South Wales’ Chris Jones. In the relay events, West Midlands clearly dominated taking 6 out of the 8 titles. West Midlands broke PSUK records in the Masters Women’s Medley Relay by some 5 seconds and freestyle relay by 6 seconds. West Midlands Open Men won both their relays in record breaking times and the Masters Men’s relays were won by the Metropolitan in record times.

The Graham Cutting Trophy presented to the top overall Master swimmer went to Alison Willis, West Midlands.

The Merseyside organising committee headed by Alistair Buckley did a tremendous job in ensuring the event was both enjoyable and problem free.