But Jane Asher is not an average 95-year-old.
The ‘Super Gran’ – who has set well over 100 career world age-group records – made sure to turn out for the 33rd Guernsey International Masters Open, which unfortunately is set to be the final edition due to rising costs.
‘We love coming here and I’m so sorry this is the last one,’ said a swimmer who formed part of a 15-strong Kings Cormorants contingent for the last hurrah.
‘That’s why I entered so many events – to give them something to talk about.’
Asher came to Guernsey for her honeymoon in 1955, but little did she know that would be the start of another love affair.
Unfortunately, she lost her husband Robbie to cancer in 1991, but the publicity around the inaugural Masters meet held the following year caught her eye. ‘I thought it would be a good idea to come back,’ she reflected.
She has been a very nearly annual visitor since and has set numerous world records at the Beau Sejour pool, which continued over the weekend with her move into the 95-99 age group. She was surprised by family appearing in Guernsey on Friday to mark her 95th birthday.
‘I was so pleased to see them – it was brilliant,’ she said.
‘I just love the island.’
Similarly enthusiastic clubmate Terry Wright, 30 years her junior, added: ‘We come here because we enjoy it.
‘It’s staged over a few days and we get to see the island as well.
‘Most meets you go to, you go to the pool and then you go home.’
About 100 competitors lit up the pool over the three-day meet, notably also including John Morgan, a 13-time Paralympic gold medallist of 1984 and 1992 who was representing Danish club KU Svomning OG Vandpolo on his Guernsey bow.
Nowadays UK swimmers have lots of cheaper options and so fewer have been travelling to the local event.
But organiser Adrian Bott, part of the Guernsey Swimming Club masters set-up so pivotal to this event, has highlighted the special appeal that has charmed so many competitors over the years.
‘There’s plenty of time for people to go out sightseeing, shopping, for restaurant meals and that sort of stuff, so it’s a very sociable weekend for everybody,’ he said.
‘Inevitably, times move on, and we know that it’s very expensive.
‘Travel costs, hotel costs, eating out costs, they’re not the same as what they were 25 years ago and Guernsey has to compete against so many places now.’
This includes not only those cheap and easy UK competitions, but affordable holiday meets further afield.
‘As a committee, we recognised that it was going to have to come to an end at some stage,’ Bott added.
‘It’s sad, but masters swimming is really strong in Guernsey.
‘We’ll find other ways to compete. We’ll do something – this is not the end of masters swimming in Guernsey.’
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