Vera was selected to represent Great Britain in the 1924 Paris Olympics and won a silver medal in the 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay and was fifth in the individual 100m Freestyle winning a silver in the same relay event in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.

Tanner toured South Africa with a Great Britain ladies' team in 1929 and re-met Dupre Murrell, who she originally met at the Paris Olympics, when he accompanied the South African men's team. Murrell and Tanner married in South Africa in April 1930 and she continued her career as a teacher at St. Andrews College in Grahamstown. She retired from swimming in 1934 but took up golf in 1931, and a little over two years later won the South African East Province Championship.

Tanner moved to Hong Kong in the late 1930s and worked for the Hong Kong Education Department. During the War, she enrolled as a nurse in the Auxiliary Nursing Service (ANS) and consequently missed the compulsory evacuation of women and children. She later became a Japanese prisoner-of-war and interned at the Stanley Camp in Hong Kong.

It was reported that Vera swum out nearly two miles to the British Pacific Fleet on liberation on 30 August 1945 to direct the Fleet to the prisoners. She is in the Hong Kong history books, as she and a Police  Sergeant swam out to meet the first warship that entered HK after the 2nd WW to relieve it from the Japanese occupation. The warship stopped and picked them up out of the shark-infested waters. "Thin and half-starved as she was, she made the journey in 30 minutes."

She was released in 1945 and on return to England, married her second husband, Lieutenant Colonel Ned Curran.

The British team at the 1924 Olympic Games - Florence Barker, Constance Jeans, Grace McKenzie, and Iris Vera Tanner.

Vera's swimming medals lost to the Japanese or other looters during WW2 in Hong Kong (Bruce Curran).

https://battleforhongkong.blogspot.com/2014/07/vera-murrell-olympic-games-swimmer-and.html 

Timothy Shead is a transplanted American Master's swimming phenomenon. In 1983 while a swimming coach in Florida, Tim and his South African wife Lesley moved to South Africa to start a business, called P2Life. There he also discovered Masters swimming, swimming with the Cape Town Masters Swimming Club.

He is the first South African Masters Swimmer to be inducted into the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF). Strictly speaking, he was inducted as a U.S. Masters swimmer and a SAM’S swimmer, but since his first love is South Africa, we are going to take the credit for his accolade!

Tim, competing for a South African club and USA clubs, first appeared in the Masters Top 10 in 1992 and has been listed there for a total of 17 years since then. As a versatile swimmer, by 2014 he had set 32 FINA Masters World Records, 20 long course meters and 12 short course meters in the I.M, backstroke, breaststroke and relay. He has competed in 10 FINA Masters World Championships winning 17 gold, 16 silver and 5 bronze medals in the I.M, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.

By 2024, his haul of World records stands at 58. At the Master's World Championships held in Doha, Tim won the 70-74 age group 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke and the 200 IM, all in championship record times. He also came second in the 50 freestyle. 

Flying the flag at the world championships, Budapest 2017.  CTMSC finished top of the medals tables with 29 gold medals.

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS (SWIMMER): World Points-679, Pre 1986 Points- 0, Total Points-679; Since 1992, he has competed in five age groups (60-44 through 60-64). 32 FINA MASTERS WORLD RECORDS: 26 individual, six relays.

He grew up in Miami, Florida and swam for the legendary George Breen at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation, Tim Shead moved to California,in 1975, to pursue his dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer. Although his Olympic dream was never realized, his experience fueled his passion for coaching and nutrition. He returned to South Florida where he built a powerhouse team that included a young swimmer named David Marsh, and was selected to coach a US National Team European trip.

In 1983, he left coaching and the USA for the opportunity to develop a nutritional business in South Africa. It was there that he discovered Masters Swimming and would gain the success he had longed for as a younger athlete.

It wasn’t until 1997, at 45 years of age, that Tim Shead broke his first World Record. Tim first appeared on the Masters Top Ten list in 1992 and has been listed there every year since. A versatile swimmer, Tim has set 33 FINA Masters World Records, 20 long course meters and 13 short course meters in the I.M., backstroke, breaststroke and relay events. In 2007, he ranked top ten in the world in all but three events – in 33 of 36 events – short and long course.

At the suggestion of his old swimmer, David Marsh, Tim returned to the USA and formed a new performance based nutritional company geared to meet the needs of swimmers. P2Life has also become a corporate partner of US Masters Swimming.

Tim believes his success is a combination of experience, technique, training, rest and most importantly knowing his body and what it needs – specifically giving the body proper nutrition. He swears that “nothing is more important than your health” and takes his company, P2Life’s nutritional products every day – and has for 25 years. He thinks his performance proves it!

A Tribute to Tim from Perry Cadiz

SAMS newsletter - 24 November 2014

Tim was one of the first friendly faces that I encountered at my maiden squad session at Constantia, as a wet behind the ears, 25 year old, wannabee masters swimmer. It was around that time that he was establishing himself as a serious contender in the Masters Swimming World. Despite me quickly realising that I was in the company of someone very talented, my impression was of someone that was keener to help and share his extensive knowledge than of a world-renowned athlete. It would be years before I knew of his success as a coach in the U.S, but I was moved by his tangible love for the sport, and his desire to help others improve and realise their own potential.

Tim was not a swimming prodigy. In fact his highest achievement as a youngster was to be ranked amongst the top swimmers in the state of Florida.

However many top stars are not simply “born” and the bug had bitten enough for him to continue to swim while studying an accounting and marketing degree at The University of Pennsylvania. After graduating, he moved to California where he trained under Jim Montrella, a former Olympic coach, with the aim of swimming in the 1976 Olympics. This dream was not realised, but instead of turning his back on the sport he loved, he chaired US athlete’s representative programme, as well as the Executive Board of United States Swimming Inc. He also started his own Swim team in Miami and after 5 years it was ranked as one of the top club teams in the US. His coaching success resulted in him being awarded the title of Head US International Swim Coach.

Tim began his master’s career in Johannesburg in 1984 at 32 years of age. By 1997, at the age of 45, he broke his first master’s world record, the most memorable moment of his swimming career. From then on he went from strength to strength and the records literally tumbled. Tim himself has joked that “he who slows slowest, -wins” which is probably a bit too humble, but the fact that he has maintained the speed and form he had as a youngster and swum a few personal bests at age 60 has afforded him the ability to break 33 individual Masters World records! At times, he has also ranked in the top 10 in the FINA rankings for 30 out of a possible 35 events, which shows how versatile he is as a swimmer. On the home front, he has broken over 140 SAM’S records.

In Sept 2014, Tim was awarded the prestigious honour of being inducted in to the IMSHOF. For inclusion athletes must have been swimming for 16 years at least, spanning 4 age groups, and have earned roughly 700 points. Points are earned for FINA Masters world records, FINA Masters top 10 placing’s, and FINA World Master’s Championship medal placings.

Despite this being a monumental accolade and one of the proudest moments of his life, he is quick to acknowledge that Master’s swimming is not only about the records, nor the world top ten rankings.

 No one needs to convince a swimmer about the huge physical, social and emotional benefits of swimming. The lane banter and the people are the draw card, and it’s nice to hear the Best of the Best emphasise this.

When in Cape Town, Tim happily arrives 5 mornings a week for a session and a post work-out coffee and chat. It’s a lifestyle that’s hard to beat, and for him the racing comes secondary to the social and physical benefits.

Tim’s achievements are not only pool based. He runs two very successful international nutrition and supplement companies called P2Life and Ultima and he spends a lot of time travelling between South Africa and Florida. Tim firmly believes that correct nutrition is partly responsible for his success in the pool. Most of us have converted to “Tim’s shake” and I would be surprised if there are people who haven’t heard about Tim’s adaptogens!

In his view, bad eating habits are as destructive as poor technique, incorrect training and inadequate rest. In my view, snowboarding with a testosterone fuelled young adult is more destructive (being the physio for his 2 recent shoulder rotator cuff repairs!) but the upside is that his recent injuries have afforded us great coaching tips whenever a butterfly set is introduced. (Tim hates butterfly sets)

Tim appears to have lots of life left in him for further greatness in the pool, and with his in depth knowledge of race strategy, land and pool training, nutrition, and most importantly his generosity of time and willingness to share and teach, we can be glad he is going to be spending more time here in Cape Town than in Florida.

Who knows, with some tips and a few more adaptogens, maybe one day we can all outlast our competitors and become World record holders at 90!

USMS member and Masters world record holder, Tim Shead, founded P2Life 30 years ago in South Africa. Shead then brought P2Life to the U.S. in September 2011. P2Life has made a strong impact on the USA Swimming market by supporting 10 athletes on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.

“Tim has been a longtime USMS member and a big swimming supporter at every level,” says Rob Butcher, USMS Executive Director. “P2Life has developed a meaningful give-back program for the swimming community. Any club or Masters coach can register its own web portal through p2life.net/usms and with every product purchased through that portal, the club will receive a percentage of sales.”

“Masters swimming and involvement with the Masters community has been a passion of mine for more than three decades,” says Tim Shead, P2Life CEO and 42-time Masters world record holder. “I can’t describe how delighted I am that our company and USMS have formed a strong sponsorship alliance. We are exceptionally proud of our products and their proven record of improving health and physical performance. Seven 2012 Olympic gold medalists were loyal consumers of P2Life products as they prepared for London. And we are strongly motivated to give back to swimming by providing significant fundraising opportunities to Masters coaches and clubs. Thanks USMS!”

Tim and Lesley Shead.

I love swimming and cannot imagine my life without it! The lifelong friends and memorable experiences it has provided are priceless. On Friday night I was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. A dream come true, an experience of a lifetime, yet incredibly humbling. I want to thank those without whom it would have NEVER been possible. Bob Karl, Pat Toner, George Breen, Jim Montrella and John Grzeszczak. Must also thank Charlie Hodgson and David Marsh for playing such major roles in my life.

And of course all my amazing South African coaches and fellow swimmers for all your unselfish love, help, support and friendship; Tyrone, Halton, Cecilia, Judy, Margo, Chris and Di are first to mind. P2Life of course. But most importantly - must thank my wife Lesley - and my wonderful kids - for your amazing love and support. To all my swimming friends around the world - THANKS for so enriching my life and helping make this such an amazing journey

Philip Seidler is an open-water swimmer from Namibia. Nambia - or South West Africa as it was until 1990 - competed as a province at the annual South African National Aquatic Championships, and athletes from Namibia still compete in South Africa. Seidler won the 10 km bronze medal at the 2021 South African Open Water Swimming Olympic Trials in March 2021. He finished 16th at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games 10km marathon event. 

Seidler has been coached by his mother since he was 12 when his previous coach, June Owen-Smith, retired after 26 years as coach at the Swakopmund Swimming Club. Seidler runs an open water workshop in Namibia aiming to help unconfident or new swimmers with ocean swimming. His partner Amica De Jager is from Port Elizabeth. She is a former Woodridge College lifesaver and swimmer who has represented South Africa at surf lifesaving and marathon swimming.

What is the highest accolade you have achieved in swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?

Taking part at the Junior World Swimming Championship Singapore 2015. Meeting swimmers from all over the world, different cultures and sharing the water was a big highlight. My biggest achievement was the OTB Jetty Mile and taking the triple crown. This event is also very unpredictable – sometimes, we have to swim in big swells or ice cold water. My latest personal achievement was breaking six Namibian records at SA Nationals in Durban in one gala. 24 June 2021.

Port Elizabeth - 26th March 2021 

Swakopmund swimmer Phillip Seidler showed his sea swimming prowess as he had a successful weekend of racing in South Africa.

Seidler’s first stop was at Marina Martinique, competing at the South African Nationals for the 10km and the following day the 5km Bellbuoy Ocean Race Challenge in Port Elizabeth.

Seidler said that the South African Open Water Nationals was held last Friday where he participated in the 10km and ended 3rd overall with a time of 1 hour and 55 minutes and 6 seconds.

Seven in a row for Seidler

28 December 2019 - The Namibian

PHILIP Seidler won the Pupkewitz Jetty Mile for the seventh consecutive year in a new record time in Swakopmund on Friday.

The local Swakopmunder was once again a class apart from the more than 300 entrants, winning the 1,9km event in a time of 18 minutes 33 seconds, which was more than two minutes ahead second-placed Luca Simonetti of Italy (20:41), while Xander Skinner came third in 21:08.

Seidler’s girl friend Amica de Jager of South Africa won the Women’s Elite category, while she also finished second overall in a time of 20:33. The 17-year-old Heleni Stergiadis came second in 23:33 and Vicky Botha third in 23:40.

Seidler was elated with his achievement.

“Being the champion for the seventh time in this year’s Pupkewitz Jetty Mile, will be one of my most memorable Jetty Miles ever, especially sharing the water and experience with my girlfriend, Amica De Jager. This year I was aware of being challenged by an international Italian swimmer, Luca Simonetti, and my friend, Xander Skinner, both sprinters, swimming in America,” he said.

“To defend my title, the focus was to set a higher race pace and to use my open water tactics, acquired from international exposure, to ensure a win. I used the average swell and rough conditions to my favour, which made the race more exciting and enabled me to break my record of last year.

“At the finish line, I got the biggest surprise, noticing my girlfriend, Amica, was my biggest challenger, who took the second overall win with Luca Simonetti taking third. I also want to congratulate every competitor that challenged the tough conditions of the Jetty Mile – at the end of the day this makes us all winners,” he said.

De Jager said it was a great experience.

“I am a South African open water swimmer and surf lifesaver from St Francis Bay and I’ve been here visiting my boyfriend, Phillip Seidler, for the holidays.  I was extremely excited to take part in my first Jetty Mile alongside Phillip and I absolutely loved every second of the race.  It had all the elements I love best about open water races – the waves were rough, the current was flying and there was ample wind chop with the added excitement of rounding the rocks into the Mole,” she said. 

“I was extremely surprised to finish second overall to Phillip in a time of 20:33. I did not expect that, it was a super close race to the finish, but I just kept telling myself not to give up and to push harder. I was incredibly happy to take the win of the females.  The Jetty mile was an extremely fun race and the best way to end the year off – tackling the Namibian ocean with all its challenges,” she said.

The Pupkewitz Jetty Mile, which was organised by OTB Sport, started at Tiger Reef, passing around the jetty and then headed towards the Mole Beach, with the exit on Main Beach. The sea and weather conditions were good, while swell was fair size and sea temperature around 17 degrees, making it a comfortable swim. 

Amica de Jager’s medal haul at DHL Lifesaving SA National Champs books Egypt ticket

Oct 8, 2021

Port Elizabeth 

Durban Surf’s Amica de Jager’s week at the DHL Lifesaving South Africa National Championships just keeps on getting better.

The 22-year-old De Jager, who won five individual golds, a team gold and an individual silver in the surf competition earlier this week, added more silverware in the Pool Championship taking place at Newton Park, and also got confirmation of selection for Team South Africa’s participation at the 2021 ILS Africa Championship in Alexandria, Egypt, from December 1-5.

In 1994, at the 7th FINA World Championships in Italy, Evan won gold in the 1m event. He also won that event at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia.

Evan Stewart was born June 11, 1975, in the former Rhodesia. He attended St. George's College in Harare, where his diving career followed in the footsteps of the famous Rhodesian divers of the 1960s and 70s who dominated the sport in South Africa.  One such famous Rhodesian diver was David Parrington, who has been the diving coach at the University of Tennessee since 1990. He recruited Evan to compete for the University of Tennessee.

He represented Zimbabwe in three consecutive Summer Olympics -1992 (Barcelona), 1996 (Atlanta) and 2000 (Sydney).

His mother was Anthea Stewart, who won a gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Games when Zimbabwe won the women's field hockey,  was also the national diving coach when she was invited to officiate at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She had previously won Springbok colours for representing South Africa between 1963 and 1974. She was 35 in 2000.

Stewart was an All-American for the University of Tennessee swimming and diving team from 1994-1997. He captured NCAA 3-meter titles in 1994 (614.65 points) and 1995 (655.40), and six SEC crowns - 1-meter in 1994, 1996, 1997 -and 3-meter in 1994, 1995 and 1996. He set an SEC record of 583.55 in '97 on the 1-meter. 

Stewart captured two medals at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He is the son of former field hockey player Anthea Stewart, who won the gold medal in the women's competition at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union.

In 2003 he returned to Zimbabwe to partner in a family export business. Today he is a director at the International Coatings Company.