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Welsh National Championships 02-05/04/10
Report by John Sanders
Two Bridgnorth swimmers performed very well at the Welsh National Championship held at the National Pool of Wales in Swansea. The annual event is the most prestigious competition in Wales and is attended by all the top Welsh swimmers including those who qualify through residency or by having a Welsh parent or grandparent.
Jack Sanders and Connie Sanders both swam Personal Best times in all their races to record top finishes against tough competition.
Jack competed in the 200m and 100m breaststroke events and got a top finish of fourth place in the 200m breaststroke final. After an eight second PB in the heats, Jack improved on that time again in the final but was just edged out of bronze medal place in a very exciting race.
After a five second PB in the 200m breaststroke event, Connie swam strongly in the 200m freestyle to also get fourth place out of all the competing 10 year olds. Her ten second PB time also beat a lot of the older swimmers in the combined 10/11 age group.
During the thoroughly enjoyable experience Jack and Connie both swam against top quality competition. As well as the very strong City of Cardiff and City of Swansea top level Performance Squads, there were lots of other clubs represented. There were also competitors from well known schools of swimming excellence such as Kelly College, Millfield School and Plymouth College.
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City of Birmingham Open 02-05/04/10
The first day was for the long distances. Chrissie Jones was first away in the 1500m improving her time from last month’s counties and narrowly missing a Midlands qualifying time (MQT) by less than 2 seconds. Sister Jess Jones swam next and Jess also lowered her best time by nearly a minute and a half. Fern Cates came away with a PB in the same event and Jenny Ballinger was the only 10 year old to brave this distance. Jenny knocked over a minute from her PB. Becky Hawthorn swam a PB in the 800m free and finished 1st in her age group. The day also saw Northgate’s Alice Cousins, swimming for City of Birmingham, finishing 5th in the 400 IM.
Saturday saw a further 6 PB’s set by our swimmers. Chrissie swam into 4th place in the 200 free and also improved her time in the 100 back. Jenny had PB’s in the 100 IM (2nd place), 100 breast and 50 fly, and just missed out in the 100 back. Jess missed a PB in the 100 breast due to a bad turn but still managed to get into the final of the L3 event. In the final Jess swam a fantastic race and fought hard to achieve bronze in a new personal best time. Harriet Themans, getting back to fitness following an ear problem, swam well in the 50 fly and 100 back. Alice made the finals in the 200 free and 100 back where she achieved a fantastic 1st place and a 6th place respectively.
Day 3 got off to a good start with Becky finishing 4th in the 400 free in a PB time. Alice had bronze in the same event. The next event, the 200 breast, saw Chrissie knock an amazing 4 seconds off her PB set just 3 weeks ago. This was so painfully close (0.7secs) to her first National qualifying time (NQT) of this year. It did, however, give her another crack at the mark in the finals. The afternoon session saw some good swims by Jess (6th in 100 fly and 100 free), Harriet (100 fly and 50 back), Becky (100 free), Alice (100 free) and Sophie Blakstad (50 back and 100 free). The evening session saw Chrissie in the 200 breast final. She had a fantastic start and passed the half way mark in a faster time than her 100m PB on her way to knocking a further 3 seconds off her best from the morning to finish in 2:47.57 – 7 seconds for the day – and being a comfortable 2.5 seconds inside the NQT. This also gave her the silver medal. What a swim!
Monday was the Blakstad’s day. All 3 siblings were there flying the Northgate flag. Sophie swam well in the 200 back and 50 free, Hannah fought well in the 50 free and meanwhile James, our only boy at this meet, battled on in the 50 free and back (8th and 7th overall respectively.
This was a very high class meet with some tremendous swims by our team. Well done to all.
Shrewsbury Open 03/04/10
This one day meet proved to very fruitful for Northgate’s Darley brothers. Aaran was in fine form with 2 first places in the 200 IM (PB) and 200 back, a second place in the 100 back, third in the 200 free (narrowly missing a PB) and a fourth place in the 100 free.
Younger brother Jack was also there to impress with a first 9 year old place in the 200 breast (PB), second in the 200 back (PB) and another second 9 year old in the 200 free.
Northgate Swimmers Raise £590 for Teenage Cancer Trust
Two Northgate members Jaya Ellis-Perks and Becky Hawthorn, both members of William Brookes School in Much Wenlock, recently attended an open day to see how the money they raised during 2009 has helped the Teenage Cancer Trust open a specialist unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Together the two young swimmers organised and then completed a sponsored 3 miles swim. They supplemented that with money raised by Northgate parents completing the Bridgnorth Walk and then again with Jaya and Becky collecting money at the Christmas Trophy Relay gala in December. In total they raised £590.
The picture above shows Jaya and Becky handing over a cheque to the Teenage Cancer Trust in one of the 'chill out' spaces for patients in the new facility.
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Youngest Ever Swimmer Achieves 100 x 100’s - 16/01/10
Aaran Darley swam his way into the Northgate record books today by becoming the youngest ever swimmer to succeed in completing the annual 100 x 100’s challenge. This was an amazing achievement for Aaran who showed great guts and determination throughout the event. It was also amazing to see Aaran swim the final 2,000 meters without a single stop for a drink since he was determined to stay on the 1:30 minute repetition time. Robbie Ross completed the 100 also and stayed well on the heels of Nick Thacker, who completes the successful trio, throughout this gruelling endurance event. Other Northgate swimmers competing in the 100 x 100’s were Joe Thacker, Rob Hughes, Becky Hawthorn and Chrissie Jones.
Also in the pool were swimmers attempting the 50 x 100’s challenge. This is swam on a 1:45 minute repetition rate. Jess Jones swam strongly throughout and completed the 50 looking very fresh. On Jess’s heels was Jack Sanders and in the other lane was Matt Griffiths, closely followed by Alex Barker. All four swam well and completed the challenge.
Other swimmers attempting the 50 x 100’s event were Emma Hudson, Hollie George, Sophie Blakstad, Emily Rutter, Joseph Hadley, Connie Sanders, James Morgan, Kattie Hawthorn and Jack Darley, who swam really well in his first attempt.
A big WELL DONE to all who participated!!
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Jacob’s Special Award - January 2010
Northgate’s Jacob Laybourne has been selected to represent the sport of swimming as a UK School Games Champion Ambassador. The Champion Ambassador programme honours the outstanding performers from the UK Schools Games on an annual basis and ensures that they become patrons of the Games, playing an active role in it’s future development. The award is in recognition for Jacob’s gold medals in the 200 fly and 400 free at the 2009 UK Schools Games. Jacob’s name gets added to a pretty impressive list of some of the UK’s leading sporting talent including double Olympic gold medalist Eleanor Simmonds.
The UK Schools Games Champion Ambassadors are rapidly becoming the new generation of the UK’s sporting elite, competing on the European and World stage not only at Junior but also Senior level.
During 2010 the Champion Ambassadors will attend a reception hosted by UK School Games presedent Richard Carborn MP and also have mentored training by the Youth Sport Trust, who’s vice president is Duncan Goodhew. Attendance at the UK Schools Games in September will also be in Jacob’s diary.
A big “Well Done” goes to Jacob from all his friends at Northgate on this tremendous achievement.
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