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Skipton swimmers hit back after controversial disqualifications
A short trip across the border to the City of Salford Meet was the destination for the Skipton Swimming Club squad last weekend.
Some early and very controversial refereeing decisions culminating in the disqualification of five of Skipton's swimmers served only to galvanise the squad as a unit as they poured on the power to dominate the event.
An awesome weekend's display enjoyed by all who attended saw 21 swimmers represent the club as they delivered no less than 79 personal best swims.
Fresh from Olympic trials, Julia Scrivin looked comfortable taking third in the 800m freestyle and 100m backstroke, her3 highlights coming in the 100m butterfly and 200m backstroke taking gold in both.
Another fresh from Olympic Trials was Abigail Kerr. Impressive as ever she achieved several North Eastern qualifying times, took third in the 100 butterfly, 100m freestyle and second in the 200m individual medley.
Abi was agonisingly 0.18 seconds off National qualifying time in the 200m breaststroke. She has however a couple more opportunities to hit the mark and no doubt she will.
Sixteen year-old Ed Haigh had a good weekend claiming second in the 100m breaststroke, third in the 200m individual medley and fifth in the 100m freestyle. It was good to see 16 year-old Jack Lonsdale back in action for the club. Jack finished fourth in the 100m freestyle before claiming gold in the 100m breaststroke. A superb display by Jack, he left the competition quite literally out of sight in the final of the 100m breaststroke.
The dynamic duo of Kieran Belk and William Maddrell dominated the ten year-old category, achieving their main goal by comfortably qualifying for the North Eastern Championships in both the 400m freestyle and 400m individual medley.
Kieran swam strongly taking gold in the 200m individual medley, second in both the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle and fourth in the 100m breaststroke. William took the prize for best male in the age group by virtue of his gold medals in the 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle and his third in the 100m breaststroke. Eleven year-old Josh Allen stepped up his game placing seventh in the final of the 100m butterfly before a brilliant swim in the 100m breaststroke saw him take a superb fourth.
Twelve year-old Kelly Bucke warmed up for her North Eastern schedule taking sixth in the finals of the 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly. Thirteen year-old Sam Westcott attacked the freestyle superbly setting new season bests at every distance from 50m through to 800m in a remarkable weekend for the young tri-athlete.
Packing a powerful punch as ever, was Philip Foster-Dennison as he claimed gold in the 100m breaststroke, third in both the 100m free and 200m individual medley, fifth in the 100m butterfly and sixth in the 100m backstroke.
Thirteen year-old Sam Mitchell got reward for all his efforts in training setting new personal bests in the 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle. Limited by a troublesome knee injury 12 year-old Rachel Scrivin showed great determination over the meet, her highlight a fifth place in the final of the 100m butterfly.
Alex Graham will now line up on the blocks in the 200m backstroke at the North Eastern Championships in June. Despite losing count of lengths completed Alex swam superbly and will get his just reward in June. Some fantastic racing was produced by 11 year-olds Paige Almack and Lucia Gardner. Drawn in adjacent lanes, the girls went head to head in the 100 and 200m breaststroke. Both achieved personal best times, Lucia went one better securing a North Eastern qualifying time in the 200m backstroke.
Ten year-old Beth Hanson and 11 year-old Ilsa Graham set new personal best times in the 100m breaststroke and judging by this performance will continue to improve and soon be setting county and qualifying times.
Brother and sister act, ten year-old Benjamin and 12 year-old Laura Housley swam brilliantly, both setting a personal best time in their respective 100m butterfly, Ben securing fifth in the final.
Making his first appearance for the club, 11 year- old Taylor Barrett gave a glimpse of his potential with a superb personal best in the 200m backstroke suggesting there is more to com by the club with credit going to Head Coach Coz Tantrum and Team Manager/Coach Ian Scrivin for continuing to produce fantastic results.
12:14pm Thursday 17th April 2008
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