NER SC Galas Report

Saturday, 17 December 2011 18:15

The recent North East Region Swimming Association Short Course Championships were held at the Aquatics Centre, Sunderland, where the versatility of the facility, providing two separate 25m pools, allowed both the Age Group and Open Championships to happen simultaneously. For those spectators willing to brave the chill in an early morning queue, seats between the pools gave for almost unbroken and sometimes simultaneous cheering on of York City Baths Club swimmers.

From a squad of 20 swimmers who qualified for these Championships, a total of 105 swims yielded 59 Personal Best times, and there were 13 Final appearances in the Senior & Junior Gala to celebrate too. With the best swimmers from clubs from across the North East presenting strong competition, it is great to celebrate several North East Region Champions.

In the Senior Championships, James Wilby was crowned Champion in both the 100m & 200m Breaststroke events, and added a Bronze in the 50m sprint too. There were also podium finishes for Bradley Swainston (Silver in the 50m Backstroke) and twice for Sarah Lambert (Silvers in both 50m and 100m Backstroke events). A further 7 Final places, including 4 for a consistent Sam Rainton, enabled the Junior and Senior swimmers to come home with 25 PBs out of 51 swims. Also mention must be made of Bradley Swainston’s 57.95 seconds time in the 100m Backstroke final. Though only 4th place in the race, it was Bradley’s National Qualifying time, so particular congratulations for breaking this barrier.

In the Age Group competition, YCBC is proud to have 3 Age Group champions.

In the 11yr old girls competition, Lucy Nicholson won the 200m Butterfly event. With 2 Bronze medals (in the 100m Butterfly and 400m Individual Medley events) and 3 top ten finishes in her other swims, Lucy was a well deserved 4th place in the overall age group competition.

In the 13yr old girls competition, Freya Beck won the 200m Backstroke and 400m Freestyle events, took Silvers in the 100m Backstroke and 200m and 800m Freestyle and 10th in the 100m Freestyle. However, in a competition that she has always done well in, it was 13 year old Annie Johnston who was our top performer. Consistent medal places in all her seven events gave Annie a very well deserved 1st place in the overall age group competition. Annie won Gold medals in the 100m and 200m Freestyle and the 200m Individual Medley, Silvers in both the 100m and 200m Breaststroke events as well as 100m Butterfly and a Bronze in the 200m fly. 12 year old Carrie Suddes won a Silver medal in the 100m and a Bronze in the 200m Breaststroke events, as well as a further top ten finish. Though not quite attaining a podium finish, Sam Russell’s perseverance saw him achieve 5th place in the overall 10 year old boys’ age group competition. With other top ten finishes for Genna Suddes (4), Katarina Bonner, Sam Russell (7), Jonathon White and Alistair Mitchell (2), the nine Age Group swimmers achieved 34 PBs out of their 54 swims.