Newton Abbot Swimming Club entered 24 swimmers in the Devon County Development Gala recently held at Exeter and Tiverton and came away with fantastic results. There were 55 occasions where they had swimmers finishing in the top 6 including thirteen 1st places, eleven 2nd places and ten 3rd placings, all delivered by achieving 85 Personal Best times.
It was a chance for some swimmers to enter the ‘competitive’ environment for the first time and for others to excel after recovery from injury.
A British Age Group Category (BAGCAT) points system was used, where points are awarded depending on the time achieved in order to identify all round talent. Newton’s swimmers competed in multiple events leading to eight of them finishing in the top 6 for their age group.
There were BAGCAT 1st places for Katie Squirrell (age 9), Nicole Wickens (age 13) and Sebastian Vaughan-Burleigh (age 13).
Katie had swum extremely well achieving 2 gold medals in 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle with an amazing 22sec PB, together with silver in 200IM and a bronze in the 200m breaststroke and 100IM.
Nicole had been on and off the injury list for much of the year, so was delighted to bounce back with resounding results. Out of the 8 events entered she achieved 6 golds and 1 silver. Gold medals were gained in 200m fly, 100m fly, 800m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 200IM and 100 IM, silver in 100m freestyle together with 6th place in 100m backstroke.
Sebastian’s season continued in ever improving form with a gold in 100m freestyle, 200IM and 100IM, silver in 200 freestyle, bronze in 200m backstroke and a 5th place in 100m backstroke.
Millie Price (age 10) was just pipped into 2nd place in the BAGCAT’s following a silver in 200m free and bronze in 200m breaststroke, 200 and 100IM.
Lewis Hailstone (age 14) gained a valiant 3rd position after achieving gold in 400m and 200m freestyle and silver in 100m free and 100m fly. Very pleasing results after a year restricted by a shoulder injury.
BAGCAT 4th place went to Emmy Shaddick (age 13) who gained silver in 200m backstroke and bronze in 100m back. A massive 10sec PB in the 200 freestyle gained her 4th place with good PBs in 100m fly, 200m & 100mIM and 100m free.
Both Harrison Boult (11) and Emma Silk (12) achieved well deserved 6th BAGCAT placings. Harrison particularly impressive in the 200m fly coming 3rd, 4th in 400m free and 5th in the 200m and 100m IM.
Emma achieved outstanding PB’s in all of her 10 events winning silver in 200m back and following a 14 sec PB in 800m freestyle gained a bronze medal. In the 200m fly with a 7 sec PB she came 4th and 5th in 400m free and 100m IM.
Abbie Clarke (13) produced arguably the best swim of the competition producing an outstanding 28sec PB in 200m fly achieving silver. After a lot of hard training her stroke had ‘clicked into place’ and she followed this up with a silver medal in the shorter 100m fly. Further PB’s were gained in 200m & 100m IM and 100m free.
Gabby Martin, making a last minute entry in the 800m freestyle, won a well deserved silver medal. She also achieved PBs in all of her remaining 6 events, finishing 5th in 200m back and 6th in 200m freestyle.
Molly Burford (9) achieved a bronze in 200m backstroke with a good 4th in 200m free whilst her older sister Kate Burford (10) just missed out to get a 4th place in 200m backstroke and a 5th in 200m free.
Matthew Penney (11) produced a 6sec PB in 200m backstroke to come 4th, 6th in 400m freestyle and achieved a 3 sec PB in 200m freestyle.
Yelena Alton (12) entered 7 races and made 5th place in 200m fly whilst achieving consistent PB’s in all her other events.
Joe Millward-Nicholls (11) gained 6th place in 200m breaststroke following a 12sec PB, as did Rachel Spooner (11) in the same stroke, but she managed a stunning 21sec PB followed up with a 28sec PB in 200 free.
Clara Smith (10) continued her good progress with excellent PB’s in 200m free and backstroke and the 200 and 100m IM. Owen Turner (11) produced PB’s in all 3 of his races with a massive 30 sec PB in the 400m freestyle. Amy Tozer (12) made a 33 sec improvement in 100m breaststroke, 15sec PB in 200m free, 10 sec PB in 100m free and 6 sec on her 100m backstroke. Laura Silk (10) produced 3 PB’s from her races, Ruth Hailstone (12) achieved a PB in her 200m breaststroke and Ben Gauntlett (12) produced a 4 sec PB in the 100m free. Gemma Gardiner (11) and her younger brother Ben (10) completed the team’s line up with Gemma improving her 200m free and 100mIM and brother Ben achieving a 13 sec PB in his 200m freestyle.
END.
19th Aug 2009 |
