From
the
Advertiser, first published Wednesday 11th Jan 2006.
Swindon Dolphin
received a late Christmas present with a catalogue of new personal best times, club
and age group records, together with five new National Qualifying Times (NQTs) Their
swimmers produced a series of stunning performances to begin their 2006 campaign on
two fronts, attending open meets in
and Corsham.
A total of
21 Dolphin swimmers made the trip north to the home of British swimming at the Ponds
Forge International Sports Centre in the City of
.
On the back
of an intensive Christmas training programme, which saw the elite swimmers cover 60
kilometres over the festive season, Dolphin bagged a total of five NQTs, with James
Clark (2) and Cathal
Westman (1) gaining their first-ever qualifying times
to raise the total number of Dolphin swimmers to reach elite level to nine.
With 65 personal
best times, Dolphin elevated their status among the big names of Nova Centurion, Stockport
Metro and Lincoln Vulcans to finish a creditable sixth in the team rankings.
Tilly
Gray became
the first Dolphin to claim NQT status in the heats of the 100 metres freestyle to
sneak inside the entry barrier in 1:02.29 seconds, to bring her tally to three for
the season.
James
Clark fulfilled
his early season promise with two outstanding performances, netting his first NQT
in his favoured 200 metres breaststroke to finish comfortably inside the entry time
with fully three seconds to spare.
And the 10-year-old
doubled his NQT tally soon after, demonstrating his all-round ability in the 200 metres
individual medley to finish in 2:43.65 seconds to top the BAGCAT points table at the
close of play.
Dolphin will
be gunning for national honours on two fronts in the breaststroke discipline, with Cathal
Westman joining seasoned campaigner Peter
Wasielewski, as the former claimed his first national
time in the 200 metres breaststroke with teammate Wasielewski booking
his lane in the 100-metre event.
Jon
Audis reached
the final in the 200 metres individual medley, finishing fifth, but fared better in
the 100 metres backstroke to claim bronze.
Louise
Maynard added
to the bronze medal total in the 100 metres breaststroke, with James
Clark making it triple bronze for Dolphin in the 200
metres individual medley.
Mark Tanner missed
out on the 200 metres freestyle NQT but set a new club record in 2:03.62 seconds,
while Gray (4), Sam
Flint (2), Mark
Tanner (2), Emily
Bathe, Tim Berry, Peter
Wasielewski and Cathal
Westman all setting new Age Group Best Times (AGBT).
Dolphin were
equally forceful in the Chippenham and Corsham Open Meet with Samantha
Berry the star performer, sweeping the board to take
the girls’ 9 years BAGCAT title.
Dolphin were
without doubt the dominant club with the girls’ and boys’ medalling in all bar one
age group category.
BAGCAT
Medallists
Gold:
Samantha Berry 9 years, Katie Hall 15 years/over,
Alexander 16 years/over.
Silver: Charlotte
Pitts 9 years, Ailie Waite 11/12 years, Sarah Baker 15 years/over.
Bronze: Emma
Prunty 10 years, Jack Janicki 9 years, Tom Birch 14/15 years.
From
the
Advertiser
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk
© Newsquest Media Group 2006
