Last weekend at Millfield saw the “Best in the West” converge on Millfield for the asa South West Region Championships. Swindon Swim Squad was there in force and for many swimmers this was the first long course action of the season and a chance to bank some early National Qualifying Times (NQTs).
Podium success came as early as the second event, the girls 800 Frs, which saw Mel Agius take silver in the open and Elizabeth Beckett bronze in the junior category. First gold went to Alex Jones in the 400IM who went on to double his tally with victory in the 200IM final later on in the day. A fine swim in the 100 Frs also handed him a well deserved NQT.
Sophie Hawkins, 15, raced superbly all weekend scooping three junior golds in the 50, 100 and 200 Frs improving the times on her existing NQTs in the process. She also broke the Junior County 50 Frs record in a time of 28.05s and in the 100 Frs broke through the long course minute barrier stopping the clock at 59.97s. The swims also earned Hawkins senior bronze in the 50 and 200 events and junior bronze in the 400 Frs. Elizabeth Beckett swam superbly against some very strong competition to pick up NQTs in the 100 and 200 Brs.
Liam Herbert took junior gold in the 200 Bks and dipped under the qualifying mark to earn his first NQT of the season. Other first place finishes went to Dean Williamson in the 200 Fly, James Magness in the 200 Bks and Jon Audis who dipped under the magic minute mark in the 100 Bks in a time of 59.69s.
Jones and Audis also picked up silver in the 400 Frs and 50 Bks respectively, as did Tilly Gray in her favoured 100 and 200 Fly events, bagging a new NQT in the longer event and setting new County records in both. Cathal Westman also took junior silver in the 50 Brs.
Third places went to Aaron Lee (50 Bks), Andi Manley (50 Frs), Herbert (200 Bks) and Louise Maynard (50 Brs) with Beckett, Audis and Agius also adding one bronze each to their other awards .
