Event: Swindon Dolphin Club Championships
Venue: Marlborough College
Date: 22nd and 23rd September 2012
With a change of venue from recent years, the 2012 Swindon Dolphin Club Championships took place atMarlborough College over last weekend. Dolphin’s all-inclusiveness was clearly on show as competitors aged 5 to 51 took part and swimmer numbers were up on last year, particularly in the Learn to Swim events, underlining a growing commitment to participation from swimmers across all sections of the club.
Charlotte Pitts was undoubtedly top female swimmer with six championship titles although a dead heat in the 200m freestyle meant the title was shared with Victoria Jennings. Jennings took a further two titles outright and was hot on the heels of Pitts in four of her title winning events particularly in the 400m freestyle where Pitts was forced to set a new championship best time in order to take gold. Kayleigh Bartlett dominated the girl’s breaststroke events winning senior and junior championships in both the 100m and 200m events. Bartlett was pushed all the way to the finish in the 200m swim by a fine effort from second placed Lauren Matthews who had earlier taken the 200m backstroke championship title.
James Clark also collected six championship titles and set a new championship best time in the 200m breaststroke in the final heat of the competition. Jon Audis was unbeatable in four events and put on a good show by going under the minute in the 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly and went just over the sixty second mark in the 100m individual medley. Liam Jefferies picked up his first ever senior title in the 200m butterfly.
Charlotte Pitts and James Clark ~ six championship titles each
Junior championship title winners were Mathew Sambrook (5), Charlotte Pitts (4), Victoria Jennings (2), Adam Coleman, Lauren Matthews, Kayleigh Bartlett, Georgina Pitts, Liam Jefferies and Josh Smith.
Within the age groups, new best times were set in nine events; three by James Clark, three by Craig Harris and one each for Charlotte Pitts, James Watson and Mathew Sambrook. In the age group medal stakes, top boys were Adam Coleman with eight gold and three silver and Josh Fox with seven gold and two silver. Top girls were Ella Wardale with eight gold and Millie Jeans with seven gold and three silver.
The mystery medley skins again gave some additional excitement to the championships with the top six placed male and female swimmers from the 200m individual medley competing over five rounds of 50m elimination races at three minute intervals. Some close finishes in both the male and female competition ensured some animated and noisy support from spectators with James Clark and Charlotte Pitts eventually emerging victorious.
In the 25m Learn to Swim events, Elliot Carey won all events in his age group to take four gold whilst the championships’ youngest competitor 5 year old Ben Tait picked up gold in the 25m breaststroke and bronze in the 25m freestyle. Top girl swimmer was Ola Tylutka with three gold and one silver. Also winning gold in the Learn to Swim events were Finlay Eaton, Oliver Eaton, Mrunal Mane, Amy Ross, Hannah Bailey, Jacob Brain, Hannah Knight, Ayman Ahmed, Ciara Sprosson, Montana Walcott, Erin Henly, Katie Elliott, Charlotte Mooney, Joshua Haines, Maddy Stimpson-Duffy, Max Sucuoglu, Josie Ryder, Cerys Baker, Kerry Rutherford, Aimee Masters, Madeleine Maysey and Sriram Iyer.
At the other end of the age group scale, the competition’s oldest swimmer, Andy Garrett, took on eight events, winning gold in three of the 50m masters events. Other Masters gold medallists were Andi Holbrook, Ben Clark, Jon Audis, Anthony Clark, Kevin Reilly, John Cholod, Tom Newberry and Dean Fouracre.
Although next year’s county, regional and national qualifying times are yet to be confirmed, based on last years times it was still possible to get an indication of swimmers’ standards. Looking almost certain to qualify for the county championships for the first time next year were Sriram Iyer, Oscar Pearcey and Maya Grounsell whilst Kayleigh Bartlett’s breaststroke times means she looks likely to make an appearance at the 2013 regional championships. Last year’s individual national qualifiers Charlotte Pitts, James Clark, Jon Audis and Craig Harris put in performances that should see them make return journeys to Sheffield next year, although with the competition season yet to get fully off the ground, there will be plenty of others looking to make the next step up whether to county, regional or national standard.
Full results are available on the competition page.
