Personal triumphs for Pioneer kids
SWIMMING SUE BROWN
PIONEER 79 members took part in the North West Winter Regional Swimming Championships held in Liverpool’s Wavertree Pool at the weekend.
The Winter Regional Championships are ‘Short Course’ which means that the event takes place in a 25m swimming pool.
This competition was disrupted with a number of issues, meaning swimmers literally only had one attempt to get their best swim in.
Pioneer 79 Swimming Club had 25 swimmers taking part at this event, achieving numerous impressive swims between them including an ASA Winter Short Course National Qualification Time by 15 year old Elodie Smallwood in the 400m Individual Medley, her time of 5.04.16 secured her second qualification time to go alongside the 200m Butterfly, which will see her compete in both events in Sheffield this December.
The competition was split into two age groups, 16 & Under and 17 & Over, with separate entry times for each age group. The times are difficult for any swimmer to achieve, so it was very pleasing to see two 12 year old Pioneer 79 swimmers at the starting blocks; Beth Hartwell achieved a qualification time for the 50m Freestyle; slightly disappointed with her swim of 31.09, she is even more determined to return next year. Our other 12 year old swimmer was Ella Williams, who achieved a qualification time for the 50m Backstroke, her time of 33.38 was over half a second faster than her previous personal best time, finishing 31st, so she too will be aiming for more times next year.
Other outstanding swims included the nail-biting swim-off between Pioneer’s 15 year old Kara Pedley and Ulverston’s Nicola Capstick in the 16 & under 50m Freestyle. Having both achieved personal best times in the heats (28.41), a swim-off was required to decide who would be the second reserve for the final. Kara, who has become a consistently excellent freestyle sprinter, achieved a phenomenal result under the pressure of the situation, touching first in a time of 27.68, knocking almost another second off the time she set in the heat. Unfortunately, she was not required to swim in the final, however the time she posted in the swim off would have been fast enough to take the bronze medal!
Others included: Caitlin Armstrong in the 200m Butterfly, her time of 2.35.04 knocked almost three seconds off her previous personal best.
Ben Martin and Jack Hardman in the 200m Freestyle broke the two minute barrier for the first time! Ben’s time of 1.58.79 was almost a 4 second personal best, whilst Jack’s time of 1.59.54 was also a two second personal best time.
Ben Turland set a handful of new personal best times, however, his time of 4.20.79 in the 400m Freestyle was over 16 seconds faster than he had ever previously swam this event! Ellie Perris had a great swim in the 200m Individual Medley, knocking three seconds off her pb, and breaking the 2min 30 barrier for the first time!
Charlotte Dunn’s swim in the 200m Breaststroke (2.48.84) was almost six seconds faster than she has swam in the last 12 months, and a twosecond personal best.