Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Club records tumble in open
Swimming
Golden girl Neve Smith swam herself into the Faversham SC record books at the latest Black Lion Open at Medway Park.
The nine-year-old claimed gold in both her 50m butterfly and backstroke races in personal best times of 44.74sec and 44.93sec respectively.
She also claimed victory in the 100m individual medley (1.38.44 PB) and took bronze medals in the 50m freestyle (38.90 PB) and breaststroke.
Nathan Williams, 13, broke club records in all his events and achieved gold medals in the 100m freestyle (1.02.61 PB) gaining a Kent time ( KT) and the 50m freestyle (28.78 PB) with an improved Kent time.
He went on to snatch silver in the 100m breaststroke (1.23.37 PB and KT) and a bronze in the 200m individual medley (2.34.78 PB and improved Kent time).
Max Fordyce gained silver medals in the 11-yearolds 200m breaststroke (3.06.55 PB, club record and improved Kent time) and the 100m individual medley in a new club record.
He gained a bronze in the 200m freestyle race, fourth place in the 100m freestyle and fifth places in the 50m freestyle and fly.
Olivia Hawkins swam herself into bronze medal position in the 15+ 100m freestyle in a club record time and claimed another as she finished fourth in the 200m IM (2.41.81 PB).
Eva Mcintyre collected bronze medals in the 13-year-olds 50m freestyle (31.07 PB and improved Kent time) and breaststroke.
She secured fourth place in the 100m breaststroke and sixth in the 100m freestyle. Also winning a bronze was Mia Kirk in the 14-years 50m fly.
A strong swim by Amy Coupe gained her a Kent consideration time (KCT) in the 13-years 100m freestyle and she was sixth in the 50m freestyle (1.08.82 PB). Oscar Williams, 10, was fourth in the 50m backstroke (43.33 PB), with Samuel Hawkins, 13, fifth in the 50m backstroke (39.91 PB).
Molly Fletcher-hebden gained PBS in all her events and best times were also achieved by Cameron Bullard and Eliza Mills.
Faversham was competing against clubs from as far away as Barking & Dagenham, Hailsham, Hemel Hempstead and Tonbridge as well as local clubs Ashford, Beachfield, Black Lion, Dover and Herne Bay.
The last competition of the year will be hosted by Thanet Swim.
At Fordwich Lake, John Collins bucked the trend with five carp including four over 20lb. Braving the freezing conditions, Vince Samson was rewarded with a much smaller but welcome 9lb common carp. A few jack pike have been caught around the three lakes at Fordwich. Fishing at Fordwich Lake, Terry Courtney hooked four pike to 13lb and an eel of almost 3lb. Following his recent successes at Grove Ferry, Dave Lowerey fished for pike again and followed up his 17lb 12oz pike with an even heavier specimen fish of 25lb 5oz and four others to 14lb 2oz. Stonar Lake remains well worth a visit despite the cold weather. Scott Roberts’ eight carp to 18lb 8oz and seven more to 16lb landed by Jim Covus, joined Jock White with eight to 23lb 12oz and Jock’s son, Ben White, with six carp to 14lb, as the best of the recent hauls reported. Dave Parsons was the only other angler to catch a big carp. He tempted a 20lb mirror carp from the depths of the Sandwich still water. December is generally a slow angling month and fewer roach and rudd have been caught but bream to 4lb were banked by Clive Eversfield and more big eels have been seen at Stonar when Robert Daniels caught two fish to 2lb. The Canterbury & District Angling Association’s Christmas Shield will be fished on Sunday, December 18, at Cottington lakes in Deal. The draw will be at 8am in the cafe and fishing on Black Lake will be from 9am to 3pm. Breakfast will be available at the venue.