Youngsters make a splash before dashing off with medals
AFTER three weeks of competition at the Cheshire Championships in Macclesfield there was not time for any rest as Halton’s swimmers were in action at the City of Liverpool Splash And Dash Gala held at Liverpool Aquatics Centre in Wavertree.
This event, taking part in the 50m pool, attracted a huge number of swimmers, hoping to obtain qualification times for the forthcoming North West Regional Championships in the 50m breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle and backstroke events.
Eleven-year-old Ben Monday, February 26 Friday, March 2 Thursday, March 1
Sophie Buckley won silver medals in the 50m and 100m freestyle, bronze medals in the 100m, 200m breaststroke and 100m individual medley. She also finished fourth in the 50m backstroke and sixth in the 200m freestyle. Sophie also made the final of the 50m butterfly and recorded four new personal best times. Sophie finished in fourth place overall in the girls’ 13-year-old BAGCATS Awards.
Josh Howard-Hughes won silver medals in the 1500m and 400m freestyle, 50m and 100m breaststroke, 400m individual medley and bronze medals in the 100m and 200m individual medley. y Clayton claimed two gold medals in the breaststroke and butterfly and silvers in the freestyle and backstroke all in new personal best times.
Ten-year-old Sam Hyland produced four new PBs in his races and which enabled him to finish first in the breaststroke and touch home second in the butterfly and breaststroke.
Twelve-year-old Sophie Buckley finished the gala with two gold medals and three PBs. She finished ahead of the pack in the freestyle and backstroke events.
Nine-year-old Cerys Neil picked up a deserved bronze medal in the freestyle event and claimed new PBs in all Friday, March 9 Monday, March 12 Tonight
Josh also made the final of the 50m and 100m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly and finished fourth in the 200m backstroke. Josh finished the event with 12 PB times. Josh claimed fourth place overall in the boys’ 14-year-old BAGCATS Awards.
Beth Howard-Hughes competed in 13 events. She won a silver medal in the 200m butterfly and made the final of the 100m breaststroke finishing eighth. Beth also finished fourth in the 400m freestyle and 200m breaststroke and eighth in the 200m backstroke. Beth also clocked 10 new PBs.
Libby Harrison won a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke and made four events whilst 12-yearold Sam Shurie came home second in the 50m backstroke and also produced PBs in each of his four events.
Twelve-year-old Alfie Mather won a silver medal in the butterfly in a new PB whilst his brother, nine-yearold Jack, swam in the 50m pool for the first time, competing in all events except the butterfly.
Thirteen-year-old Joshua Howard-Hughes finished just outside the medals in all four events but recorded four new PBs continuing his good early season form.
Fellow 13-year-old Claudio Mecklenburgh had a good meet competing in a long course competition for the Monday, March 12 Tuesday, March 13 Saturday, March 10 first time as did 13-year-old Jason Ainsworth who swam in the 50m freestyle event.
Fourteen-year-old Emmie Brownlow competed in two events, the freestyle and butterfly where she clocked two new personal best times whilst Beth Howard-Hughes posted three new PBs.
Isabelle Connolly, Isabelle Bullen and Ellenore Whitfield all swam brilliantly in their first long course meet as did Isabelle Harrison and Hannah Forsyth. ● g ,