Trio’s GB calls just splashing!
TYNESIDE swimmers will take the plunge against Europe’s best not once but twice this summer, writes TONY HODGSON.
Grassroots Sport reported earlier this year that Newcastle Swim Team’s Nicholas Pyle and Emily Large had been called up for the European Junior Championships in Helsinki in July.
Now the pair – along with Hexham-born David Cumberlidge – are in the Great Britain squad for the European Senior Championships in Glasgow from August 3-8.
They are part of a 43-strong team which includes world, Olympic and Commonwealth champion Adam Peaty and Commonwealth Games champions Ben Proud and Duncan Scott.
Pyle’s latest national call-up is his third in a year after he contested the European Juniors in 2017.
The 17-year-old from Newcastle said: “I am really pleased to be called up but to be honest it came as something of a surprise.
“I had thought I had a chance earlier this year of making the squad but I have been laid low with illness recently and have missed a lot of training.
“I am back training now and hoping to do as well as I can in Glasgow.
“I will probably do the 50 and 100 metres backstroke events although I not totally sure yet.”
Large said: “I am really happy to have been given my first longcourse call-up for a senior GB team and looking forward to competing.”
Cumberlidge – based at Heriot Watt Unversity in Edinburgh – will look to build on a successful Commonwealth Games where he reached two finals.
The 21-year-old former Queen Elizabeth High School pupil said: “The Gold Coast was a fantastic experience – my results were great and I really enjoyed competing.
“I did even better than I had hoped and to make two finals was very satisfying.
“I am looking forward to the Europeans, especially with them being on home soil – and I hope to do well again.
“I will probably do the 50 and 100 metres freestyle again but will decide nearer the time.”
Chris Spice, National Performance Director for British Swimming, said: “There were excellent performances by our swimmers at the recent Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“Now our focus is on our benchmark meet of the year, the European Championships.
“We are looking at this as a great opportunity to compete on a huge stage and an important part of our planning towards Tokyo 2020.
“As this is a home meet it is a great opportunity for our young talent to experience international competition.
“That is why we have chosen such a large team.”