NST splashes out on its finest season yet
SWIMMING
THE 2018/19 was the best ever for Newcastle Swim Team with more qualifiers, more medallists and representation at more competitions than ever before.
Across all age groups and levels members splashed out on success, the highlight Nick Pyle representing Great Britain in the 50 metres backstroke at the World Championships - the first NST athlete to do so.
Emily Large also took the plunge for GB, finishing sixth in the 200m butterfly at the USA National Championships.
Alfie Kelly swum for Ireland in the 1500m freestyle and 400 metres individual medley at the European Junior Championships.
In the Down Syndrome European Championships, NST’s Ellen Stephenson claimed eight golds, four mosaic world records and 11 junior mosaic world records.
Lola Davison and Adam Wilson represented England at the Open Water Swimming Festival while at the Swim England Winter Meet Pyle, Large and Jane Brown won silver medals.
Pyle and Large, along with Georgina Darwent, were also among the medals at the British Championships/World Championships Trials.
At the British Summer Championships there were medals for Zak Logue (bronze), Adam Wilson (bronze), Davison (gold, silver and bronze), Amelia Robertson (silver and bronze), Laura Hodgson (two gold) and the 4 x 200 freestyle 14-16 years relay squad (silver).
At the Swim England Summer Meet success came the way of Calum Atkinson (silver), Christa Wilson (silver), Robertson (gold) and Ryan Zhao (two gold).
Kat Price also clinched two golds and a bronze medal at the Welsh Nationals and Kelly won four medals - including a gold - at the Irish Winter Nationals.
NST finished top of the Northumberland and Durham League medal table with 39 gold, 25 silver and 24 bronze medals, heading the points table with 932 (310 points ahead of second place)
At the British University Championships, Rachel Taylor won a bronze medal representing Newcastle University
NST also celebrated 29 medals at the Scottish National Masters Championships including golds for Kevin Smith (five), Will Jolly (three), Julian Plumley (four), Verity Dobbie (three), Tom Primavesi (two), Jennifer Tatters (one) and the men’s 4 x 50 metres relay (160-199 age group).
Large and Pyle were selected for the British Swimming Podium Potential programme and Davison attended the British Swimming Female Camp in Japan. Fifteen swimmers were also chosen for the Northumberland and Durham performance programme, giving them access to once or twice-weekly long course training.
Five NST swimmers were selected to compete for Northumberland and Durham at the National County Team Championships and Laura Hodgson joined the swim England Talent Programme.
Head performance coach Ryan Livingstone was also part of the British coaching staff for the European Short Course Championships.
Livingstone said: “Last season was hugely successful for the club at every level.
“We are incredibly proud of the swimmers, coaching team and everyone who has played their part in this.
“We are now looking forward to the coming season with huge ambitions. “