Slater underlines his promise at nationals

SWIMMING

City of Canterbury’s Tom Slater swum himself into the junior finals of the British championships at Glasgow’s Tollcross pool.

In a field including 2012 Olympian Roberto Pavoni, the eventual overall winner, Slater recorded a time of 4:39.81 in the heats of the 400m individual medley.

The 16-year-old dropped just a second on that time to take sixth place in the junior final the same evening, competing against swimmers up to two years his senior.

More city club swimmers took Olympic inspiration when the finals of the British Schools biathlon event were held at London’s Aquatic Centre.

George Casey set a big new personal best for the 200m freestyle swim of 2:19.08 and followed up with 5:56.98 for the 1600m run, placing 36th in the under-15 race and leading Simon Langton School’s team to second place in the team competition, with Samuel Wilmshurst in 46th and Tom Gill-Pratt 53rd.

Also competing at the Olympic Park were City swimmers Rosie Broujeni of Simon Langton Girls School, placing 87th in the under- 13 class and Eleanor Casey of Bridge Primary School who was 113th in the under-10 group.

Closer to home, City had 11 competitors in the East Invicta masters championships at the King’s School pool, finishing second out of nine clubs and taking an impressive haul of 32 gold, nine silver and three bronze medals.

Sam Woodard, at 19 already eligible for masters swimming, won the 19-24 50m backstroke, freestyle and butterfly and the 100m freestyle and medley.

He also took second in the breastroke, but in the ageadjusted rankings for this race three of his older team-mates outscored him, including Paul Webster, who swims in the 70-74 years group, in third.

Woodard was overall second in the age-adjusted rankings, with Toby Smith third, Webster ninth and Yvonne Davies fifth lady.

City of Canterbury SC train at the Kingsmead pool in Canterbury, catering for all ages through to masters.

The club offers learner and improver lessons for children from five years old, with courses starting from £45 per term.

Details are available at www. marlins-canterbury.org.uk or by emailing membership@ccscswim.org.uk HERNE BAY WINTER DARTS LEAGUE

Premier Division

City of Canterbury swimmer Tom Slater finished sixth in the 400m individual medley at Glasgow