Success for leisure centre swimmers
THE LOCHABER Leisure Centre swimmers have been busy over the last few months competing at the Scottish National Age group event (SNAGS) in Aberdeen, long distance swims in Stirling and the club’s own monthly time gala.
At the SNAGS, five of the swimmers competed among the top swimmers in Scotland. There were around 900 other swimmers taking part
Millie Jackson did very well, finishing 13th overall in her age group in the 50m breaststroke.
Aimee MacKay made it through to all three finals for her events, making her the first in the club to make it to Scottish finals. She acheived fifth place in the 100m breaststroke, sixth in the 50m breaststroke and seventh in the 200m breaststroke. She also achieved two new club records with her times.
Poppy Valentine competed in two back crawl swims, gaining a new club record in the 50m event and placing at 12th and 21st respectively for the 13-year- old age group.
Jenna MacLean was also competing in the 13-year- old age group over the five days. She was the club’s second swimmer to make it to the finals and set new club records for the 50m, 200m and 400m front crawl.
Her rankings are ninth, 12th, 14th and 45th in Scotland.
Evie-Jay Clark was the youngest of the club’s competitors at 11 years old, competing against the 13-year- olds.
She competed in 50, 100 and 200m back crawl and gained sixth, seventh and ninth place finshes against her own age group.
Overall, the Lochaber Swimmers totalled an impressive 12 top 15 places in the event.
In the long distance swim meet in Stirling, Siobhan Gordon competed in three swims - 200m, 400m and 800m. She took more than 20 seconds off her entry time and finished third in her first 800m race.
She achieved another personal best in the 400m race, picking up a new club record and bronze medal along the way.
The monthly time trial brought some more great results. There were 50 personal bests, nine age group records and three new club short course records.
Jenna MacLean became the first local to break the 30-second barrier, achieving a new club record front crawl and achieved a new club record for 200m backcrawl and an age group record for 200m breast stroke.
William Cann set a new club record for 50m front crawl and took 11 seconds off his 200m I.M and 24 seconds off his 200m breast stroke times.
New age group records were set by Evie-Jay Clark and Caitlyn MacGillvary with both girls beating their previous 200m breast stroke times, and by Poppy Valentine in the 200m I.M and Siobhan Gordon in the 50m front crawl. Sean Cann got an age group record (nine years) for 50m front and Indigo (12 years) for the 200m breast stroke. Personal bests were achieved by Indigo (200m breast stroke), Iona (200m breast stroke), Rachel
Swimming
(200m back crawl) and Natalie (200m breast stroke).
The swimmers have a busy schedule ahead with competitions in Inverness, Alloa, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.