Records tumble at club championships

A COUNTY record and another 10 club records broken at second day of Grantham Swimming Club’s Winter Club Champsionships at the Meres Leisure Centre on Sunday.

During the first Club Champs weekend there was no single club record broken by boys. This time the boys delivered some spectacular performances.

William Hawkes managed to break the County record in 200 breaststroke, after a great 400 IM (club record) and 200 free (club record).

Will’s 200 breaststroke time is the fastest achieved time in this event in his age group in the Country and with some work on pacing he will be even faster next time! Cameron Chow swam some very smart races achieving valuable times and a club record in 200 breaststroke.

Thomas Lewis is flying high too as he damaged the previous club record achieving a great time in 100 backstroke.

Caleb Mackey also managed to break a club record in 400 IM.

The biggest surprise came from 8 year old Alex Hallam-Stott who broke the club record in 100 backstoke clocking over 8 seconds personal best swim. She will surely go after a record in 200 backstroke next champs! Wow!

Although some girls from performance squads disappointed Freya Colbert achieved superb times and new club records in 400 IM, 100 fly and 100 back. Freya’s time ranks her 4th in the county! How impressive this is!

Maddie Barnes was impressive too. Although she did not break a club record, she massively improved her 200 breaststroke again and moved herself up in the national ranking into the top 20 in her age group.

Another potential national swimmer, Eleanor Lythgoe continues her progression upsetting some swimmers from the top squad. Eleanor came second overall in 400 IM with an amazing 13 seconds improvement.

Eleanor also improved her best stroke fly by almost a second.

Aidan Wright had a very descent swim in 200 free improving by 3 seconds and fighting well in 200 breaststroke.

Kendall Wilkins again showed his strengths in 100 fly and also improved his 200 free by a massive 14 seconds.

Archie Tagg came first in his age group in 200 free improving by an enormous 38 seconds.

Similar improvement were clocked by Jack Barnes – 31 seconds – showing some enthusiasm again. Riley Taylor showed good spirit also improving his 200 free by 9 seconds.

Abigail Farkas improved all her races this time. In 200 free Abigail dropped almost 2 seconds making the “old” Midland time.

Keira Tyers and Annabel Roberts both improved their times by a descent 5 seconds.

A few younger swimmers showed massive progression: Tessa Galpin (whopping 52 seconds improvement!), Sereen Feroz (35 seconds), Madeleine Turner (26 seconds), Leah Briggs and Ruby Galpin (both over 21 seconds!), Chloe Birch (great race and 18 seconds progress!), Beth Gibson and Evie Turner (both 15 seconds), Isabel Bellamy (nearly 14 seconds), Grace Powell (13 seconds), Caitlin Anders (11 seconds) Isabel Ingleton (10 seconds), and Sophie Sutton, Becky Creedon and Mazel Brown (all 8 seconds progress).

In 100 backstroke two younger boys can be happy for sure. James Dobney bettered his old time by very solid 21 seconds, while Archie Tagg by nearly 10 seconds.

Well done to Kaelin Smith who now is doing legal turns and comfortably came first as 8 years old boy!

In 100 backstroke Annabel Roberts swam excellent race improving her time by nearly 8 seconds. Annabel is almost now catching up girls from Midland Junior squad!

Other girls that achieved over 5 seconds progressions were Ella Turner, Harriett Young, Sereen Feroz, Alex Hallam-Stott, Isabel Bellamy, Mazel Brown, Connie Philips and Grace Powell.

The 400 IM is one of the hardest events to swim so well done to all of you that raced it. Besides those who broke club records there were swimmers who achieved impressive personal best times. Thomas Lewis dropped a respectful 15 seconds from his old time.

Luke Marriott although leading most of the race still came nearly 4 seconds faster than his pb time and is looking good to go under 5 minutes next time.

In 100 fly Harry Fowler clocked a solid time with over 2 seconds personal best. Among girls the most improved swimmers were Imogen Raistrick (nearly 9 seconds) and Iona Colbert (5 seconds). Abigail Farkas, Hannah Blake and Ella Turner swam very well all dropping over 2 seconds.

Darcy Moncur also delivered great race with over 3 seconds improvement. Evie Turner was not afraid of the distance at all swimming strongly and setting new championship record! Well done!

Our youngest swimmers swam well in 25 breaststroke. Among girls Alex Hallam-Stott was first with over 13 seconds progression. Among the boys it was Edward Bellamy coming in front of Charlie Bailey.

In 200 breaststroke Luke Marriott finally showed some confidence breaking 2.40 barrier, while Caleb Mackey improved most dropping 26 seconds.

Harry Fowler also improved by 7 seconds, David Evans by nearly 5 seconds and James Dobney by 8 seconds. Nice job boys!

There were also bunch of girls who improved over 5 seconds. Impressive swims had Eleanor Lythgoe (nearly 7 seconds improvement), Alisha Tyers (nearly 8 seconds!), Lara Hawkes (5 seconds), Abigail Farkas (8 seconds), Freya Colbert (6 seconds), Imogen Raistrick and Beth Gibson (both clocked over 15 seconds personal best time!), Leah Briggs (13 seconds), Georgina Nicholson (22 seconds), Becky Creedon (24 seconds), and Liliana Jackson (the biggest improvement – 50 seconds!).

In the last event of the day, 50 backstroke, James Dobney swam a solid race with over 2 seconds improvement.

Youngest competitor Kaelin Smith stormed his race with impressive over 3 seconds improvement setting new championship record! Well done!

Vadims Molcanovs also swam very well clocking over 7 seconds progress. Among girls Mollie Cox clocked over 3 seconds progress, while Grace Matthews and Sereen Feroz swam some solid swims with over 5 seconds improvement.

Evie Turner achieved also 4 seconds personal best time, Megan Pocock clocked very solid time shaving off over 3 seconds as well as Leah Briggs.

Big congratulations to the swimmers qualifying for County Championships for the first time: Chloe Birch qualifying in 200 free and 50 back, Mazel Brown in 200 free, James Dobney in 100 fly, and Callum Lees who despite being very short in the club managed to swim 100 fly to get his first qualifying time!