East Region Youth Championships report 5-7 May 2007
East Region Youth Championships
On the spring bank holiday weekend Louise Kendall, Kaz Melvin, Jodie Want, Ruby Groome and Alex Francey travelled to Norwich to take part in the East Region Youth Championships. Tom Burley was unable to take part because of a back injury. All six swimmers had achieved the tough qualifying times required to take part in the competition against other competitors from six counties; Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Sadly, Kaz was suffering from a flu like virus and it was clear on the day she was not well enough to swim and she had to go home. It was a fine weekend’s swimming for the other swimmers with all four achieving PBs.
Louise Kendall had some excellent swims including the gruelling 1500m freestyle in which she once again showed her typical determined style against very stiff competition finishing in 3rd place in the 16years and over age group in a time of 18:38.90.
Jodie Want had some great swims and finished 5th in the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1.21.78 and 6th in the 50m breaststroke in 37.79. She also achieved PBs in the 200m IM and 50m fly.
Ruby Groome also had some fine swims and got PBs in 50m fly, 50m freestyle and finished in a credible 6th place in the 100m backstroke in a time of 1.11.81.
Alex Francey had some fantastic swims despite being in a difficult age group this year. He was swimming against 16 year olds in the 16yr and under age group. Nevertheless he still achieved PBs in the 50m fly, 50m freestyle, 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200m Breaststroke in which he finished 10th in a time of 2.48.38 (4th in 15 years olds.)
It must be said that all the swimmers are in the middle of revision for GCSEs and AS levels and it is a measure of their commitment and dedication to their club that they still found time to take part and swim so well. Many thanks to Alan Mitchell (ice skating champion!) for supporting and encouraging them throughout the weekend.
Full results can be found on the East Region website:
www.eastswimming.org