NATIONAL AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

SHEFFIELD PONDS FORGE - 21ST-25TH JULY 2011.

Eleven year old emerging talents Myles Stirk and James Lund travelled to Sheffield for the National Youth Championships and both fulfilled their potential with final placings in a highly competitive field.

With six national times to his credit Stirk produced some outstanding performances to final in four of his events. His seventh place finishes in the 100m and 400m freestyle produced lifetime best times as did his ninth place finishes in the 200m event and 200m individual medley. In the backstroke events he finished a well earned eleventh in the shorter 100m event and fourteenth the longer 200m distance. Showing that he is a real prospect for the future Stirk was placed seventh overall in the eleven year old BACCATS.

Breaststroke specialist James Lund continued his rich vein of form with seventh place finishes in the 100m and 200m breaststroke with times of 1.25.93 and 3.00.92 respectively.

All the swimmers train with Leisure Services Aquatic Competition Programme under the guidance of Development Coach Sarah Fisher

Christine McCabe

NATIONAL YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS

SHEFFIELD PONDS FORGE - 27th July-31st July 2011.

Many Congratulations to Siân and James on their superb performances at the Youth Nationals in Sheffield.

James swam in his first National finals at his third Nationals.  I also want to congratulate Siân on making three finals and gaining a Welsh National Youth Squad Selection time on 400 free for 2012.

This was a great Nationals all round for us as a club with every qualifier making at least two finals and I would also like to congratulate Myles and Jimmy on their performances at the Age Group Nationals.  This was Myles’ and Jimmy’s first Nationals and to make the finals at the first attempt was a great achievement.

This was the culmination of a tough season and all our swimmers and they rose to the occasion and did an outstanding job.

Well done swimmers!

Andy Pearce. Senior Coach.

City’s Commonwealth Games representative Sian Morgan and breaststroke specialist James Dawson competed against the best talent in the country at the British Gas ASA National Youth Championships held at Ponds Forge Sheffield.

Swimming in the 16/18 age group Morgan looked impressive as she reached three finals and swam to four personal best times. Her final placings came in the 200m and 400m freestyle where she finished in sixth and eighth place respectively and the 400m individual medley where she claimed sixth place. However it was her time of 4.20.90 in the 400m freestyle event which gained her selection for the Welsh National Youth Squad for 2011/2012. Semi final placings and best times were secured in the 200m medley, 100m butterfly and she also reached the semi final of 100m freestyle.

For Dawson swimming in his third National Championship it was his first taste of a national final and he rose to the occasion in no uncertain terms placing seventh in the 100m breaststroke in time of 1.08.36 and eighth in the longer 200m event with a time of 2.28.68

Both swimmers train with Leisure Service Aquatic Competition Programme under the guidance of Head Coach Andy Pearce.

Christine McCabe