North Midlands 2011 Championships Report
City of Chester Competes at North Midlands Swimming Championships
50 swimmers from City of Chester Swimming Club competed in the North Midlands Swimming Championships over the 2 middle weekends in January.
For some of the younger swimmers this was their first “big” competition away from the City Baths in Chester. City of Chester came away with a very impressive haul of 46 medals and a further 43 top 6 places.
The 9 year old girls were represented by Isabel Gelder, Phoebe Thwaite and Millie Riddick who all swam well gaining personal best times in their events.
Amber Disley, Lucy Osborne, Georgia Williams and Seren Wyatt competed in the 10 year age group swimming in 18 events between them. Georgia raced to a credible 4th place in the 50 butterfly and joined the others in coming away with several personal bests. Caleb St Hill in the same age group gained 2 gold medals in the 50m and 200m breast stroke, and a bronze in the 200 m Individual Medley, as well as 6 top 6 places in his other events. Ben Cartwright and Daniel Feely also swam well in this age group.
11 year olds Charlotte Hopwood, Paige Cox and Poppy Hale competed well in their events again gaining personal bests. Oliver Tobin age 11 came away with a silver medal in the 200m back stroke and bronze medals in both the 50m and 400m freestyle and 4 top places in 50m and 100m back, 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle. Oliver also finished in the top 6 in a further 2 events. Also 11 William Brown raced to a gold medal in 200m breast stroke, a silver medal in 100m breast stroke and a bronze in 50m breast stroke. William also swam well gaining personal bests in many of his other 8 events. Alan Prossor, Brandon Home and Thomas Townsend completed the 11 year old team, with all 3 boys racing well.
Isobel Thwaite and Jessica Feely in the 12 year old age group both had an outstanding competition taking part in 27 events between them. Isobel competed strongly taking home 1 gold in the 200m freestyle, 4 silver medals in 50m and 100m back stroke, 200m and 400m Individual Medley, bronze medal in 50m and 400m freestyle and 200 backstroke, plus 4 more top 6 spots in 50m and 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 200m breast stroke. Jessica’s gold medals came in the 50m and 100m backstroke, and 50m freestyle. She raced to second spot in 800m freestyle as well as finishing in the top 6 in 200m and 400m Individual Medley, 50m butterfly and 200m backstroke. Also swimming well and gaining many personal bests were Laura Fell, Anna Plunkett, Kasia Nowakowska and Hannah Roberts.
Simon Ellershaw, Harry Fleetwood and Ben Jenkins were the boys representing this age group. Simon raced to a first place in 200m butterfly, second in 100m butterfly, 200m breast stroke and 400m Individual Medley, as well as finishing in the top 6 in 100m and 200m backstroke and 200m Individual Medley. Harry picked up 2 top 6 places in the 50m backstroke and 100m Individual Medley as well as competing well in his other events as did Ben.
For the 13 year age group Molly Fisher and Laura Davies both swam to bronze medal position in 50m breast stroke and 200m freestyle respectively. Molly and Laura and Lauren Goodfellow all gained several top 6 positions with Lucy Davies, Sophie Fleetwood and Katy Morgan joining them to swim personal bests in many events.
Matthew Breen also in the 13 year age group competed well to achieve 2 silver medals in 50m and 100m butterfly, 2 bronze medals in 50m and 100m freestyle and a 4th place in 200m Individual Medley. Jack Edwards made the top 6 in 50m and 200m breast stroke and gained good times in his other events. Daniel Weatherly completed the line up of 13 year old boys swimming well in his events.
Nicola Ball, Sian Davies, Amy Fell, Emily Noden and Ania Nowakowska made up the 14 year old girls. Nicola competed in 50m and 100m freestyle and 100m Individual Medley winning gold medals for all 3 events. Amy raced in 7 events taking gold in 200m breast stroke and silver in both 50m and 100m breast stroke. Emily swam to second place in 50m and 100m freestyle and gained a top 6 place in 200m and 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 200m back stroke and 100m Individual Medley.
For the boys Alex Jenkins raced well in the longest event of the Chamionships, the 1500m freestyle, taking the gold medal. He also gained a silver medal in the 800m freestyle and 3 top 6 places in 50m and 200m back stroke, and 400m freestyle as well as good times in his other events.
Among the older swimmers competing in the 15 and above age group were; Georgina Roberts who came away with a bronze medal in the 100m breast stroke and Lizzie Little a bronze in 200m freestyle. Both girls competed well, gaining several top 6 places in their other events. Paula Clethro, Georgina Gardner-Stockley and Rachel Stevens raced well in their events. Alex Ankers, Jack Fleetwood, Dan Morgan and Ian Prossor swam well throughout the competition. Dan and Jack took on 14 events between them, gaining several personal bests.
Coach Don Bailey was very impressed with the attitude and hard work of all the swimmers who competed.
