Written by Suzanne Smelt
With the short course season in full swing, BOK Swimming Club, with swimmers from JP2, JP1, RP, SP and Masters, was well represented at this Level 1 Gala across both the ‘age group’ and ‘open’ events. Motivation to achieve personal bests, develop racing strategies, put into practice skills and technique, and achieve qualifying times for the upcoming English Nationals, was behind many of the success stories of the weekend!
Thank-you so much to the coaches and team-managers who supported the swimmers through a marathon of a meet, with two competitions being run simultaneously!
These swimmers reached the high standard set by the SENER qualifying times and were invited to swim:
SENER SHORT COURSE QUALIFIERS 2022
Zach Beattie NP, Paige Borland JP1, Emily Brook SP, Thomas Brooks NP, Lillie Bryant SP, Rory Bryant SP, Astrid Carroll (S13) NP, Louise Cass NP, Eben Cousins NP, Jack McClelland SP, Luke Clegg SP, Nathan Cox RP, Daniel Cross Masters, Isabel Farmer SP, Thomas Hill JP1/NP, Florence Hobson NP, Daniel Jackson SP, Sam Jackson NP, Hussein Kesserwan JP1, Henry King SP, Ruby Knight SP, Evie Lambert (S9) NP, Philip Langara JP1, Molly Marsh NP, Sarah Millington JP2, Abigail Naylor SP, Bosco Ng NP, Poppy Nuttman NP, Emily Oliver SP, Sam Ollerenshaw JP1, Henry Priestley NP, Jessica Smelt SP, Martin Smith SP, Helena Teale JP2, Eleanor Valentine-Bull SP
The weekend saw speed, stamina, skills and strategies coming to the fore resulting in many great individual swims. Luke smashed his PB for 400 free in the heats and then took it to another level in the final, reducing his entry time by over 5 seconds! Daniel Jackson followed suit in his 200 breast with an entry time that was reduced in both the heat and the final. Sam Ollerenshaw and Thomas Brooks impressively knocked down their entry time by 5 seconds in 200 breast as did Poppy in 200 free. Poppy and Sarah both smashed their entry times in 200 breast, with Sarah swimming nearly 10 seconds faster than her entry time!
Club records were broken! Both Martin and Daniel Jackson broke records that had been standing for 20+ years. Martin now holds the 50 breast (open) record and Daniel can add 50 breast (15-16 yrs) to his record line-up! Daniel also broke his own 100 IM (15-16 yrs) record! Daniel Cross broke the long-standing 50 breast (open) record. Congratulations!
TOP 10 PLACES + MEDAL WINNERS AGE GROUP (from heat declared winners)
Eben Cousins 100 fly; Sam Jackson 100 fly; Hussein Kesserwan 50 + 100 fly; Bosco Ng 50 + 100 back and 50 fly; Poppy 50, 100 + 200 breast and 50, 200 + 800 free and GOLD in 100 IM
TOP 10 PLACES + MEDAL WINNERS OPEN (from final results) Emily Brook 100 fly; Astrid Carroll (S13) GOLD in 100 breast, GOLD in 50 back, GOLD in 200 IM; Luke Clegg 200 + 400 free and 200 IM; Daniel Cross GOLD in 100 back and GOLD in 50 back; Isabel Farmer GOLD in 50 free; Evie Lambert (S9) GOLD in 50 free, GOLD in 200 free, GOLD in 100 back, SILVER in 200 IM, Daniel Jackson SILVER in 50 breast, GOLD in 100 breast, GOLD in 200 breast, GOLD in 50 back, GOLD in 100 IM, GOLD in 200 IM; Abigail Naylor 50 + 100 free and 50 back; Jessica Smelt 100 + 400 free, 100 fly and 200 IM; Martin Smith 50 + 200 breast, 200 IM and SILVER in 100 breast; Eleanor Valentine Bull 100 breast
