SENIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - CRYSTAL PALACE

Sam Calcutt finally found her true form to clinch the bronze medal in the 17-18yrs 50m Butterfly on the penultimate day of the championships. Sam competing in the lower end of the age group will have another year to turn her bronze medal in to a gold.

Robin Brew - Sam's coach commented that "Sam has unrivalled starting speed but needs to focus on her breathing pattern and final few strokes into the finish in order to move up the medals. Sam is capable of producing something very special and will have another chance to perfect the swim at the National Short Course (25m Pool) Championships in a weeks time in Norwich".

Men's team captain Robert Pratt had the most successful Nationals of his swimming career to date. Robert's first event set the trend for his Nationals and knocked over a second off his personal best time in the 100m Backstroke finishing in 62.74. Robert showed he is capable of winning under pressure as in both his heats of the 50m Butterfly and 50m Backstroke he swam from the front to win and posted, yet again two more personal best times of 29.41 and 27.67 respectively. Like Sam, Robert is at the lower end of the 17-18yr categories and with another years training behind him will to move to challenge the medals next year.

Other notable performances from West Devon swimmers were 16 year old Rachel Banfield and 17 year old Peter Freedman who will join the Kelly Swim Team next Term. Rachel achieved her goal of making the semi final in the 100m Backstroke in a time of 68.19 and went on to produce some excellent swims over the week one of which was in the toughest events in the swimming programme the 400m Individual Medley (5.13.74). Rachel other times include a 2.24.97 in the 200m Backstroke and a 32.43 in the 50m Backstroke. Rachel will have two more years in the17-18yrs age group and is a real exciting prospect for the future. Peter Freedman from Tavistock another Backstroke specialist produced some very positive swims in the 50m (30.01), 100m (64.83) and 200m(2.20.24) Backstroke events and with more training time available to Peter and Rachel next year will see big improvements in both these swimmers.