Championship records fall to Kelly

14th & 15th February, 2004

Spring is in the air and as any swimmer knows that means that the County Championships are upon us and the first weekend of competition in Devon, held in Tiverton on St. Valentine’s weekend, saw the Kelly swim squad produce some tremendous results.

Leading by example was team captain 15 year old Jack Cockerton, who with an impressive display of swimming, won all four of his age group events – 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and 200m backstroke in Championship Best Times (CBT) and also went on to swim in the championship finals of the 100m events were he was winner in the breaststroke and runner-up in the backstroke.

The most outstanding performance of the weekend was the win by Tom Howe (14) in the 1500m freestyle which was not only won his age group event, but ranked him second in the Championship Final and smashed the 14yr competition record by over a minute reducing it to 16.40.14. Tom had already produced a time of 4.10.93 in the 400m freestyle earlier in the day which was 18 seconds inside the previous record as well as being a gold medal performance and an improved National Qualifying Time.

Amanda Sanderson, (15) also demonstrated that she could break records and won gold in the 100m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 200m breaststroke and 100m butterfly with CBTs in the 100m freestyle and 200m breaststroke. Amanda also swam in two championship finals, finishing second in both.

The 200 breaststroke for girls was a particularly successful event for the team with Danielle Shrosbree (9) winning silver, Laura Sprague and Victoria Dewar-Fowler (both 12) winning gold and bronze respectively and Holly Yeo (13), Amanda Sanderson (15), and Sophie Stanford (16) all with gold medals inside Championship record times.

The other record breaker was Matthew Henry (13) who set a new competition best time on his way to securing another Kelly gold in the 100m Backstroke for boys. Matthew’s time in the 1500m freestyle also earned him 6^th place in the championship event.

Kelly provided more than 60 finalists over the two days of competition and in the 13 year age group for boys, the six swimmer finals had 3 and at times 4 Kelly competitors which from such a small squad, is a fantastic achievement. On a personal level, 6 members of the squad achieved one or more National Qualifying Times and a further 20 gained Western Counties times.

Age Group Results:

Gold: Jack Cockerton (4), Amanda Sanderson (4), Adam John (4) 12yr 200m back, 100m back, 1500 free & 400free, Matthew Henry (4) 13yr 200m back, 100m back, 1500 free & 400free, Tom Howe (2), Holly Yeo 13yr 200m breaststroke, Laura Sprague 12yr 200m breaststroke, Brikitta Batten 14yr 100m butterfly, Sophie Stanford 16yr 200m breaststroke and Matthew Hill 17yr+ 100m backstroke.

Silver: Jakie Wellman 15yr 100m freestyle, Beckie Smith 16yr 100m freestyle, Danielle Shrosbree 9yr 200m breaststroke, Jonathon Wills 16yr 100m backstroke, Lawrence Oxborough 11yr 400m freestyle, Josh Lake 13yr 100m breast tsroke, Phil Channon 13yr 200m backstroke and 1500 free, Holly Yeo 13yr 100m butterfly and Sophie Stanford 16yr 100m butterfly.

Bronze: Annie Tinsley 11yr 100m freestyle, Sophie Stanford 16yr 100m freestyle, Victoria Dewar-Fowler 12yr 200m breaststroke, Michael Wallis 12yr 100m breaststroke, Gregg Shrosbree 13yr 100m breaststroke, Daniel Kidwell 14yr 100m breaststroke, Tom Howe 14yr 200m backstroke, Whitney Bowrin 14yr 100m butterfly and Beckie Smith 16yr 100m butterfly.