Kelly Swimming

DCASA Championships

6th & 7th March, 2004

As the final weekend of competition for the Devon County Championships drew to a close, the Kelly swim squad could reflect on a job well done for many of its swimmers. In the medal tally the team finished in second place with 60 gold, 44 silver and 33 bronze, 8 swimmers have achieved one or more National Qualifying Times and many others have qualified for the Western County Championships to be held later this spring.

In the BAGCATS competition, the squad produced age group champions in Jack Cockerton (15 year boys), Matthew Henry (13 year boys) and Amanda Sanderson (15 year girls) whilst runner up places went to Sophie Stanford (16 year girls), Thomas Howe (14year boys), Adam John (12 year boys) and Danielle Shrosbree (9years girls) with Danielle’s brother Gregg collecting third place trophy in the 13 year boys category.

In the final sessions of the competition the 100m breaststroke for girls provided some great results for the team with Kelly swimmers winning in four of the age groups. All four girls, Laura Sprague (12), Holly Yeo (13), Amanda Sanderson (15) and Sophie Stanford (16) made it double gold in the Breaststroke since all four had won the corresponding 200m event on the first weekend. Holly’s time was also good enough to make her the youngest competitor in the Championship final where she came second to current champion Katie Martin of Exeter in a new 13 year Competition Best Time. Both Amanda and Sophie also produced CBTs in their respective finals.

Amanda had maintained her winning ways throughout the weekend with victories in the 200m freestyle, 400m IM, 100m IM and 200m backstroke, all with Competition Best Times. She also appeared in 2 championship finals finishing in second place in the 200m freestyle and third in the 100m IM and along with her fourth place the Championship for the 400m IM, she was making regular trips to the championship medal rostrum.

Jack Cockerton also found himself no stranger to the Championship presentations as he too had another outstanding weekend of competition. He won gold in the 100m freestyle, 200m IM, 400m IM and 200m freestyle, all with Competition Best Times, as well as being ranked top for all competitors in the 400 IM as he knocked almost 12 seconds off his entry time.

Some of the younger squad members also showed their abilities with 9 year old Danielle Shrosbree winning through to the final of the 200m freestyle with a new CBT. She then beat this time again in the final to take the gold medal. Lawrence Oxborough (11) achieved his first National Qualifying Time in the 200m freestyle as he bettered his entry time twice, ending up in third place.

In the 13 year age group for boys, Matthew Henry won gold in the 100m freestyle, 200m IM, 400m IM and 200m freestyle with National times in all, apart from the 100m freestyle which he narrowly missed the required time by a matter of hundredths of a second. Team mate Gregg Shrosbree also qualified for the National Championships in the 200m freestyle with a time set in the heats which he managed to improve upon in the final whilst fighting for the bronze medal. Two National Times were achieved by Adam John (200m freestyle and 400m IM) in the 12 year category as he found the gold medals illusive during the last few race sessions, settling instead for a clutch of silver medals.

Age Group Medals:

Gold: Jack Cockerton (4), Amanda Sanderson (5), Matthew Henry (4), Sophie Stanford (2), Holly Yeo, Laura Sprague, Danielle Shrosbree and Sarah Reader.

Silver: Adam John (3), Jonathon Wills (3), Whitney Bowrin, Sophie Stanford, Jakie Wellman, Brikitta Batten and Danielle Shrosbree.