The Kelly College Swim Squad were in action last week in Sheffield for the biggest event of the UK swimming calendar the British Swimming Championships, incorporating  the National Age Group, Youth and Multi Disability Championships. The 10 day programme produced some outstanding swimming from the Kelly Squad.

Topping the bill was 17 year old David Hill, who set a new European and British record in the 50m Backstroke in the Multi Disability S9 category. David swimming side by side against former Backstroke world recorder holder 23 year old James Crisp in both heats and finals powered his way to a lifetime best performance re writing the record books in 30.88 seconds. David continued the week in top form establishing the 4th fastest time in the world in the 100m Backstroke where he pressurised Crisp all the way to the touch and just missing gold by 2 tenths of a second.

Kelly’s 18 year old Claire Cashmore was also in record breaking form where she established two new British records at these championships. The first came earlier in the week in the Multi Disability SB8 category in the 100m Breaststroke where Claire showed her class by winning by more than 10meters and posting a time that placed her third in the world. The second British record came in Claire’s main event, the 200m Individual Medley, where in 2004 she won a bronze medal at the Paralympics in Athens. Claire went on to better her lifetime best in this event by more than 3 seconds with a very determined performance where she lead from start to finish, winning by more than 15m to her nearest competitor. Claire also showed her versatility by winning a gold medal in the 100m Backstroke final.

Both David and Claire have qualified for the World Championships to be held in Durban later this year. Kelly’s local girl, Jan Langton from Yelverton swimming in the S6 class also featured in many of the Multi disability finals during the week. In her main event the 50m backstroke, Jan won a bronze medal in a great performance setting a new personal best time.

In the National Youth Championships Kelly’s results were equally impressive. With 16 year old Tom Howe leading the way by winning a Silver medal in the 200m Individual Medley in an outstanding time of 2.08.59, improving on his previous best by more than 3 seconds. Tom went on to win yet another Silver medal later in the week in the blue ribbon event the 50m Freestyle. Standing at only 5ft 7inches, Tom was dwarfed by the 6ft plus competitors either side of him. Not deterred Tom swam the race of his life to just miss gold on the touch in a very impressive time of 24.22. Tom’s contribution’s continued in the week where he set a blistering split time in the 4x100m Freestyle relay of 52.51 seconds one of the fastest splits of the championship for his age. Other relay swimmers included Matthew Henry who led off and also set a personal best time for his leg in 54.45, Josh Lake in second position swam a 56.73, Josh who stood in at the last minute due to illness, did a fantastic job and Luke Wakefield who went off 3rd and swam a 53.86, all helped the Kelly 4x100 Freestyle relay Team secure 7^th place overall in the final.

16 year old Matthew Henry also produced some very positive performances winning a bronze medal in the final of the 200m Backstroke in 2.08.65 and also making the final of the 100m Backstroke finishing in 5th place in a new personal best time of 60.44. Matthew improved his best performances by 2 and 1.5 seconds respectively. Matthew also set a new personal best time in the 50m Backstroke where he made the semi final of the British Open Championships in a very impressive 28.00 seconds.

Other best times from Kelly Youth Swimmers included 18 year old Luke Wakefield in the 200m IM in 2.11.75 and the 100m Fly in 59.13; 14 year old Megan Mackenzie in the 200m and 800m Freestyle in 2.14.62 and 9.35.29 respectively. Gaining valuable experience, 14 year old Laura Sprague who secured 4 national qualifying times this year improved on her on last year where she competed for the first time in only one event. 15 year olds Sophie Calpin and Holly Yeo also competed in the 100m & 200m Breaststroke events. For 16 year old Josh Lake this was a very important championship as it was the first time he had achieved his qualifying times to attend. Josh qualified in the 50m and 100m Freestyle and gained very valuable experience. 18 year old Jack Cockerton who was showing signs of swimming extremely well at the nationals unfortunately had to miss the championships due to illness.

In the younger Age Group Championships Kelly’s swimmers 14 year old Danny Brown and 12 year old Kathryn Stacey were also in great form. Danny swimming in a closely fought 200m Breaststroke final finished in a very creditable 6th place in 2.37.31. Danny also competed in the 100m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley where he posted best times in both events. Kathryn took the bull by the horns in the 400m freestyle setting a huge personal best time by 7 seconds in 4.45.64. Kathryn also competed in the 800m, 200m and 100m Freestyle, establishing best times in all her events.

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