National Qualifier Boost for Dolphin

Event: Swim Wales New Year Dragon Level 1 Open Meet Venue: Wales National Pool, Swansea Date: 7th, 8th and 9th January 2011

A further three Swindon Dolphin swimmers achieved national qualifying times last weekend at the Swim Wales New Year Dragon meet at the Wales National Pool, Swansea. First to go under the mark was Elizabeth Beckett in the heats of the 100m breaststroke with Jon Audis making the grade in the 50m backstroke.  James Clark’s 1500m freestyle swim not only earned him a place at the national finals, but also set new club records in both the 1500m and the 800m at the split distance.

Dolphin’s new 2011 National Qualifiers Elizabeth Beckett, Jon Audis and James Clark

Clark’s efforts earned him a gold medal to add to the gold earned in the 800m freestyle and silver in the 400m individual medley.  Beckett was also a double gold medallist in the 100m and 200m breaststroke with Charlotte Pitts picking up gold in the 400m individual medley and silver in the 200m freestyle.  Other Dolphin medallists were Kath Baker (2 silver, 1 bronze), Charlotte Gardo (1 silver), Victoria Jennings (1 silver), Georgina Pitts (1 silver), Louise Maynard (2 bronze), Mathew Sambrook (2 bronze), Jon Audis (1 bronze). As well as increasing numbers of national qualifiers, the weekend also saw the number of regional qualifiers increase to 29 with Rebecca Matthews adding herself to the list following a superb effort in the final of the 200m backstroke. Attention for Dolphin’s top swimmers now turns to the ASA South Zonal Championships at Crystal Palace at the end of January.  This new competition brings together swimmers from the South West, South East and London Regions and aims to provide a high level of competition in-between regional and national standard.