National qualifier tally up at Plymouth

Event: ASA South West Regional Youth Championships Venue: Plymouth Life Centre Date: 5th to 7th May 2012

Swindon Dolphin’s national qualifier numbers swelled to 8 last weekend at the South West Regional Youth Championships as the girls’ 4 x 200m freestyle team recorded a time that earned them a place at the National Youth Championships in July.

A squad of 20 made the trek south to the new long course pool at the The Plymouth Life Centre for the three day meet with Dolphin’s shining moment coming on the Sunday morning as the 4 x 200m freestyle team of Lauren Matthews, Victoria Jennings, Charlotte Pitts and Megan Jones finished in the bronze medal position behind the rampant Plymouth Leander A and B teams, with all three teams achieving national qualifier status.

Lauren Matthews, Victoria Jennings, Charlotte Pitts and Megan Jones ~ Qualifying Quartet

Individual medal wins also flowed for Dolphin throughout the competition with Charlotte Pitts and Victoria Jennings opening the Dolphin account with wins in their respective age groups in the 400m freestyle. Pitts went on to also win gold in the 200m freestyle and 400m individual medley whilst Jennings earned a further gold in the 200m butterfly and silver in the 800m freestyle. Lauren Matthews also picked up silver in the 400m individual medley whilst Charlotte Gardo and Mathew Sambrook each earned two bronze.

Pitts’ 200m freestyle swim in 2:09.68 earned the 15 year old her first club record, previously held by Mel Agius since 2008.  Liam Herbert also lowered his own 50m butterfly record in a time of 26.69s; the fourth club record to be broken this year.

In a region dominated by the brilliant Plymouth Leander and Millfield, reaching a final was an achievement in itself. Impressively, 14 of the Dolphin contingent managed this on 36 occasions and, with a 6th place finish in the overall medal table, continue to demonstrate their stability at youth level.

ASA South West Regional Youths 2012 Medal Table GoldSilverBronzePlymouth Leander482921Millfield13127Poole643City of Bristol615Taunton Deane562Swindon Dolphin525Bath University443Seagulls321St Austell301South Dorset222Aquae Sulis166Kelly College147Exeter City146Southwold130Street120Swim Bournemouth114Backwell100Tavistock100Gloucester088Severnside022Tigersharks021Caradon013Kingsbridge012Bristol Henleaze010Chard010Marlborough010Penzance010Yeovil010Cirencester002Dinnaton002Paignton002Weston super Mare002Salisbury001Soundwell001