Record Haul for Young Dolphins

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Wednesday 29th Mar 2006.

The Wiltshire County Championships drew to a close on Sunday evening and Swindon Dolphin completed their campaign as the most successful among the 21 clubs.

The final two days of British Age Group Category (BAGCAT) competition saw Dolphin surpass their 2005 record-breaking tally by raising the bar to a staggering 539 medals 184 more than their closest challengers.

Dolphin also scooped the highest number of BAGCAT Championship gold medals with Samantha Berry, (9), Katie Carter (10), Rosie Wells (12), Tom Iles (10) and Cathal Westman (12) climbing the podium to receive their honours.

It was a weekend of double joy for Wells, winning gold in the 12-year age band with a succession of stunning performances and she will make her debut on the national stage later this year as she claimed her first National Qualifying Time (NQT) in the 100 metres backstroke.

James Clark made light work of the 400 metres individual medley to set a new personal best time of 5:38.94 seconds.

At individual stroke level, Dolphin’s best showing came in the breaststroke events with Dolphin lifting gold in five out of six age group categories in the boys’ 50 metres sprint with Niall Westman (9), Tom Iles (10), Clark (11), Cathal Westman (12) and Peter Wasielewski (13) edging out the competition.

Dolphin boys dominated the 200 metres breaststroke event in the 9, 11, 12 and 13-year age groups with Niall Westman, Clark, Cathal Westman and Wasielewski winning gold.

In the individual medley events, the boys featured in the top six in each of the age groups over 400 metres with Iles, 10, (2nd), Clark, 11, (1st), David Moorhouse, 12, (4th), Liam Herbert, 12, (5th), Tim Berry, 13, (3rd), Joel Swann, 13, (4th) and Tom Birch, 14, (4th).

Samantha Berry  and Charlotte Pitts produced a series of one-twos throughout the weekend and claimed first and second respectively in the 200 metres freestyle, 200 metres backstroke, 50 metres freestyle and the 100 metres individual medley.

Berry went on to take gold in her Wiltshire County debut season, while teammate Pitts took bronze.

Katie Carter kept the Dolphin flag flying in the girls’ 10-year age band with outstanding performances over 200 metres freestyle, 50 metres breaststroke, 50 metres freestyle, 100 metres individual medley and won the 200 metres breaststroke with 20 seconds to spare.

Iles lifted the 11-year title, finding his best form in the 50m sprint events, winning the freestyle, butterfly and breaststroke races.

Cathal Westman completed Dolphin’s domination in the BAGCAT events, winning the 100 metres butterfly and 50 metres breaststroke races to secure the 12-year age group title.

From the Swindon Advertiser http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk © Newsquest Media Group 2006