Records Tumble at Club Championships

Event: Swindon Dolphin Club Championships Venue: The Link Centre, Swindon Date: 3rd and 4th October 2009

A record number of 65 championship and age group best times were broken last weekend at the first round of the Swindon Dolphin Club Championships at the Link Centre.

In the 11 and under age group, Alex Chantler broke five age group best times (AGBT) and was also one of the top medallists with seven gold and one sliver and also took the Junior Championship title in the 200m butterfly. Samantha Berry, 13, took AGBTs in five events and as well as three Junior Championships also took the Senior Championship title in the 200m butterfly in a new championship best time (CBT).

Elizabeth Beckett dominated the girl’s events with eight Championship titles and four new CBTs; notably two of these in medley events and two, as expected, in the 100m and 200m breaststroke. In the older age groups, Kath Baker had a successful weekend of racing ending a long drought of personal bests, picking up eight gold medals and eight new AGBTs.

The 14/15 year old boys age group saw some fierce competition in the 200m and 400m individual medley with Liam Herbert, Joe Kerslake and James Clark up against each other in both events. Close matches in both events saw all three finishing under the existing AGBT, but Herbert took the honours, touching home first on both occasions.

Herbert also found himself locked in a titanic battle with stalwart Jon Audis in the 200m backstroke; a contest that the youngster looked certain to win until the 29 year old’s trademark underwater phase in the final 25 metres despatched Herbert into second place and earned him a new CBT. Audis also picked up a further three CBTs in the 100m and 200m individual medley and 100m butterfly and a new short course club record in the 50m butterfly.

Other new CBTs went to Matthew Thomas (50m and 100m freestyle) and Melanie Agius (50m freestyle).

The mystery medley skins event again proved popular with some tremendous battles over the five rounds of 50m sprints. For the second year running, Joe Kerslake spoiled the party for the senior boys, this time eliminating Jon Audis by one one hundredth of a second in the third round. With the final round drawn as freestyle for both boys and girls, there were no surprise winners as Elizabeth Beckett overcame Kath Baker and Matthew Rose outclassed a brave but tired Nigel Masters.