Regional build up in Bristol

Event: City of Bristol Level 1 Open Meet Venue: Hengrove Park, Bristol Date: 13th and 14th April 2013

In the lead up to the Regional Championships, Swindon Dolphin returned to Bristol where their long course open meet season started back in November. Despite not being fully rested for the meet, swimmers still managed to produce lifetime best swims and a new club record.

The meet started well for Dolphin with Mathew Sambrook, Liam Jefferies and Adam Coleman setting new personal best times in the 400m individual medley and all well within the regional qualifying time. Jefferies went on to produce a further four personal bests and pick up two new regional qualifying times whilst Sambrook’s best was yet to come in the 400m freestyle where he lowered his own club record set one year ago in Portsmouth with a time of 4:18.56.

Mathew Sambrook ~ new club record in the 400m freestyle

It was a similar story for the girls at the start of the second day, with Lauren Matthews and Beth Crouch setting new best times in the 400m individual medley and both girls recording further personal best times over the weekend.

James Clark recorded times just the wrong side of his national qualifying times in five events although went under the mark on his favoured 50m freestyle and will be looking to add to this when rested for the regional championships.

Kayleigh Bartlett and Rebecca Flack continue to find improvements, especially in breaststroke events with Bartlett making particularly impressive gains in her 200m swim.

Georgina Pitts was Dolphin’s most successful medallist collecting 2 gold, 3 silver and bronze, with James Clark close behind earning 2 gold, silver and bronze. Other podium finishers were Lauren Matthews (gold, silver, 2 bronze), Mathew Sambrook (silver, bronze), Charlotte Pitts (silver), Rebecca Flack (bronze) and Victoria Jennings (bronze).