Successful Sixtieth Season Concludes

Event: Swindon Dolphin End of Season Festival Venue: Link Centre, Swindon Date: 14th and 15th July 2012

As well as celebrating the end of another successful season, Swindon Dolphin were also commemorating their 60th year at their End of Season Swimming Festival at the Link Centre.  Over 200 swimmers from 20 clubs attended and ensured a friendly and fruitful weekend of racing.

“Take your marks” in the 400m freestyle

The annual open meet provides targets for swimmers following the county and regional championships and also sets benchmarks for the forthcoming new season.  Although 2013 qualifying times are yet to be confirmed, it is also an opportunity to establish whether swimmers are performing to county, regional or national standard.

Beth Crouch, Danielle Lewis and Louise Gardo all produced performances that should see them compete at regional level for the first time ever next season, whilst 9 year old Oscar Pearcey, competing in his first open meet, swam a county standard time in the 50m backstroke.  Also achieving new regional standard swims were Adam Coleman, Thomas Newbery, Patrick Seed, Victoria Tainty and Mathew Sambrook with a further 23 swimmers recording new county standard times.

There were some impressive swims in many of the top heats.  Adam Coleman recorded just over the five minute mark in the 400 individual medley; his first attempt at the event.  Also dominating top heats were James Clark in the 200m freestyle, stopping the clock at 1:58.97, Thomas Newbery in the 100m and 200m backstroke and Victoria Jennings and Mathew Sambrook in the 400m freestyle.  Jennings was performing particularly well throughout the meet, edging ever closer towards her first national qualifying standard swim, not only in her favoured 400m freestyle but also in the 100m event where she touched 0.24s over the minute, just a few seconds short of the mark.

Top Dolphin medallists at the meet were Alice Lockey and Ella Wardale, both of whom collected 5 gold and 3 silver, closely followed by Thomas Newbery with 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze, and Liam Jefferies with 5 gold.