The City of Sunderland Swimming Club enjoyed a successful ASA National Championships held last week at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, where a team of eight swimmers took three bronze medals and accumulated 37 points to finish in a creditable 26th position.
The Club’s top performer was Jonny Carlisle who set personal best times in the boys 17 – 18 years backstroke events. Jonny displayed great racing skills to set faster times from heat to semi to final to grab the bronze medal in a very exciting and hard fought race. Jonny turned in a fast 27.91 seconds at the 50 metre mark and then held his place to set a new Northumberland & Durham senior record with a best time of 57.29. In the 200 metres backstroke, Jonny had a fantastic semi final to post a 2.03.65 and another Northumberland & Durham senior record to progress to the final with the fastest time. In the final, Jonny could not quite reproduce his time, but came away with the bronze medal in another excellent performance with a 2.04.62. Jonny’s efforts have earned him selection for the England Level 3 Talent Squad which includes training and educational opportunities, plus racing against the Canadian Youth Team at Sunderland next January.
Danielle Huskisson had a superb Championship, winning her first ever national medal to take bronze in the girls 16 – 17 years 1500 metres freestyle with a time of 17.07.79. With a well paced race, Danielle improved by a colossal 17 seconds – a just reward for training very hard over the last few months. Danielle had further success in the 800 metres freestyle, again making a big improvement to set a new personal best time of 9.05.12 to take sixth place.
Alex Robinson produced a stunning 800 freestyle effort to take ninth place in the girls 16 – 17 years. Her time of 9.12.64 was a personal best time by 5 seconds. Alex also had a solid 1500 freestyle where she placed fifth overall with a season’s best time of 17.37.50. Alex is now preparing for her next open water event which takes place on 14 August.
Josh Crowther underlined his recent progress with an excellent 100 metres freestyle. Josh made it through to the semi final posting 53.28 in the heats and then a 53.35 in the semi final. Josh also produced a great 24.81 in the 50 metres freestyle to just miss out on a semi final place.
Laura Dawson raced an excellent 100 metres butterfly to progress through to the semi final. Despite suffering from an acute shoulder injury, Laura put in an excellent heat time of 1.03.34.
Kathryn Woolston-Thomas raced several events with her best performance coming in the girls 14 – 15 years where she progressed to the semi final eventually placing fifteenth with a time of 27.75 seconds. Kathryn is now focussing on the UK School Games which take place at Sunderland on 2 – 4 September.
Also competing for the City of Sunderland were Lorna Breeze who produced two solid efforts in the 100 and 200 metres butterfly and Jennifer Tatters who also put in a solid 400 metres freestyle.
Head Coach Alastair Johnson said “Overall we have enjoyed respectable Nationals at both the Age Groups and the Youths. As we step up our training loads and expectations, we will build on our recent successes and look to make a much bigger impact in 2011. Our long term goal is to produce a succession of successful swimmers who can perform on the national and international stage.”
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