British Para-Swim International Meet 2016 – Meet Report

Glasgow’s Tollcross International pool played host to the 2016 British Para-Swimming International Meet – which also doubled up as Team GB’s Trials for the Rio 2016 Paralympics. The meet ran from April 23rd to April 27th.  City of Sunderland ASC had 4 Para-Swimmers competing at this event – Jack Bridge, Josef Craig, Gareth Orr and Matt Wylie.

The meet was run as a Multi-Classification event, meaning each of the different disability classes compete against each other using a ‘points’ system.  This would be used to decide who would be British Champion.

In contrast, the tough qualifications standards for Rio were defined by times – different for each classification.

Day 1 – 100m Freestyle, 100m Breaststroke

Josef Craig (S8), Matt Wylie (S9) and Gareth Orr (S14) competed in the heats of the 100m Freestyle.  Josef & Matt’s heat times (1:00.16 and 59.06) both saw then comfortably into Finals.  Gareth finished in a seasons best time of 1:07.01.  A strong swim from Jack Bridge (SB9) in the 100m Breaststroke saw him finish in 1:12.72 and into the finals.

First up in the finals were Matt & Josef in the 100m Freestyle.  Both swimmers improved their times from the heats with Josef going 59.32 and Matt 58.71.  Josef’s time converted to points gave him first place and gold medal as the Multi-Class British Champion.  Matt’s points gave him 5th place.  Both boys missed out on the Rio qualification standard.  Jack swam in the last final of the day and posted a season’s best of 1:11.58 which was enough for 7th place – again missing that all important Rio qualification standard.

Day 1 Finals Video …..

Fast forward to Josef at 36:40, Matt 41:30, Josef Medals at 1:17.15 and Jack at 1:35.45

 

Day 2 – 100m Backstroke

Our only swimmer of the day was Gareth who finished in a season’s best 1:22.36 in the 100m backstroke.

Day 3 – 100m Butterfly

Jack (S10) and Gareth both competed in the 100m Butterfly on day 3.  Gareth picked up another season’s best time finishing in 1:13.00.  Jack touched in 1:09.00 which was enough to make final and was another seasons best – however he later withdrew from the final.

Day 4 – 200m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle

First up was Gareth in the 200m Freestyle.  Continuing his run of good performances Gareth picked up another season’s best time of 2:29.06.  Josef swam in his favoured event, the 400m freestyle – finishing in 4:36.86, taking him into the final in joint second place (based on points).

In a tense final’s session, Josef improved his time from the heats to finish in 4:36.06 for Silver medal – which was bettered only by S8 World Record holder and fellow Brit,  Ollie Hynd.  Agonisingly Josef was just 0.69s outside of the Rio Qualification standard.

Day 4 Finals video …

(Fast forward to Josef’s swim at 1:31:40, medals at 1:47.15)

Day 5 – 50m Freestyle, 200m IM

A dramatic last day of competition saw all of our 4 Para-Swimmers competed in the 50m Freestyle and Jack also took on the 200m IM.

First up in the 50m Freestyle was Gareth who finished in 30.47. Next up was Jack who swam a solid 27.46.

Josef and Matt were both current British Records in their classes and for both, it was their last chance to make that all important qualification time for Rio.  Josef was next to swim and delivered a strong performance to finish in 27.92 – just outside his S8 British Record, but easily enough to make final.  Again , agonisingly close – just 0.47 outside the Rio standard.  Matt swam in the last heat and having just watched a rival British swimmer break his S9 British Record and achieve a Rio qualification time – the pressure was on.  Matt delivered an excellent performance finishing in 25.96, smashing the (minutes old) British Record and more crucially was well inside (0.54s under) that all important Rio Qualification time.

Jack’s final swim of the competition was in the heats of the 200m IM.  He finished the meet with a time of 2:29.43.

Josef was first to swim in the 50m Freestyle final.  In his last chance to make the team for Rio and with massive pressure on his shoulders – Josef delivered.  He touched in 27.27. – breaking his own S8 British record and dipping below that Rio qualification standard by just 0.17.

Next up in the 50m Freestyle was Matt.  Despite having already achieved the qualification time, Matt still needed an impressive performance to ensure he beat all of the other British S9’s – to ensure nomination.  He dominated the final, becoming British Champion (Gold Medal) and once again smashing the S9 British Record.  His time of 25.69 was 0.8 under the Rio standard and ranked him as No.1 S9 50m Freestyler in the IPC World Rankings in 2016.

All of the swimmers must now wait until May 16th when the GB Para Team for Rio will be announced.

Day 5 finals video is here …

Fast forward to Josef swimming at 34:40 and Matt at 40:15.  Matt & Josef Medals at 1:13.30.

Matt’s interview after winning the 50m Freestyle is here

Full results … https://www.swimmingresults.org.uk/disability/results/2016/bpsim16/index.php