North Tyneside Sprints & Teams Meet Report by Ann Rogers.
City of Sunderland swimmers were back in action at the Louisa Centre on the 25th March for the North Tyneside Sprints and Teams Meet. A team of 20 from the club’s Junior Silver, Junior Gold and Development B Squads took part in the one day event amassing 35 individual and 1 team event medals. For some this was their first taste of competition and their hard work and that of their coaches has paid dividends as reflected in the results.
Following on from his success at the Newburn New Year Meet, 10 year old J.J. Robins scored top marks with gold medals in the 50m Backstroke, Freestyle, Breaststroke, Butterfly and 100m I/M events. Hot on his heels was Tom Brumwell (9), who also won 5 medals: gold medals in the 50m Backstroke, Freestyle, Breaststroke, 100m I/M and a silver medal in the 50m Butterfly events.
Ryan Brewster (13), who has only recently returned to training following a serious injury, finished 1st in three events: 50m Backstroke, Breaststroke and 100m I/M and 2nd in the 50m Butterfly. With Callum Walker (13) taking 2nd places in the 50m Freestyle and Breaststroke events and 3rd places in the 50m Backstroke, Butterfly and 100m I/M, Sunderland dominated these events.
Nine year olds Luke Pye and Isaac Barnett made it a one, two, three for Sunderland in the 50m Breaststroke race by finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively behind Tom Brumwell. Isaac also won a silver medal in the 50m Breaststroke and a bronze medal in the 50m Freestyle events. Ten year old Jamie Powell took home a bronze medal by finishing 3rd in the 50m Freestyle.
In the 15 year old and over category, Adam Derbyshire (15) won two silver medals and a bronze medal in the 50m Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle events.
Alisha Ballantine led the way for Sunderland’s girls by winning the eleven year old 50m Backstroke and Freestyle races and taking 2nd place in the 100m I/M. In the same age group, Amy Dixon won two bronze medals for the 50m Breaststroke and Backstroke events. Nine year old Zoe Price finished 2nd in the 50m Breaststroke and 3rd in the 100 I/M, whilst Bethany-Star Cooper (12) completed the medal haul with a bronze medal in the 50m Breaststroke.
Sunderland won the Under 11 Mixed Medley event convincingly, touching home more than 3 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals. The golden sprint team comprised Tom Brumwell, Alisha Ballantine, J.J. Robins and Amy Dixon.
Also representing the club were:Â Katie Bittel, Adam Cambrook, Emily Crabtree, Charlotte Jurgens, Jack Powell, Laura-Jayne Smith and Jane Thwaites.