North Eastern Regional Championships 3rd/4th June 2006 Ponds Forge Sheffield

Hannah Retains Regional Championship Title

Hannah Robertshaw displayed her talent as one of the countries top 12year backstrokers by successfully defending her 200 title. Her time of 2.33.72 in the heat secured her the fastest time for the final. Racing against rival Alicia Holdsworth, who had beaten her at the Counties earlier in the year, she was first out of the start and turned 2nd at the 100metres. Her 3rd 50 saw her accelerate and matched Alicia stroke by stroke; the last turn saw her pull away to win in a time of 2.30.95. This was a big improvement from her previous time and now places her back in the top 3 in the country with only 7 weeks remaining to Nationals. She also produced a 6 second lifetime best in the 200 breaststroke (3.00.98) and was 8th in the final. Disappointment came when she missed her National time in the 200 Medley but was still placed 11th overall.

Abi Kerr, has been chasing the National time of 3.06.04 in the 200 breaststroke had to settle for another lifetime best of 3.08.79 and her first Regional final, finishing 5th. She also produced improved lifetime bests in the 200 Medley and 200 backstroke events.

Julia Scrivin, who has made a good recovery from her shoulder injury that hampered her early season training, produced another top draw swim in the 200 back. Her time of 2.31.11 in the heat secured her a place in the final. Renowned for her starting ability she was neck and neck with the rest of the field at the 50 and went on to finish 5th, just 0.4 slower than her heat swim. This places her just outside the top 20 in the country.

Her sister, Rachael, competing in her first regional championships recorded the biggest improved time from all the Skipton swimmers by recording an astounding 13 second improvement in the 200 breaststroke as well as a 5 second improved time in the 200 medley.

Also competing for the first time at regionals was Niki Chatburn and Sophie O'Hara who both swam in the 200 breaststroke event, recording personal best times. Philip Foster-Dennison swam a controlled 200 backstroke with a perfect paced race to finish in a time of 3.14.14, a 4 second best time.

Ellie Belk, who produced some dramatic swims last weekend to qualify for Nationals, competed in the 400 free for the 2nd time in less than 7 days. Making the final with another best time in the heat she finished 10th overall. The 100 free produced a good lifetime best of 1.05.81, just 0.8 off a National time. She had to settle for 8th place in the final.

Carolyn Haworth and Annie Riley both produced well paced and personal bests in the 100 free; with Carolyn producing a 2 second best time in the 100 Fly. Frustratingly for both swimmers they just missed out making the final by being placed 11th after the heats.

Finally, Annie (64.71), Ellie (65.25), Carolyn (69.08) and Julia (66.37) joined forces to all produce a team swim in the 11 - 13 year old 4 x 100 Free Team in a time of 4.25.41. A total of 18 teams swam and the girls competed strongly finishing 8th overall.