Maude Leads The Way

Tierney Maude, Club Captain led the way by making two finals in the 50 free and 50 fly. Having to swim a heat and semi final in both events she progressed through comfortably. She finished 7th in the 50 Fly with a time of 30.99 and 9th in the 50 free in a time of 28.60.

Jenna Chatburn also had to swim heat and semi in her main event of 100 Breaststroke. This was also Jenna first senior regional final and she was also the youngest in the field. Swimming in an outside lane she swam a controlled opening 50m turning in 36.93, slower than normal pace. Out of the turn she increase her stroke speed and charged back to finish in 7th place in a time of 1.16.95. This is the fastest time she has produced all year and is an improved National time. She also produced another 4 second personal best in the 1,500m free and broke 19minutes for the first time finishing 7th overall.

Alex Belk competed in the most events over the weekend - 200IM (11th), 100 Butterfly, 200 Breaststroke and 50 Free. He attacked the butterfly leg in the Medley and continued with a solid back leg to stay in contention with the rest of the field. Increasing pace through the last 100 he secured his 4th National qualifying time with a time of 2.19.64. Sunday saw a tough day as he made final in the 200 Breaststroke, finishing 10th, and had to swim the semi final of the 100 Butterfly within 5 minutes of each other. Both his heat swims were improved National times breaking 62 seconds in the 100 Butterfly. He also competed with Luke Maude and Josh Brown in the 50 free. All the boys produced lifetime personal bests and all have edged closer to National qualification. Luke also produced another best time in the 100free gaining another sub minute swim with a time of 59.96.

Lorna and Hazel Dawson both swam good solid heat swims in the 100 breaststroke and 50 breaststroke respectively to take the last place into the semi finals. Lorna produced an improved time in the semi of 1.22.16 to come 19th and Hazel swam a time of 38.36 to finish 20th. Carey Senczyszyn also qualified to swim the 50 breaststroke semi and came 12th in a time of 37.02.

The next swim meet for the squad will be again at Sheffield at the end of May; this will be the last chance for the youth and senior within the squad to gain National times for this year.