City of Sheffield Premier Meet 31-3-06 to 2-4-06

7 up for Skipton swimmers

Skipton Swimming Club Performance Squad had been training hard for the last 16 weeks in a bid to be prepared for the Sheffield Premier Meet last weekend. This was only the 2nd taper (rested and targeted) meet of the 05/06 season and hopes were high for a high level of personal and lifetime bests from the squad. They were not disappointed.

A staggering 7 National Qualifying Times (NQT) were made, bringing the total so far to 10. This is the most successful weekend the club has had in attaining so many NQT in one weekend.

Hannah Robertshaw, 12, fresh from medal winning at Yorkshire Counties earlier last month, continued her phenomenal progress by firstly achieving a NQT in a 12 second lifetime best in the 400IM (5.35.74). Having already achieved her 200 Backstroke NQT in January, she went on to improve her time with a well paced swim in 2.33.76. She followed this up with an impressive heat swim, her 3rd NQT, in the 100Backstroke in a time of 1.12.26. Again lowering the time in the final to 1.11.36. This time places her 3rd in the country with the Nationals not being swum until the end of July. Her 4th NQT might come later in the District Championships in the 200Individual Medley (IM), as her swim was just outside the qualifying standard required.

Julia Scrivin, was an unknown to the swimming world 12 months ago. Having only just qualified to County level in the 04/05 season, this 13 year old has produced some impressive swims over the last 12 months. Gaining her first County and District medals this year, she was delighted to gain not one but two NQT in her favoured events of the 100 and 200 backstroke. Still trying to overcome a nasty shoulder injury sustained in November 2005, she swam with confidence and determination to secure times of 1.10.66 and 2.32.32 respectively. These times put her in a good chance of possible making finals at Nationals.

Alex Belk, 15, showed a welcome return to form to produce 2 lifetime best and 1 season best swims and was rewarded with two NQT in the 100 Butterfly and 100Breaststroke. He swam a confident butterfly, swimming from the front throughout the race which saw him attack the 1st 50 (28.97) he touched the pad to make a NQT by only 0.01 of a second! His 100 Breaststroke took two attempts. Having just missed it in the heat (1.12.50), he again attacked the first 50, and finished strongly in a time of 1.11.46, 0.8 inside the National time required. Again his 4th time should come later in the month in the 200IM as he just missed out by 0.2seconds this weekend.

Jenna Chatburn, 13, achieved her long awaited NQT in the 200 Breaststroke. This time has remained just outside of her grasp now for nearly 3 years and this year she was determined to "do the double". Her valiant efforts in training certainly paid of as she swam a controlled opening 100 then swam a strong last 100 to touch in a time of 2.45.50, nearly 1.3 seconds inside the qualifying standard for Nationals. She has already achieved her 100 time and will now try and target the gruelling 1,500m Free time to add to her 2 NQT in the Breaststroke events.

Other swimmers who achieved lifetime bests were Carolyn Haworth (200free and 200IM). Abigail Kerr, who made her 1st County final only a few weeks ago, continued her impressive run of form by secure 4 lifetime bests in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, 200 back and 200IM. Carey Senczyszyn, swam season bests in the 100 free and 200IM, with Annie Riley recorded a 3 second best in the 100 Free. Ellie Belk finally managed to break the 5 minute barrier in the 400 free with a well timed race to the wall.

Finally, not to be outdone by the girls in the squad, both Josh Brown and Luke Maude produced their 1st ever sub minute swims in the 100 free, with Josh following it up with lifetime bests in the sprints events of the 50 Back and Butterfly events.