Records fall as stars head to national final

By mbeardmore

AT THE final weekend of the ASA Midland Age Group Championships more long course personal bests and club records were broken by Boldmere Swimming Club's stars.

Once again, Phil Hewitt qualified for a final in the 14-year 200m fly, where he knocked nearly three seconds off his own club record in 2.25.34mins but just missed out on a medal in fourth place.

Midland Championships first timer Bethany Grant reached the 10-year 200m breaststroke, finishing eighth and setting a new personal best along the way. She set another personal best in the 200m backstroke.

The ever-improving Bradley Lynch beat his personal best by five seconds in the 13-year age group 200m freestyle and then knocked a massive 38 seconds off his 800m freestyle time with a 9.43.58mins swim.

Steven Wilson also posted two personal bests in the 11-year age group 100m freestyle and 200m backstroke.

Competing in the colours of City of Birmingham, 11 other Boldmere swimmers made their presence felt at the weekend.

They swam in 35 events, making seven finals, setting 27 personal bests, two club records and achieving 15 qualifying times for the ASA National Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield in July.

Penny Whittingham excelled with some majestic performances in the 11-year section, claiming five more Midland titles to add to the three she won the week before plus a silver medal in the 200m freestyle.

She set two new club records in the 200m backstroke and 100m fly plus three personal bests in the 200m individual medley, 400m freestyle and 800m freestyle.

In the latter she was an impressive 40 seconds ahead of the sliver medal position and all her times were national qualifying performances.

Whittingham also claimed the best overall 11-year girl award by winning her age group BAGCAT Trophy (British Age Group Categories point system), making her officially the best 11-year girl swimmer in the Midlands.

Alice Dearing was another Midland title gold medal winner, setting a new club record by five seconds and a national qualifying time in the 12-year 200m fly plus three personal bests in the 200m freestyle, 800m freestyle and 400m individual medley.

Jake Dixon broke three of his own club records in finishing fourth in the 200m breaststroke, second in the 100m fly and third in the 200m individual medley, where he also posted a national qualifying time.

Setting a personal best in the 100m freestyle, Dixon finished sixth, four places behind Charlie Payne who took silver.

Payne set two personal bests in the 200m backstroke and individual medley and bagged another silver medal in the 400m freestyle, breaking the club record by five seconds in a national qualifying time.

Jordan Youngman set a club record in 2.37.72mins for silver in the 12-year 200m fly, finished fifth in the 400m individual medley and set a personal best in the 200m freestyle.

Emma Smith set a personal best in claiming her silver medal, taking her tally to three in total, also in the 200m freestyle.

Kristie Hackett secured a bronze medal in the 13-year 400m individual medley, setting one of two national qualifying times the other coming in the 800m freestyle.

Younger brother Charlie set personal bests in the 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley.

Katie Richardson set personal bests in the 12-year 200m freestyle and 400m individual medley, while Josh Winnicott knocked 3.5 seconds off his 13-year 200m freestyle best in 2.11.06mins.