Over the weekends of 15th / 16th and 22nd / 23rd February 2014, the distance events (100m and longer) of the annual Yorkshire Swimming Association Championships were held at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds. As one of the leading independent clubs in the county, York City Baths Club was well represented by 31 swimmers across all age groups.
The club is delighted to announce that 13 year old Lucy Nicholson is the 2014 Yorkshire Champion in both 800m Freestyle and 200m Butterfly in her age group. Lucy competed in a total of 7 events over both weekends, qualifying for a total of 5 finals and 1 heat declared final. In addition to her wins, Lucy also gained a bronze medal in 200mtrs Freestyle and 4th, 5th and 8th places in the other events. Lucy’s outstanding performances have ensured ASNER qualifying times in 100m Butterfly; 200m Butterfly, Freestyle, Backstroke and Individual Medley and 800m Freestyle events. Lucy also attained a National qualifying time in 200m Freestyle, and was just 0.65s off the 800mtrs Freestyle qualifying time! Well done Lucy!
11 year old Paris Grenier also has a superb 2 weekends of swims, competing in 12 events and ensuring her place in 7 finals and 3 heat declared finals. Paris achieved a magnificent medal haul of 4 silver medals (in 800m Freestyle, 200m Butterfly, Breaststroke and 400m Individual Medley) and 3 bronze medals in 400m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle and Individual Medley), along with 5th, 6th and 8th places in her other finals. With 9 ASNER qualifying times achieved, Paris continues to impress.
14 year old Katrina Bonner’s consistent form was noteworthy amongst the other girls’ performances, with 4 finals achieved from her 8 events, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th places. Katrina also achieved ASNER qualifying times in 100m & 200m Breaststroke, 100m & 200m Backstroke and 100m Butterfly.
Doing it for the boys, Regional Squad swimmer, 14 year old George Hogg, competed in 4 events, and achieved 2 bronze medals in both 100m and 200m Breaststroke finals. George showed plenty of determination to achieve these results and we hope this will be a springboard to further success. 13 year old Sam Russell continues to show consistency in form, swimming in 10 events, with 6 finals and 1 heat declared final performance achieved. Sam took 5th, 6th, 7th, 2 x 8th, 9th and 10th places. Although he was unable to achieve medal places in these finals, he attained ASNER qualifying times for every event he entered! Well done boys!
Other YCBC medal winners were Annie Johnston (16 years), with a silver medal in 100m Breaststroke; Freya Beck (15 years), 2 bronze medals in 200m Back and 400m Free; Ellen Suddes (16 years), bronze medal in 200m Breaststroke and Matthew Winnell (21 years) with a bronze in 200m Backstroke.
Overall, 18 female and 13 male swimmers represented the Club over the weekends. Congratulations go to every one of them for their achievements.
Our roll of honour includes:
Girls
9 years, Megan Kirkman;
10 years, Beth Gibbons;
11years, Ella Fisher, Paris Grenier and Astrid Mawle;
12 years, Neola Thorpe;
13 years, Nicola Merrett, Lucy Nicholson and Genna Suddes;
14 years, Katrina Bonner, Nicole Grenier and Carrie Suddes;
15 years, Hannah Baker, Freya Beck and Charisse Charlton;
16 years, Sophie Brown, Annie Johnston and Ellen Suddes.
Boys
9 years, Oliver Creighton;
10 years, Toby Mayfield;
13 years, Sam Russell, Stafford Swainston and Thomas Watkins-Hargan;
14 years, George Hogg, Jack Pears-Dorland and Sam Whittaker;
15 years, Conor Hargreaves and Alex Riches;
16 years and over Alistair Mitchell, Ben Nicholson, Matthew Winnell.
There were plenty of performances to impress and encourage the club’s coaching staff, including:
Beth Gibbons – 5th place in 200m Butterfly,
Ella Fisher – 2 PBs in her first Yorkshire Championships,
Neola Thorpe – 8th place in the 800m Free, 7 ASNER QTs and a very good 9 PBs out of ten swims,
Genna Suddes – 10th place in 100m Free and 2 ASNER QTs,
Astrid Mawle – showing competitiveness despite carrying a shoulder injury,
Megan Kirkman – 4th place in 200m Breaststroke,
Sophie Brown – 100m Freestyle,
Carrie Suddes – 8th place in 100m Breaststroke, as she comes back from injury,
Solid performances from Regional Squad swimmer Nicola Merrett and Club Squad swimmer Charisse Charlton in their 3 events, and Hannah Baker’s 400 m IM swim now she is returning to full fitness.
Oliver Creighton – 5th place in 200m Butterfly and 8th in 200m IM,
Ben Nicholson – 9th place in 200m Backstroke (notable as his first ever Final),
Toby Mayfield – 9th place in 200m Butterfly,
Jack Pears-Dorland – 8th place in 1500m Freestyle,
Sam Whittaker – ASNER QT in 200m Breaststroke,
Alistair Mitchell – ASNER QT
Further solid performances from National Squad Swimmers Alex Riches, Stafford Swainston and Regional Squad Swimmer Thomas Watkins-Hargan.
A report on the Sprints and Team events coming up this weekend (15/16 March), will follow in due course. Let all the swimmers due to compete at these events swim fast and give us more reasons to report on their success.