Bristol bound for long course season opener

Event: City of Bristol Level 3 Open Meet Venue: Hengrove Park, Bristol Date: 3rd and 4th November 2012

A Dolphin squad of 48 were competing last weekend at the inaugural City of Bristol Level 3 Open Meet at Hengrove Park, Bristol.  The club’s first long course meet of the season came within a few days of many returning from overseas and UK training camps and provided the rare opportunity for the less experienced county standard swimmers to compete alongside those aiming to compete at national standard.  For some of the younger swimmers, this would be their first taste of competing in a 50 metre pool and for the more experienced would be an opportunity to set benchmarks for the forthcoming season.

Aaron Knight experienced a “baptism of fire” as he competed in all five 200m events, all four 50m events and the 400m freestyle at his first ever long course meet. The 11 year old picked up a deserved gold in the 200m butterfly and bronze in the 50m butterfly and looks to have secured county times in seven of the events.  Others venturing into long course competition for the first time include Eleanor Brown, Georgie Manning and Regan Jefferies each of whom won a bronze medal for their efforts, whilst first timer Josh Fox went one step further to win two silver and one bronze from his seven events entered.

Aaron Knight finds some time to relax inbetween his ten swims

Although the Age Group (under 15 years) regional qualifying times are set as short course, the level 3 meet still provided the opportunity for swimmers to record qualifying swims.  Olivia Flack, James Watson, Sophie Bartlett <