Records broken at the South West Short Course Winter Championships 2022
Swindon Dolphin had an excellent showing at the South West Short Course Winter Championships, held in Millfield School on 4-6th November 2022. A team of 13 swimmers qualified for the event, Sophie King (13), Eva Higginbotham (13), Lily Hunt (14), Sophie Leonard (14), Neve Porton (14), Lucas Carter (14), Farrleigh Greaves (14), Megan Watts (14), Ella Williams (15), Fred Carter (15), Alfie Smithson (16), Caitlin Gulliver (17) & Emilie Gulliver (17).
Eva Higginbotham (13) had a successful meet, with a new personal best time posted in the 50m Freestyle event, finishing in 28.23, a new 13 years and under age group club record. In the 200m Butterfly, Megan added to this success with a new personal best time in the heats, finishing in 2:27.47, securing a 16th place finish and earning her a spot in the B final, where she improved on her performance again and set a time of 2:26.52 in the final, a fantastic swim. She earned a BRONZE medal for her efforts in the 15 years and under category. Watts also had success in the 50m Butterfly event, where she dipped under the 30 second mark for the first time in 29.70, setting both a 14 years age group club record and an Open Short Course Club Record.
S13 para-swimmer Ella Williams (15) set new personal best times in the 100m Breaststroke event in 1:30.01, the 100m Butterfly event, finishing in 1:26.73 and the 100m Backstroke event, setting a time of 1:36.66. Williams now sets her sights on the British Para-Swimming Winter National Meet 2022, taking place at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow across Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November 2022, where she will compete across 9 events.
Caitlin Gulliver (17) and Emilie Gulliver (17) were not going to be outdone by the youngsters, with both achieving great results at the meet. Caitlin displayed superb racing in the 100m Backstroke event, where a new personal best time was set, achieving a new 17 years age group club record in 1:05.44. This secured her place in the B final, where she finished in 14th place. Competing in the 50m Breaststroke event, Emilie's efforts saw her finish in a new personal best time in 34.42. Not only was this a 17 years age group club record, but another Open Short Course Club Record.
Continuing in their fine form from the summer, other outstanding performances came from Lucas Carter (14) and Fred Carter (15). In the 50m Breaststroke event, Lucas set new personal best time of 31.17, dipping under his previous 14 years age group club record, and earning him BRONZE in the 15 years and under category. Lucas carried this form into the 100m Breaststroke, where another new personal best time was set in 1:08.42, once again breaking his own age group club record for 14 years. In the 100m Individual Medley, Lucas finished in 1:03.43, another new personal best time and 14 years age group club record.
Boys Team Captain Fred had an excellent meet, setting a new personal best time and improving on his own 15 years age group club record in the 50m Breaststroke, finishing in 30.49, just shy of qualifying for the final. In the 100m Individual Medley, Fred set another new personal best time in the heat, 1:00.61, earning him a spot in the B final. In the final of the event, he set his sights on another new personal best time and 15 years age group club record, which he achieved by setting a time of 1:00.41, edging ever closer to dipping under the 60 second mark. For his efforts, Fred Carter (15) has been rewarded with qualification for the Swim England National Winter Championships 2022, competing at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield on 2nd and 3rd December 2022.
