Where there’s a Will

Event: British Gas ASA South West Region Age Group Championships 2014 / Cardiff International Open Meet Venue: Millfield / Cardiff International Pool Date: 8th and 9th June 2014 / 7th, 8th and 9th June 2014

William Davies became Dolphin’s 10th national qualifier of the season this weekend, recording a time of 17:48.31 in the 1500m freestyle at the Regional Age Group Championships.   The achievement topped a weekend of other successes for Swindon Dolphin who were not only competing at the first weekend of the Championships at Millfield School, Somerset, but also had a squad attending the Cardiff International Open Meet at the Cardiff International Pool.

Davies’ time set at Millfield was more than 20 seconds inside the national qualifying mark and he not only set a new age group club record in the event but also set new standards for his split times at 400m and 800m.  A gold medal capped off an incredible achievement for the 13 year old who only qualified for the regional championships for the first time ever this year.   There is clearly a lot more to come from Davies whose current training regime will allow an increase in volume and intensity over the coming years, keeping it proportionate to his stages of development.

Also competing in the Regional Championships was Regan Jefferies whose focus on skills in the training pool is starting to pay off as he dropped his 200m breaststroke time to an impressive 2:41.96; within just a few percent of his national time.  Jefferies will also be looking for some big improvements in his 100m event which he is due to swim on the second weekend of the championships, although it looks more likely that the 200m event will be his main focus in the forthcoming seasons.

Dolphin’s first medal of the championships came from 100m freestyle national  qualifier Sophie Bartlett as she showed her versatility across distances by winning silver in the 800m freestyle, and coming within just four seconds of a second national time.

William Davies and Sophie Bartlett ~ regional medallists and national qualifiers