Great start for Southampton in 2010 County Championships 

Southampton swimmers enjoyed a highly successful start to the 2010 County Championships taking place in Portsmouth over the weekend of 27-28th February. The team secured 16 Gold medals, 16 Silver medals, 6Bronze medals, 25 other Top 8 positions, 4 x National Qualifying Times, 41 x SE Region Qualifying Times .... and 7 Championships Best Performances.

Dave Has His Say ‘Head Coach Comments’

At the beginning of the weekend I got the swimmers together and said this to them: ‘Those of you that have got on with the hard work and NOT moaned, wined, or tried missing out the hard training have absolutely nothing to worry about.’ The results reflect all the hard training and effort WE have put in, Well done. A quick look on the Hampshire County Swimming website will also reflect the progress City of Southampton Swimming Club has made in relation to the other clubs in the county – its good reading.

There were some really outstanding swims on this 1st weekend of County Championships. 12 year old Tom Diaper-Fox (aka ‘The Foxster’) had a really good weekend setting 3 County Championships Best Performances in the 400m, 800m and 1,500m Freestyle events each of which were well inside the National Qualifying Times for 13 year olds. Tom swam a phenomenal 1,500m Free that not only achieved Gold in his Age Group, but Gold in the 15years & Under category and 2nd in the Men’s event – all this from a 12 year old boy. Clearly Tom possesses great potential, which I have long recognised, however you have to have a work ethic alongside this potential. Tom attends 8-9 sessions every week, he is always the last to leave the water at 7:30am during morning training. Tom’s natural ability, potential and his application and attendance in training are what set Tom apart.

I can go on record and say that: ‘We here at City of Southampton SC have many swimmers that have ability and potential just like Tom, however many of these swimmers will never maximise that potential as they do not possess the Attendance & Application to training. Generally these swimmers will have a plethora of excuses not to attend training or apply in hard training sets!’ Meanwhile the Tom Diaper-Fox’s of the swimming world progress ever onwards.

Also setting Championship Best Performances were 14 year old Karl Heather in the 400m Individual Medley, and 800m Freestyle, along with 14 year old Ashley Ball in 400m Freestyle and 1,500m Freestyle.

Special Congratulations to 14 year old Sadie Fleetwood who achieved her first National Youth Qualifying Time and Gold medal in the 800m Freestyle. Along with 14 year old Emily Ard, who achieved National Youth Qualification in the 200m Freestyle.

Overall there were Individual wins for:

Harry Fryer (11yrs) 800m Free
Tom Diaper-Fox  (13yrs) 400m Free, 800m Free 1,500m Free
Sadie Fleetwood (14yrs) 800m Free, 1,500m Free
Karl Heather (14yrs) 400m IM, 800m Free
Ashley Ball (14yrs) 400m Free, 1,500m Free
Sam Wilton (15yrs) 800m Free

Relays:

The relays always bring about great excitement to any competition and this weekend it was no different. City of Southampton SC achieved Podium Success in 9 out 10 Relay Finals this weekend. This alone speaks volumes.

Our Girls 13yrs and Under relay Teams took on the very formidable Basingstoke Bluefins Team, knowing that they would be without Brooke Rumsey, however young Jessica Low really did us proud. After been beaten in the heats of the 4 x 50m Free – I changed the order and the girls delivered the goods and Gold, this was one of the races of the weekend and produced some excellent swims.

Splits were: India Bosley 30.45 Jessica Low 31.23 Katie Fryer 28.97 Hannah Stevens 28.40

Not to be out done the 9-11yrs Boys swam an excellent 4 x 50m Free Final to win Gold ahead of south coast rivals Portsmouth Northsea.

Splits were: Lucas Hutchings 33.13 George Plater 33.57 Harry Fryer 30.31 Ben Stevens 29.69

Placed Relays were:

2nd  Boys 9-11yrs Medley Team - Lucas Hutchings, George Plater, Ben Stevens, Harry Fryer
1st  Boys 9-11yrs Free Team - Lucas Hutchings, George Plater, Harry Fryer, Ben Stevens
3rd Girls 9-11yrs Medley Team - Sophie Reeves, Jessica Bishop, Lizzie Crook, Elizabeth Hopkins
2nd  Boys 13yrs/U Free Team - Jake Fleetwood, Bradley Isaacs, Bas Burnel, Tom Diaper-Fox
2nd  Boys 13yrs/U Medley Team - Jake Fleetwood, Bas Burnel, Ben Stevens, Tom Diaper-Fox
1st  Girls 13yrs/U Free Team - India Bosley, Jessica Low, Katie Fryer, Hannah Stevens
3rd  Girls 13yrs/U Medley Team - Jessica Low, Hannah Stevens, India Bosley, Katie Fryer
3rd  Mens 4 x 200m Free Team - Ashley Ball, Karl Heather, Colin Bensadon, Alistair Garmendia
3rd  Ladies 4 x 200m Free Team - Emily Ard, Chloe Fulford, Samantha Crebo, Sadie Fleetwood.

Well done Swimmers – Especially the swimmers that raced on Saturday & Sunday and returned straight back into Hard Training at 5:30am Monday Morning – this is called being in ‘The Programme.’

David Terry
Head Coach
City of Southampton SC