Wasps Crowned King & Queen of Shropshire
The 2007 Shropshire County Championships began last weekend with the doors to Market Drayton Swimming Pool being officially opened at 8.45am. A surge of spectators – ranging from the pushy to the delirious - quickly took up their positions in the spectator area – eager with the anticipation of the combat that lay ahead.
Whitchurch parents, grand parents, uncles, aunties, brothers, sisters and fan clubs congregated in the left hand corner by the starting blocks.
By the end of the day our small but elite band of Wasp swimmers had given the supporting throng something to shout about – a magnificent tally of 3 Gold, 5 Silver and 6 Bronze medals; 1 new Championship Record; 8 Midland District Qualifying Times; and a superb 31 new Personal Bests. Most of us went home speechless – having lost our voices early on - in the enthusiastic and very loud shouting which ensued!!!
In the 200m Individual Medley on Saturday morning, Alfie Pardoe pummelled his opponents into submission, with an air of superiority way above his age. Knocking a full 23.66 seconds off his previous personal best, he led his age group swimmers from start to finish – crowned himself King of Shropshire – and took home the Gold medal in the boys 9/u in a time of 3:30.20.
In the afternoon, Rachel Hares rose to the occasion by becoming Queen Wasp for the day, with a fantastic victory in the 200m ladies 17/over freestyle in a time of 2:19.03. She followed it up on Sunday by winning the 200m breaststroke in a time of 2:46.06 – a new Championship Record.
Throughout the weekend silver and bronze medals were won by Charlotte Archdeacon, Charlotte Evans, Ben Williams, & Bryony Archdeacon. Many more of our swimmers secured PBs and Midland District Qualifying times.
Charlotte Archdeacon secured 6 Midland District Qualifying times and Charlotte Evans bagged one.
The following swimmers achieved one or more new Personal Bests : Ben Williams, Abi Fawcett, Bryony Archdeacon, Eleanor Reid, Charlotte Archdeacon, Charlotte Evans, Alfie Pardoe, Philip Austin, Lauren Bond, Hannah Greene, Rachel Hares, Jamie Taylor, Hayden Ciesielski, Charlie Lane, Sam Holland, & Beth Jamieson.
Real passion, determination, ambition and positive mental attitudes were in evidence from all our swimmers. Excellent…Well done!
Overall it was an excellent start to proceedings and a hopeful indication of things to come over the next two weekends.
- For full Whitchurch times & results click here >>
- For full Shropshire County results click here >>
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