Wasps Smash Records at 2008 County Championships
The 2008 Shropshire County swimming Championships kicked off last weekend, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th February, at Market Drayton Swimming Pool.
The best swimmers from the Wasps descended to do battle against their counterparts throughout the County. By the end of this first weekend of three, the Wasps had nearly doubled their medal tally over the corresponding weekend last year – finishing on 7 Golds, 9 Silvers and 5 Bronzes – a total of 21 medals. This compared to the 3 Golds, 5 Silvers and 6 Bronzes won last year.
Alfie Pardoe made it 3 gold medals out of 3 events. First off he completely dominated the 200m IM – winning by more than 16 seconds, in the 10/u boys 200m Individual Medley. His time of 3:03.99 was a new Club record and more than 6 seconds under the Midland District qualifying time. More importantly this time is now only 9 seconds away from last years winning District Time – with 5 months still to go. The Wasps are no longer limiting their thoughts to qualification for the District Championships but now have a real sense that winning is on the agenda – a target that hasn’t been achieved by anyone in the Club in living memory!.
In the 200m Breaststroke he smashed his Personal Best by more than 10 seconds and the district qualifying time, to capture the gold in another Club record time of 3:31.71. Lastly but not least he came from behind in the 200m Butterfly, in a display of excellent pacing to win the gold medal in another Club record time of 3:29.31.
In the girls 11/u 200m breaststroke Annie Mellings once again demonstrated her emergence as one of the best, if not the best breaststroke swimmers in the Clubs history. She took the Gold – dominating her heat from beginning to end – in another Club record time of 3:10.20. Annie already holds a District Qualifying time for an 11 year old, but because her birthday is just before the Championships she is having to qualify as a 12 year old. She is now only 5 seconds off doing so. On Sunday afternoon she took the bronze in the 1500m freestyle.
Hannah Greene came from behind to win the gold medal in the 11/u girls Freestyle in a new club record time of 2:34.87. Last year in this event Hannah came 18th in 3:16.11 – clear encouragement to all of you who might be in need of some positive motivation.
Charlotte Archdeacon won the gold medal in the 15/u girls 100m backstroke in a new PB of 1:06.87. This was only a fraction off her first ever National qualification time. Later on she took the overall prize for being the fastest girl in any age group in this event. In the 200m breaststroke she took the gold in a time of 2:51.92. Charlotte also took the silver medals in the 200m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 1500m freestyle.
Elliot Hughes captured the Silver medal in the 11/u boys 200m IM in a new PB time of 2:58.40. This was a full 7 seconds per length on his last years time of 3:53.41. He then went onto repeat the feat in the 200m Butterfly – taking the silver medal in another PB time of 3:10.69.
Bryony Archdeacon got the Silver medal in the girls 13/u 200m breaststroke in a new PB of 3:02.17.
Charlotte Evans took the Silver medal in the 15/u girls 200m breaststroke in a new PB of 3:04.77 and also achieved bronze medals and PBs in the 100m back (1:12.96), 200m free (2:20.38), 800m free (10:21.72) and the 100m fly (1:14.64).
Ben Williams captured the Silver medal in the 13/u boys 100m backstroke in a new PB time of 1:14.50.
The following other Wasp swimmers secured one or more Personal Best Times: Lydia Jamieson. Lauren Bond, Beth Jamieson. Thomas Bishop, Jamie Taylor, Joe Evans, Annie Jones, Amelia Penn, Isabel Mellings, Ed Reid, and Eleaor Reid.
Overall it was an excellent start to proceedings and a hopeful indication of things to come over the next two weekends.