Young swimmers shine at a top national event

2:20pm Sunday 3rd August 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A PAIR of young Ledbury swimmers achieved their dream of swimming with the best in the country at the prestigious National Age Group Championships.

Sally Fitzpatrick and Michael Adair, both aged 11, produced great displays at the event held at Ponds Forge 50m pool in Sheffield last weekend.

Sally was first in the water on Friday in the 100m breaststroke heats. A good start and fast first 50m set her on pace to beat her entry time.

With 10 swimmers in her heat and only just over a second separating them, a strong return length was rewarded with a new personal best time which moved Sally up the rankings to 15th position.

Michael represented Ledbury in the 11 years backstroke events.

The 100m distance was held on Friday where he secured a place in the top ten and the right to swim in the final that evening. Following a good start he was delighted with a three-second improvement on his entry time and a sixth placing.

Returning to the pool the following morning, he recorded another personal best time in the 200m heats which once again secured him a place in the final.

A superb effort took him into sixth place.

Viv Jones, head coach, said: “It is impossible to describe the atmosphere at this event.

“These are the best swimmers in England and everyone has trained specifically for this.

“It is a tremendous achievement to reach the qualifying standard and it was fantastic to see both Ledbury swimmers compete so well and finish so high in the national rankings.”