FAB FOUR post fastest English time as swimmers continue to shine at Regional Champs!

Derventio eXcel swimmers coninuted their fine form at the second and final weekend of the Regional Championships.

This weekend saw the turn of the Girls and return of the face paint in the relay events.

The FAB FOUR Lucy Wood, Sarah Vasey, Hannah Jones and Eve Farnsworth stormed home to take GOLD in the 4 x 100m Medley Relay, the girls lead the race from start to finish and won by a massive 5.33 seconds with a Freestyle anchor leg from Eve Farnsworth much better known for her Backstroke events in a time of 1.02.59....watch out you freestylers!! The relay team were presented with their medals with much delight by Dr Barrie May the East Midlands ASA President and Ralph Shepherd President of Derbyshire ASA, who was able to watch the Derbyshire born girls swim to victory.

The girls have posted the fastest English time in the relay from all the regions going into the national championships (subject to confirmation), and the teamwork and support they gave each other mirrored the great work of the boys the week before.

The girls also fought hard in the freestyle events to come home 5th in the 4 x 100m Relay and 6th in the 4 x 200m Freestyle relay.

This weekend also saw the return of BEN GOODALL to Coventry sports centre again in sparkling form.

Ben took GOLD in the 800m Freestyle in a NATIONAL QUALYFYING TIME and personal best time and GOLD in the 400m I.M in a personal best time. Ben also took SILVER in the 200m Fly in a NATIONAL QUALIFYING TIME lowering his personal best twice in heats and final events. Ben also produced personal best times in the 200m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke.

LUCY WOOD took home the GOLD and personal best time in the 100m Backstroke and a NATIONAL QUALIFYING TIME and personal best in the 400m I.M to add to her relay victory.

JAMES LATHAM took GOLD in the 100m Breaststroke and a personal best time in the 400m I.M to add to his medal haul from the first weekend.

SARAH VASEY one of the fab four also achieved a SILVER medal in the 100m Breaststroke and personal best time in the 400m I.M. Sarah will be in action in sheffield next month in both Breaststroke events.

HANNAH JONES another member of the fab four relay team took SILVER in the 200m Fly minutes after the victorious relay swim in what was a tough day for all 4 girls. This has allowed Hannah to race tough and tired ahead of next month's national championships.

CONNOR SMITH swam to a BRONZE medal in the 200m Freestyle and has stepped up to the goals he has been set in the preparation phase of his season leading to the national championships.

OLIVER DAVIDSON continued his return to form by winning a SILVER in the 100m Breaststroke and gaining personal bests in the 200m Freestyle, 400m I.M, 800m Freestyle and 200m Fly, along with narrowly missing his personal best in the 100m Backstroke.

ABBIE WOOD took SILVER in the 200m Breaststroke lowering her personal best time to well under the 3 minute mark in 2.57.84. She also swam to a personal best in the 400m Freestyle.

EVE FARNSWORTH has had an acceptional regional championships this year, including the GOLD medal winning relay (1.02.59!!!!!) and impressive performances in the freestyle relays and big personal bests in the 200m and 400m Freetyle. Eve came a close 4th in the 100m Backstroke and has shown a high level of consistency in her backstroke events, which is great leading up to her first national championships.

KATHRYN ROWORTH also delivered solid personal bests knocking 2 seconds off her 200m Freestyle and another personal best in the 100m Backstroke.

Last but certainly not least...in the last final of the championship KEVIN WALLBANK kept us all on the edge of our seats. After missing out on the national qualifying time by 1 hundreth of a second in the heats composed himself and raced to a lifetime best and NATIONAL QUALIFYING time in the 200m Fly. It was great to see all the swimmers back him up and cheer him on at the very end of a tiring weekend. Kev makes it 28 swimmers now competing at the National Championships from Derventio eXcel!

To round the championships off the BAGCAT overall awards were presented:

CONNOR SMITH - 3rd 14 years

JAMES LATHAM - 7th 14 years

BEN GOODALL - 3rd 13 years

LUCY WOOD- 4th 13 years

HANNAH JONES - 7th 13 years

The younger members of Derventio have swam excellently over the last two weekends and have remained professional and supportive throughout which demonstrates a maturity way beyond their years. The Derventio clan had a lot of fun, and a lot of support of each other and the journey they are taking together. They are truly inspiring young people.

Well Done all!

Thanks also to all of the parents that helped out during these champs, and to the parents on the balcony for supporting all swimmers.

Now we only have 2 meets to go until the end of the season...Cardiff...and then Nationals!