Derbyshire swimmers come together to BEST EVER finish in National County Team Championships!

The best ranked swimmers in Derbyshire came together on 16^th October to compete in the British Gas Annual National County Team Championships. 39 county teams from all over England, Wales and Scotland took to Ponds Forge International Sports Centre to compete in this national event. The fastest 50 metre pool in Britain is split by a boom to provide competitors and spectators with an opportunity to watch both division 1and 2 swimming in 2 pools providing 20 swimmers racing at any one time, making it one of the most exciting swimming events that takes place in Britain.

Derbyshire who were promoted to Division 1 in 2006 have consistently finished just outside the top 10 counties in the country with placings of 13^th (2007), 11^th (2008), 14^th (2009 and 2010).

In 2011 27 of Derbyshire’s finest swimmers formed a team to provide the county with its BEST EVER finish since their promotion to division 1 as they finished in a staggering 9^th place!

With face paints, hats and goggles on, the mission of the day was for swimmers to improve on their rankings going into the event and the team did not disappoint. Out of 31 races Derbyshire’s team led by female captain Evie Keane (Derby Phoenix) and male captain Adam Peaty (City of Derby) improved on their rankings in 21 of these races!

One of the races of the day had to go to male captain Adam Peaty (City of Derby) who took victory in the 16/17 year old 100m Breaststroke in a time of 1.01.3, beating the current world junior champion and also gaining a qualifying time for the 2012 national championships.

Derbyshire’s swimmers produced personal best after personal best to be the most successful county team ever, with 4 more swimmers also recording qualifying times for the 2012 national championships; James Latham (City of Derby) 2^nd place in the 100m Breaststroke in a time of 1.06.63, Abbie Wood (Buxton) 3^rd place in the 100m Breaststroke in a time of 1.14.76, Hannah Jones (Long Eaton) 7^th place in the 100m Fly in a time of 1.04.07, and finishing her competitive swimming career in style Emily Allsopp (Buxton) 7^th place in the 100m Backstroke in a time of 1.03.94.

Other notable performances came from Molly Renshaw (Ripley Rascals) 100m Breaststroke 3^rd place, Kevin Wallbank (Long Eaton) 100m Fly 5^th place, Oliver Davidson (Long Eaton) 100m Backstroke 6^th place, Kathryn Roworth (Etwall) 100m Backstroke 7^th place, Daniel Johnson (City of Derby) 100m Breaststroke 9^th place, Matthew Wood (City of Derby) 100m Freestyle 9^th place,

In the relay teams, the 14/15 years boys medley team of Kevin Wallbank (Long Eaton) James Latham (City of Derby) Ben Goodall (Belper Marlins) and Jordan Buzec (City of Derby) finished 3^rd and the 12/13 years Boys medley relay team of Oliver Davidson (Long Eaton), Matthew Mounsey (Chesterfield), Jamie Ingram (Ripley RASCALS) and Matthew Wood (City of Derby) finished 8^th.

Andi Manley Head Coach for the event said “It was a great day, fast racing and good fun. All swimmers gave their all in and out of the pool and pulled together to achieve the best ever result for Derbyshire. They should all be very proud to be part of something so special”

Derbyshire Amateur Swimming Association Chairman Karl Davidson added, “the swimmers were fantastic today, it was one the most emotionally charged events I have ever attended. I’d like to thank all the parents and spectators for their support and a big thank you must go to Joyce Mellor for organising this event for Derbyshire”.

Derbyshire Team 2011:

Evie Keane (Derby Phoenix)

Adam Peaty (City of Derby)

Emily Allsopp (Buxton)

Connor Smith (City of Derby)

Sasha Wisdish (Derby Phoenix)

Charles Softley (City of Derby)

Frances Marshall (Belper Marlins)

Thomas Matthews (City of Derby)

Hannah Cox (Long Eaton)

Kevin Wallbank (Long Eaton)

Hannah Jones (Long Eaton)

James Latham (City of Derby)

Molly Renshaw (Ripley RASCALS)

Ben Goodall (Belper Marlins)

Catherine Williams (City of Derby)

Jordan Buzec (City of Derby)

Lucy Wood (Buxton)

Tyler-Anne Black (Long Eaton)

Oliver Davidson (Long Eaton)

Abbie Wood (Buxton)

Jamie Ingram (Ripley RASCALS)

Kathryn Roworth (Etwall Eagles)

Matthew Mounsey (Chesterfield)

Kay Goulden (Long Eaton)

Daniel Johnson (City of Derby)

Rhianna Sheehan (City of Derby)

Matthew Wood (City of Derby)

Coaching Staff: Andi Manley, Kim Hill, Spencer George, Michael Glossop, Mark Tanner

Team Managers: Michael Glossop, Richard Latham