Super Sunday as EVERY DX swimmer wins a NATIONAL MEDAL!

(pictured from l-r Kim Hill, James Latham, Connor Smith, Ben Goodall, Kev Wallbank, Abbie Wood, Eve Farnsworth, Hannah Jones, Sarah Vasey and Lucy Wood)

Day 5 of the National Age Group Championships.

The final day of the competition saw all DX swimmers competing in finals. First up was Abbie Wood in the 11 years 400m I.M. Abbie posted a 6 second pb in the heats to qualify in 6th position and then improved by another 3 seconds in the final to swim to a 5.33.93 and take 5th place.

Both the Girls and Boys teams made the medley relay final. The FAB FOUR regional champion girls swam incredible splits with a very exciting final (but you didnt use my pass girls :p) to win the BRONZE MEDAL 5.87 seconds faster than their regional victory in a time of 4.34.01, the team of LUCY WOOD (1.09.05), SARAH VASEY (1.17.01), HANNAH JONES (1.06.42) and EVE FARNSWORTH (1.01.53). The girls swam their hearts out and throughout the course of the medley relay swam some amazing splits. This is the first nationals for 3 out of the 4 girls and they have all come within the top 11 swimmers in the country in their individual events...this is an awesome start to their national swiimming and testament to their teamwork, skill, passion and commitment.

As if the excitment of the girls relay was not enough, the Boys final tipped us over the edge (I wish I had had a camera on the parents). The AWESOME FOURSOME of KEVIN WALLBANK, JAMES LATHAM, CONNOR SMITH and BENJAMIN GOODALL who were regional champions qualified in 5th position for the final. With some careful calculation and a stroke change the team were ready to battle in the final. KEVIN WALLBANK swam the backstroke leg in a new personal best time of 1.05.55, Kevin had already knocked 2 seconds off his personal best in the heats of the relay and went 2 tenths quicker in the final...Kev...Job Done. JAMES LATHAM then swam an incredible 1.10.27, going out in a 31.93 to put in BENJAMIN GOODALL now swimming the fly leg into a good position...James Job Done... Ben known more for his distance freestyle and medley events stepped up for the team to do the sprint fly and with his pb being a 1.06.4 knew he had to do the fastest 100 fly of his life to give the relay the chance of a medal....Ben not only did this...but in true Ben style...he went that and then some. Ben split in an amazing 1.03.72 seconds...job done by the first 3 lads now over to Connor.....Connor was now in doing what he loves best...the chase, at this point Derventio Excel were in 6th position with the first 3 boys smashing their personal best splits to give them every chance of being up there for a medal. As CONNOR SMITH dived in he was just behind...at the 50m he split 26.20 and was with them...and in control...at 100m...Job Done in a split of 54.75, the fastest freestyle split in this national final field and the Derventio Boys won the BRONZE MEDAL in a time of 4.14.29, 5.23 seconds faster than the heats.

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL DX SWIMMERS WON A MEDAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL DX SWIMMERS QUALIFIED FOR INDIVIDUAL EVENTS!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, and I know that all that were there would agree it was an action packed final session of the 2010 National Age Group finals, I want to thank all that came to support us during the week, parents, fellow swimmers, friends, and Keith Kelly and in particularthose who came up on the last two days to support the swimmers and their tremendous swims. I would also like to thank Michael Glossop who is Coach at Buxton Swimming Club. Gloss, a former Derventio eXcel swimmer was of great assistance and support on the poolside, alongside his learning on "the other side" at a National event, he is also one of the coaches at the home Derbyshire club of Abbie Wood, Lucy Wood, Emily Allsopp and Jodie Hawksworth.

The swimmers already know this but I could not be prouder of them. Not only have they all stepped up, with over half of the team competing in their first nationals individually, it shows the strength and quality that Derventio have. All swimmers were there to support each other, to pick each other up for another swim and to have fun. The team spirit and dedication to themselves and each other could not be in more abundance!

The water really does feel good when your swimming for DERVENTIO EXCEL!

NEXT UP......Youth Nationals...Lets carry on the great performances, the BAGCATS have done their job...now its your turn...Lets GO DX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More Pics to come....