More Olympic Trials Qualifications at Central Zonal Meet

Derventio swimmers Ben Goodall and Kevin Wallbank both achieved additional Olympic Trials qualifiction times last weekend at the Central Zonal meet!

Only a small group of DX swimmers competed at this meet, with Ben qualifying for Olympic Trials in the 400m I.M and winning a Silver medal in the Junior Final. He also finished 4th in the Junior men's 400m Free.

Kevin Wallbank qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 100m Fly winning a Silver medal in the Junior Men's final.

Other medals came from Kane Haggett who won Gold in the Senior Men's 50m Free and Bronze in the 100m Free.

Hannah Jones won Gold in the Junior Women's 200m Fly and Silver in the 100m Fly and 7th in 400m I.M.

James Latham won Silver in the Junior men's 100m Breaststroke.

Tyler-Ann Black finished 4th in the Junior Women's 50m Free.

Imogen Clark finished 4th in the Junior Women's 100m Breaststroke.

Kay Goulden was a finalist in the Junior Women's 200m Fly.

DX swimmers Fly at City of Liverpool Open Meet!

A small group of DX and DXDS swimmers travelled to Liverpool for the Winter Distance Meet on the weekend of the 20th January.

All swimmers put in excellent peformances with Jamie Ingram, Krissy Tomlinson, Francesca Muir-Harris, Josh Beech and Matt Cross all smashing personal best times in every event they swam in. Jess Cross and Matthew Mounsey also put in strong performances finishing narrowly outside their best times.

Medals also came from Krissy Tomlinson - Gold 200m Backstroke, Gold in 200m Breaststroke, Silver in 200m Free, Silver 200m I.M

Jamie Ingram - Silver in 1500m Freestyle

Matt Cross - Silver 400m I.M, Silver 400m Freestyle, Bronze 200m Freestyle.

Well Done Guys!

DX swimmers continue to collect Olympic Trials and National Qualifications!

Derventio eXcel swimmers swam in their first competition of the year last weekend.

The swimmers who were competing for their home clubs were on fine form and started 2012 off in style.

All swimmers stepped up and produced some great early year racing.

There were personal best times, after personal best times and qualification times for Olympic Trials and National Championships:

Abbie Wood - Olympic Trials 100m Breaststroke, National 200m Fly
Kane Haggett - Senior National 50m Backstroke
Eve Farnsworth - National 100m and 200m Backstroke
Chloe Johnson - National 200m Backstroke
Kay Goulden - National 100m Fly
Lucy Wood - National 100m Backstroke
Danny Anderson - Senior National 50m Breaststroke
Sarah Vasey - Senior National 100m Breaststroke and National 200m Breaststroke
Ben Goodall - National 400m Freestyle
Tyler-Ann Black - National 50m Freestyle

There were also Gold Medals for Abbie Wood in the 200m I.M, 200m Fly, 200m Breaststroke, and Bronze in the 200m Freestyle

Molly Renshaw in the 15 yrs and Over won Silver in the 200m Breaststroke, 400m Freestyle, Silver in the 200m I.M, Bronze in the 100m Breaststroke

Hannah Jones won Gold in the 200m Fly and Bronze in the 100m Fly

Sarah Vasey won Silver in the 50m Breaststroke

Kane Haggett won Bronze in the 50m Backstroke

Dreams Turn into Reality

At 5.00am, on 4^th November 2009, Karl Davidson and Simon Mounsey had to stand in front of 12 DX swimmers and parents to tell them their programme had been axed with immediate effect. Not a pleasant task! 

After 2 years hard work by Simon and Karl and more recently Andi Manley and other members of the DX coaching staff and committee, dreams turned to reality as Derventio eXcel held its first session for all DX/DXDS swimmers from the Buxton and Chesterfield hubs and all DX south swimmers at the impressive 8 lane pool at Matlock's ARC Centre.

At 5.30am on Saturday 7th January 2012 DX & DXDS swimmers were in the crystal clear waters watched by DX head coach and member of the GB coaching staff on the recent trip to the European Short Course Championships, Andi Manley.  Andi was joined for the first session by Carla Bickerstaffe, standing in for Chesterfield head coach and DX coach Mark Tanner and DX coach Keith Kelly.  DX Coach Kim Hill who would normally be at this session, was away on duty with England Talent together with 5 of the DX swimmers.

The session, also attended by many parents from all three hubs watching from the spectator stand was followed with an Anti Doping Talk presented by Wendy Cole of the ASA. 

Derventio eXcel now has a squad of 40 full time and 25 development squad swimmers within the County.  These swimmers training together as one squad every Saturday morning at this fantastic facility have a busy schedule to look forward to over the next 5 weeks, starting, with a trip to Ponds Forge in Sheffield next Saturday and giving them an opportunity to get some race practice, at the fastest pool in the Country during a level 1 meet.  Some of our swimmers will then attend the Zonal Meet at Corby on 28th & 29th January before they return to the magnificent Ponds Forge venue for our very own February Festival and an opportunity to race against some of the fastest swimmers in the Country, attempting to obtain times for the Olympic Trials at the new Aquatics Centre in London's Olympic Park.  After this, 21 DX swimmers jet off to Lanzarote for a 10 day training camp at Club La Santa.  With its 50 mtr training pool and world class facilities what better way for those amongst them that have qualified to prepare for what is likely to be, one of the most spectacular swimming events ever held in the UK on their return.