The first summer SE North West Summer Regionals Championships for 2 years got under way over the weekend of the 26th/27th March in Liverpool, involving swimmers 15 year and above. The weekend saw a strong showing by Wigan BEST swimmers with a total of 40 medals being collected. This was made up of 16 gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze.
The gold medals were spread among 4 swimmers. 15 year-old Lydia Swindell had a great weekend coming away with 5 gold. Lydia opened her account with an impressive 2:23 in the 200m backstroke and followed this up with a hattrick of backstroke golds adding both the 50 and 100 to the 200 event. In the heats of the 100 freestyle Lydia broke the 60.0 second mark for the first time long course and then went on to take gold in the final then secured the 50 freestyle gold. Not to be outdone Sam Grimes also showed his versatility matching Lydia’s 5 golds in the 16 year-old boys age group. Sam came home first in the 100, 200 freestyle, 100, 200 Fly and 200 IM. Rachel Hornby continued the success for the club coming away with 4 golds winning the both the 400 and 200 medley then went on to take the 200 breaststroke, and 200 fly. Eve Horton showed her continuing excellent development taking the 15 year-olds 200 fly gold winning in 2:28. The 16th gold came from the girls 14/16 years 400 medley team winning in 4:32 and putting themselves in a strong position to qualify for the British Summer Nationals.
Our 14 silver medals came from 11 different swimmers plus the 14/16 boys freestyle relay which also gives this team a strong chance in qualifying for the Summer Nationals. The 15 year age group are looking strong with silvers coming from Daniel Haynes in the boys 100 free, Leila Morris in the 100 and 200 backstroke, Caitlan Maylor 50 fly, Chloe Ridge 200 breaststroke. For the 16 years Charlie Collins produced a silver in the 50 fly, Anna Healey took 2 in the 100 free and back, with Aimee Crompton-Hesford taking silver in the 50 back, and Eve Horton added the 100 fly silver to her gold in the 200 event. Our seniors came away with 3 silver between them with Olivia Sheehan taking the ladies 800 free silver and Matthew adding another from the his performance in the men’s 100 back. Rachel Hornby added a silver to her gold collection in the ladies 400 Free.
Ella Wadsworth had a great performance taking an excellent bronze in the 15 year girls 200 breaststroke. Following his excellent silver Charlie Collins added bronze from the 16 year boys 200 back and free events. Anna Healey collected 2 further medals in the 16 year girls age group taking bronze in the 50 back and free events. Aimee Crompton-Hesford took her bronze in the 16 girls 100 back, while Eve Horton added her a bronze in the 15 years girls 400 IM giving one of each colour. Bronze medals were also taken by the senior end of the group with Mat Tinkler in the men’s 50 back, Olivia Sheehan taking the bronze in the ladies 400 free and Rachel Hornby took the bronze in the ladies 200 free event.
Our youth swimmers will now turn their attentions to the British Championships in April and then the Leeds Open Meet followed by the Swansea Open Meet in May. And we all look forward to our younger age groups in the SE North West Regional Championships in the coming weeks.