at the Plymouth Leander Winter Meet
12 swimmers travelled to Somerset for the Winter Meet which was held at Millfield School's 50m pool, but hosted by Plymouth Leander, the strongest club in the Western Counties.
It was a top class level 1 longcourse meet, with many international swimmers and national age group champions present. One of the aims of the trip was to gain qualifying times for next summer's National events and this was achieved by Felix Samuels (14) and Alex Mackay (15).
Felix swam brilliantly on 50m and 100m free, setting times of 26.16 and 56.61, which qualify him for the National Youth Championships in July. He won 13/14 bronze in the 50m and 13/14 silver for his 100m heat swim and also a silver trophy for finishing 2nd in the 14/under 100m junior championship final. Felix added bronze for 13/14 100m fly in a best time of 1.02.36 and was 4th in the junior final. He added 4th in 13/14 50m fly in 28.94.
Alex Mackay, who has already qualified for the British Olympic Trials in April, still needed to achieve current season times for the National Youth Championships next summer. He qualified in 1500m free with 16.49.11, which won him bronze in the 15/16 age group. His 800m split during the 1500m was another National qualifying time. Alex was 4th in the 15/16 400m IM in a long course best of 4.51.66 which gave him his 3rd qualification.
GOLD MEDALS TO HARRY NEEDS AND ALEX PEAKE
Harry (15) and Alex (12) both won gold medals for fast 50m swims. Harry won the 15/16 50m back in 29.62 and also took bronze in 15/16 50m breaststroke (brs) and 100m back. He was 5th in the senior (15/over) championship final in 100m back.
Alex won gold in 11/12 50m brs (37.94), silver in 50m fly (33.65) and bronze in 100m brs (1.22.95), just missing the medals in 200m brs in 2.58.78.
JOEL, ED AND BOGAC WIN AWARDS
Joel Sands (15) won silver in 15/16 800m free (9.29.67) and Ed Walsh took bronze in the 17/over 50m breaststroke in 31.46. Ed also made the senior 100m breaststroke final. Bogac Ayhan (14) just beat Felix to the bronze in the 13/14 50m fly in 28.89 and made the 14/u junior Championship finals in 100m and 200m fly, setting a best of 1.03.68 in the 100m heats.
STRONG SWIMS FROM THE CSC CONTINGENT
Sarah Taylor-Reid (12) was unlucky to just miss out on awards with 4th in 11/12 50m brs (40.15) and 5th in 200m brs (3.03.96). Jessica Hobbs (13) was 7th in the 13/u junior championship final in 200m IM, with a heat time of 2.37.70 and set impressive long course freestyle bests of 1.04.85 (100m), 2.19.06 (200m), 4.51.62 (400m) and 10.07.07 (800m).
Clara Ahmed (11) was 7th in 50m brs in 41.26 and swam well in 100m brs (1.29.58) and 400m free (5.24.94). Leo Jaggs (13) set long course PBs in 50m back (34.12), 50m fly (33.27) and 50m free (28.91) as did Metin Ayhan (16) in 50m fly (29.46) and 100m free (58.40).
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