ENGLAND SOUTH EAST ARE TOP OF THE CLASS
England South East are celebrating after a solid team effort
helped them claim 11 gold medals and win three out of six
relay titles at the Inaugural UK School Games in Glasgow.
As Britain builds momentum toward hosting the Olympics in
2012, some of the country's top young swimmers went head to
head at the Tollcross pool in a packed schedule comprising
36 events in one day - 10 of those multi-disability.
Chris Walker-Hebborn, one of three athletes bound for British
Swimming's offshore centre on the Australian Gold Coast next
year, led the charge for the South East by picking up three
gold and one silver medal.
The West Suffolk swimmer collected individual gold and silver
in the 100m and 200m Backstroke respectively before joining
his team mates for a brace of gold in the 4x100m and 4x200m
Freestyle events.
"It's been a great meet for me," he said. "My
times aren't the best, but I hit my PB in one of the relays
and I was just outside it in the 100m Backstroke. I've just
come back from a short break, so to do as well as I have is
great.
"For the team to come top at the first ever Games is
immense. There was such a great atmosphere in the relay and
compared to other team events I've been to, this has got to
be the best."
South East team mate Jonathan Quinn was also key to the region's
haul, notching up a trio of top place finishes.
In his first outing of the day, Quinn upset the form books
to beat favourite Xavier Mohammed in the 400m Individual Medley.
With both athletes just returned from the World Youth Games
in Rio, where Mohammed clinched silver in the 200m event,
it was a tough fight as Quinn pushed ahead to touch a second
in front in 4:28.88. Mohammed, swimming for England South
West, took silver in 4:29.89.
A second individual gold for Quinn came in the 400m Freestyle
where the Hatfield swimmer led from the start, while his third
top finish was courtesy of the team effort alongside Walker-Hebborn
in the 4x200m Freestyle.
In spite of a week spent out the pool following a gruelling
month of competition and despite his disappointment in the
individual medley, two gold, a silver and a bronze proved
Bexley's Mohammed had not suffered too much form-wise.
The 16-year-old collected gold in the 200m Backstroke and
4x200m Relay, silver in the 400m Individual Medley and bronze
in the 4x200m Freestyle to claim the largest haul from a South
West male.
"It was difficult coming here after having such a good
result at the Worlds and having my best ever swim at the Nationals
last month," he said. "I'm a bit disappointed with
my times, but I guess I can't expect much more after a week
out of the pool and I know I can do better."
Louise Farrer-Fisher boasted the South West's top haul from
a female, and was also the number one performer of the meet,
with a staggering four gold medals. The Stretham swimmer won
gold in all but one of the events she entered, claiming the
title in the 100m and 200m Freestyle events as well as the
4x100m and 4x200m Relays.
Team mate Sarah Owen was the next best female with three
gold, courtesy of the team efforts in the relay and an individual
stab in the 100m Backstroke.
Leading the way for the Scots was the aptly named Daniel
Scot who takes home a medal of each colour for his Scotland
South and East team. The Glenrothes swimmer won gold in the
50m Freestyle, silver in the 100m Butterfly and bronze in
the 4x100m Freestyle.
"I was just off my PB in the individual events which
I am quite surprised with considering I've only just returned
to training," he admitted. "I'm the Scottish Junior
Record holder in the 50m Free, so it was good to get the title
here on home soil.
"To swim at a competition like the UK School Games is
a great experience and I've really enjoyed myself these last
couple of days. I've had talks from top swimmers before and
being here is similar to their descriptions from the Olympics
and Commonwealth Games. I would love to make it to an Olympics
one day, but for now I'm concentrating on making it to the
European Juniors next year."
In the female camp, City of Glasgow's Rebecca Hillis was
boosted by the presence of European Champion Kirsty Balfour
(who helped open the swimming events this morning) and dominated
the Breaststroke events, taking gold over 100m and 200m. The
Scotland West and North swimmer was delighted with her performance.
"I'm so happy - you don't get to do the double very
often," she said. "To compete at a multi-sport event
like this is special and to have it taking place just down
the road is a bonus.
"It's really good too to know that champions like Kirsty
are watching you swim and supporting the younger generation.
Their encouragement and support makes you want success even
more."
In the multi-disability events, 12-year-old Elizabeth Simpkin
showed impressive potential with gold in the 100m Backstroke
and 100m Butterfly as well as a bronze in the 100m Freestyle.
Swimming for England North, Simpkin was pleased with her
performances.
"I wasn't sure who I would be competing against, so
it was difficult to know how I would perform," she said.
"I've not competed at an event like this before, but
to be involved in a mixed team has been a really good experience.
I'm happy with how I've swum here and my aim now is to work
my way up into the British senior squad and get to the London
Paralympics."
England South East's Louise Watkin was also in good form
to pick up gold in the 50m and 100m Freestyle.
The 14-year-old believes the UK School Games are a good way
to measure her progress ahead of the IPC World Championships
this December.
"I'm really pleased to win gold in both my events,"
she said. "It's a great opportunity to see how I'm doing
and what I need to work on, and a big competition like this
has helped prepare me for what to expect at the World Championships."
The UK School Games conclude tomorrow with the final events
in athletics, table tennis and fencing.
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