SEASON'S BEST PERFORMANCE FOR MCCLATCHEY
Day four of the ASA Swim 21 National Youth Championships
& ASA National Championships (50m) 2007 saw a number of
personal best times and exceptionally close finals, featuring
the pick of British swimmers.
The large crowd also witnessed a World Record and a British
Record from the cream of British Disability swimmers.
Caitlin McClatchey took the Women's 200m Freestyle title
winning in a time of 1:58.51. The double Commonwealth Games
gold medallist was trailing Loughborough University team-mate
Mel Marshall at the 150m mark but kicked hard to take gold.
Marshall was second in 1:59.14 and Jo Jackson of Derwentside
was third in 1:59.39.
"My main aim for this meet was a season's best and that's
what I've done. I've been working on my speed and it's showing
all the time but there's still more to do."
Lizzie Simmonds continued her dominance of British women's
backstroke taking the title in the 100m final.
The 16-year old Lincoln Vulcans swimmer was pushed hard by
Katy Sexton of Portsmouth Northsea but had done enough to
win gold, finishing in a time of 1:01.28.
Sexton took silver in 1:01.93 and Karen Lee of Bath University
won bronze in 1:03.07.
It's been a tough couple of months for Simmonds.
She said, "I felt my shoulder tighten slightly tonight.
I gave it my all in the 200m event earlier in the meet, and
after a busy two weeks including the European Junior Championships
I'm beginning to feel it.
"It was still a fast time though and I'm not on my taper
yet for the international meets this month."
Looking ahead she added, "It's always nice to win a
medal but one day I'll start looking to attack those British
Records."
Jemma Lowe won the battle of the 17-year olds in the final
of the Women's 100m Butterfly. The Borough of Stockton swimmer
was pushed all the way by City of Liverpool's Fran Halsall
to win gold in 59.26. Halsall fought hard but in the end had
to settle for silver in 59.33 while Terri Dunning ensured
a tight finish to take bronze in 59.52.
After the race Lowe was clearly relieved:
"I was really nervous tonight. I knew they would be
chasing me all the way and I felt it. I could see swimmers
either side of me but I just made sure I gave it everything
I had.
"I felt tight after last night but I didn't want to
give it up and I'm happy with gold."
Liam Tancock won the final of the Men's 50m Backstroke, finishing
in a fast 24.96. Matt Clay of Swansea Performance Centre won
silver in 25.72, with Gregor Tait taking bronze in 25.93,
a new Scottish Record.
Tancock said, "It was a fast time but it was not the
best of finishes, I reached far too early.
"It's been a good week for me and I am enjoying the
meet. I'm swimming fast having had no rest but I'm looking
to go quicker in Japan next month.
"I'm looking forward to Japan, the experience and different
culture and of course to race against the rest of the world."
Michael Rock (Stockport Metro) stormed to victory in the
Men's 200m Butterfly final. Rock went out fast and from early
on the title was never in doubt The 20 year old finished in
1:57.48, over three seconds faster than second placed swimmer
Lewis Smith of Warrender Baths Club. Smith's time of 2:00.90
was a lifetime best. Andrew Mayor, City of Newcastle won bronze
in 2:01.08.
Jonathan Fox of Newquay was in world record breaking form
in the Men's MD 50m Backstroke.
In this morning's heats the 16-year old shaved half a second
off Andrew Lindsay's existing time for S7 classification,
to achieve a new world best standard of 35.16.
In the final he couldn't match the morning's efforts, although
Andrew Lindsay pushed him all the way in an attempt to reclaim
his record. Fox took the title with 1015 points (35.48) with
Lindsay (InCAS) winning silver with 997 points (35.69). David
Hill of Kelly College, an S9 athlete took bronze with 863
points (31.63).
"I've been targeting that record all season since the
World Championships" said Fox after the race. "It's
great to finally hold it after all that hard work."
"I was a bit slower tonight but overall I'm very happy
with how the meet is going."
In the Women's MD 50m Backstroke final S1 swimmer Danielle
Watts from City of Oxford took gold with 848 points. Jan Langton
of Kelly College (S6) was second with 815 points/48.27 and
Kate Grey of Thornbury (S9) won bronze with 730 points/37.69.
Kris Gilchrist (City of Edinburgh Swimming) showed his good
form in the Men's 200m Breaststroke final, finishing in 2:12.40,
over two seconds ahead of closest rival Richard Webb (Bath
University) who won silver in 2:14.48.
Chris Watkinson from Loughborough University was third in
2:16.85.
"That was a good time although I think I could have
gone faster in the last 50m," said Gilchrist after the
race.
"I tried something different tonight. I used to pick
up my pace on the third 50m. I've been doing it earlier recently
so decided to try it once again. It seems to have worked because
I felt strong, but I'll look at my times and see how it looked
on paper."
It was a game of cat and mouse for two of the UK's top female
distance swimmers in the 1500m Freestyle.
Rebecca Cooke (City of Glasgow Swim Team) and Cassie Patten
(Stockport Metro) both took to the front at several points
throughout the race, with neither managing to get more than
a heads advantage, until around the 250m mark.
It was Cooke who then found that extra head of steam and
looked certain for the win. Patten, however, responded and
kicked hard and the pair were again neck and neck going into
the final 50m.
In the end, it went down to the touch and Cooke came out
victorious with a time of 16:25.29, just a fingertip ahead
of Patten who had to settle for silver in 16:25.44. Jazmin
Carlin of Tigersharks won bronze in 16:51.83.
"That was a fun race", commented Cooke after the
race.
"I know Cassie has a great finish so I had to work hard
to find an edge. My main event is the 800m, but competing
in the 1500m is always helps with endurance."
Kate Haywood won her second title of the meet, taking gold
in the final of the Women's 100m Breaststroke. Haywood from
Loughborough University won in 31.62, just ahead of Zoe Baker
(Bath University) who finished in 31.70 and received a commemorative
medal.
Lowri Tynan of Wrexham picked up the silver medal in 32.49
and Kirsty Balfour from City of Edinburgh Swimming took bronze
in 32.84.
Haywood said, "I'm pleased but I could have gone quicker.
I'm lacking speed at the moment through an illness I had last
week. I noticed I was sluggish in the 100m event but I'm sure
it will all come right over the next two weeks leading up
to Japan.
"Overall it's been a good week for me and I'm looking
to build on my success over the rest of the season."
Claire Cashmore of Kelly College (SB8) broke the British
Record in the final of the Women's MD 100m Breaststroke. Cashmore
finished with the bronze medal with a time of 1:27.26 and
817 points. Liz Johnson from Swansea Performance Centre (SB6)
took the title in 1:44.15/907 points with Charlotte Henshaw
winning silver in 1:45.06/884 points.
Following the race Cashmore said,
"I'm quite happy but felt I could have gone quicker.
Training has been very good and I expected more but I know
it will happen. I'm not taking a break as its all going so
well but I'll lower my intensity over the next couple of weeks
before we look to Beijing."
In the Men's MD 100m Breaststroke final, the honours went
to Sascha Kindred of Leominster (S7) who won gold in 1:23.91/960
points. Silver went to Dave Ellis of Derventio (S13) in 1:12.68
and Matthew Whorwood of Newquay (S6) took bronze in 1:37.04/722
points.
Bolton Metro Club took gold and bronze medals in the Men's
15/16 yrs 200m Freestyle. Ryan Bennett took the gold in a
time of 1:51.87 with bronze going to Thomas Booth in 1:54.76.
Silver went to Thomas Parris of Crawley in 1:53.66.
In the 17/18 yrs age group, the title went to Christopher
Walker-Hebborn of Team Ipswich in 1:51.87. Bolton Metro's
Robert Bale took silver in 1:52.51, just ahead of Christopher
Fox of Wolverhampton who won bronze in 1:52.54.
In the Women's 14/15 yrs 200m IM the title went to Sophie
Allen of Lincoln Vulcans in 2:18.65. Aimee Willmott, recently
returned from the EYOF in Belgrade, was second in 2:21.02
and Robyn Matthews (City of Edinburgh Swimming) claimed third
place in 2:22.79.
In the 16/17 yrs age group, Karlien Van Heerden from South
Africa was awarded a commemorative medal for finishing first
in 2:18.68, but the National title went to Jessica Dickons
from Borough of Stockton who touched home in 2:18.73.
Emma Smithurst from Derventio won silver in 2:19.59 and Kate
Hutchinson from City of Leeds took bronze in 2:20.72.
The Men's 400m Medley Relay was won by Millfield School in
3:51.81. Plymouth Leander were second in 3:52.60 and City
of Newcastle picked up the bronze medal in 3:55.33.
In the Women's event it was the team from Nova Centurion
who won gold in 4:17.16, well ahead of silver medallists Beckenham
who finished in 4:21.71. The team from City of Birmingham
were third in 4:22.10.
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