BRITISH SQUAD TAKES TOP TEAM TROPHY IN U.S.
A squad of 16 British swimmers overcame a class American
field together with the fatigue of a tough three-week training
camp when they ended a U.S. tour at the Novaquatics Speedo
Grand Challenge meet in Irvine, Calfornia with the team trophy.
Tired and without rest following their Phoenix camp, the
small team faced some of the U.S. swimming team that was so
dominant at this year's World Championships in the likes of
Amanda Beard, Jason Lezak, Klete Keller and Tara Kirk.
But the British group met the challenge head-on to compile
a list of honours that included 11 gold medals, nine silver,
five bronze, four meet records and the coveted team trophy.
British Head Coach Ian Turner ensured his swimmers faced
a busy racing schedule on each of the three days of the meet
with many entered into alternative events to their main focus.
Many of the races saw British athletes continuing close rivalries
developed within the squad on the Phoenix camp and this delivered
a number of first, second and third finishes for the team
as they achieved Turner's focus of developing that competitive
edge.
In the Men's 400m Freestyle Dave Carry (Aberdeen Dolphins)
took gold in a new meet record of 3:50.73 ahead of David Davies
(City of Cardiff) in 3:53.00, John Owen (City of Edinburgh)
3:56.80 and Michael Unsworth (Wigan BEST) in 3:57.87 for a
top four finish.
Carry also won gold in the 200m Freestyle in another meet
record 1:49.50 from team mate Ross Davenport (Loughborough
University) in 1:49.94 with the silver.
Despite a demanding competition schedule, Mel Marshall (Loughborough
University) left California with two gold and three silver.
Marshall won the Women's 50m Freestyle in 26.10 and the 200m
Freestyle in 2:00.17.
Marshall's silver medals came in the 400m Freestyle (4:16.93)
the 100m Backstroke (1:03.57) and 200m Backstroke (2:17.56).
James Goddard (Loughborough University) looked good in the
men's backstroke events and took gold over 200m in 2:01.25.
He also took top honours in the Men's 200m Individual Medley
in 2:02.26 ahead of Euan Dale (Loughborough University) in
2:02.62 with the bronze.
Goddard finished with the bronze in the 100m Backstroke in
57:02 with gold going to Matt Clay (Swansea Performance) in
56.66 and Simon Burnett (Wycombe/Arizona) made it a British
clean sweep with the silver in 57.00.
Dale had an impressive meet when he added the Men's 400m
IM title in 4:21.99 as well as the Men's 200m Breaststroke
gold in 2:15.84. Silver went to James Kirton (City of Sheffield)
in 2:16.08 and Chris Cook (City of Newcastle) grabbed the
bronze in 2:17.75.
The Men's 100m event saw Cook come out on top in a new meet
record of 1:02.25 and Kirton took the silver in 1:04.10. Davenport
secured the bronze in the Men's 100m Freestyle in 50.54.
Davies took the Men's 1500m Freestyle title in a meet record
of 15:17.03 ahead of Michael Unsworth in 15:35.20.
British Swimmers who attended the Phoenix Warm Weather
Camp (6th to 24th May) and
the Irvine meet in California (25th to 27th May) are:
Simon Burnett (Wycombe/Arizona)
David Carry (Aberdeen Dolphins)
Matthew Clay (Swansea Performance)
Chris Cook (City of Newcastle)
Daniel Coombs (Gallica)
Euan Dale (Loughborough University)
Ross Davenport (Loughborough University)
David Davies (City of Cardiff)
James Goddard (Loughborough University)
Ben Hockin (Swansea Performance)
James Kirton (City of Sheffield)
Robert Lang (City of Edinburgh)
Dean Milwain (Loughborough University)
John Owen (City of Edinburgh)
Michael Unsworth (Wigan BEST)
Melanie Marshall (Loughborough University)
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