SWIMMERS FACE TOUGH TEST IN MANCHESTER
The cream of world disability swimming is in Manchester this
weekend for the third annual Visa Paralympic World Cup.
Swimmers ranked top 10 in the world will be in action at
the Manchester Aquatics Centre on Saturday (12 May) for the
daylong event showcasing 17 of the most competitive events
on the Paralympic programme.
An 18-strong British squad will be defending its table-topping
record in the pool, having won more medals than any other
nation for the last two years running. With 16 of the team
boasting medals from the December's World Championships, they
will be looking to impress on the international circuit 16
months out from the Beijing Paralympics.
A change in the programme means none of Britain's swimmers
will be defending their titles, but 10 swimmers from last
year's competition are back this year, including World Champions
Dave Roberts (Swim Swansea), Sascha Kindred (Leominster) and
Natalie Jones (Colchester Phoenix).
Among the usual suspects competing in Manchester is a group
of promising young talents, including Louise Watkin (Kelly
College), Matt Whorwood and Jonathan Fox (both Newquay Cormorants).
The Visa Paralympic World Cup marks the start of an intense
period of competition for Britain's top athletes and is followed
by the British International Disability Swimming Championships
and German Open Championships.
British Head Coach Billy Pye believes the World Cup is perfectly
placed to give swimmers the kick-start they need in the run-up
to the Paralympic Games.
"Most of the athletes have already raced since the World
Championships but the World Cup really kicks off our preparations
into Beijing," he said. "The athletes will need
to swim hard at all three meets in order to toughen up for
the eight-day Paralympic programme.
"With 16 months to go until the Games, the World Cup
will enable swimmers and their coaches to test where they
are and see what's still left to do."
Swimming is one of four sports at the Visa Paralympic World
Cup, which officially kicked off on Monday with wheelchair
basketball. More than 300 athletes are expected to take part
during the week of competition.
British swimmers competing in Manchester are as follows:
Kenny Cairns (Port Glasgow Otters)
Claire Cashmore (Kelly College)
Emma Cattle (Luton)
James Crisp (City of Sheffield)
Gareth Duke (Swim Swansea)
Jonathan Fox (Newquay Cormorants)
David Hill (Kelly College)
Liz Johnson (Swim Swansea)
Natalie Jones (Colchester Phoenix)
Sascha Kindred (Leominster Kingfisher)
Rachel Latham (Bolton Metro)
Nyree Lewis (Leominster Kingfisher)
David Roberts (Swim Swansea)
Anthony Stephens (Swim Swansea)
Matt Walker (Marple)
Louise Watkin (Kelly College)
Fran Williamson (Colchester Phoenix)
Matt Whorwood (Newquay Cormorants)
The following events are scheduled:
Male:
50m and 100m MD Freestyle.
SM6 200m Individual Medley
SB6 100m Breaststroke
S9 100m Backstroke
S3 100m Freestyle
S7 50m Freestyle
S5 100m Freestyle
S11 100m Backstroke
Female;
50m and 100m MD Freestyle.
SM6 200m Individual Medley
S6 100m Backstroke
S10 100m Backstroke
S3 50m Backstroke
S9 100m Freestyle
S8 100m Butterfly
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