Great results for Maxwell at the South East Youth Regional Championships

The first two weekends in May saw the South East Regional Youth Championships held in the 50-metre pool at Aldershot in Hampshire. This competition for girls of 14 years of age and over and boys of 15 years and over brings together the fastest swimmers from the region. Maxwell Swim Club had an amazing 85 swims at the Championships with 9 girls and 9 boys representing the club.

Of the girls, 16-year-old Hannah Askew was the most successful gaining podium places in the 100 metres and 200 metres Freestyle and Butterfly events. Sarah Powell (15) achieved a range of top ten finishes in her Individual Medley, Breaststroke and Backstroke events. The 800 metres Freestyle event saw Holly McIntyre (15) gain a 7th place in a time of 10:00.88. Coach Ian Blyth was pleased with the performance of Corinne James (14) who as one of the youngest girls taking part achieved numerous personal bests including a time of 38.32 in the 50 metres Breaststroke so attaining a top ten finish in this event. Credit also goes to Ashling Street (16) who was Maxwell’s only female swimmer to compete in the 1500 metres Freestyle, an event she completed in a time of 20:20.50.

The distance events produced an incredible seven top 4 finishes for Maxwell’s boys. In the 17 year old and over age group, Rory Kemp took Gold in both the 800 and 1500 metres Freestyle events in times of 8:44.98 and 16:54.87 respectively. Ollie Brewer won 1500 metres Freestyle Gold in the 16-year-old category finishing in 17:15.20. Thomas Smith (17) earned Silver in the 1500 metres and a Bronze in the 800 metres. Bronze was also achieved by Alexander Pitts (17) in the 1500 metres, whilst Jonny Quainton (16) earned 4th place in the 800 metres.

Cameron Brown (18) swam 50 metres Breaststroke in a time of 31.90 to take a 4th place in this event and also achieved top ten finishes in both the 50 metres Butterfly and 50 metres Freestyle. Rory Kemp and Ollie Brewer complemented their successes in the distance events with top ten finishes in both the 200 and 400 metres Freestyle events for the former and the 100 and 200 metres Backstroke and 200 metres Individual Medley for the latter. In addition, Thomas Smith managed 6th and 7th place finishes in the 400 metres Individual Medley and 400 metres Freestyle events respectively.
 

Multiple Medals for Maxwell at Regional Age Group Championships

Over two June weekends eight girls and nine boys represented Aylesbury-based Maxwell Swim Club at the South East Regional BAGCAT Championships, held at the K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley. This event sees the best younger swimmers from across the region competing for honours and this takes place in a 50 metre pool, which for the Maxwell swimmers adds another challenge, as most of their swimming is undertaken in 25 metre pools. Nevertheless, the Championships revealed some great successes for the Club.

Indeed, the first morning saw Leah Picillo (10) qualify fourth fastest for the final of the 200 metres Individual Medley, before shortly afterwards producing a perfectly timed sprint finish to win Gold in the 100 metres Butterfly. She then completed a great morning by winning her second Gold in the final of the 200 metres Individual Medley in a time of 2:56.31, touching less than a quarter of a second in front of her next nearest competitor and taking more than three seconds off her heat time. Leah added to her medals with a Bronze in the 200 metres Butterfly and had other success with a fourth place in the 400 metres Individual Medley and by finishing sixth in both the 100 and 200 metres Breaststroke events. Overall Leah came third in the BAGCAT competition for her age group.

The Club’s other Gold was won by Alfie Bones (11) who completed the 100 metres Backstroke in a time of 1:17.76 to take first place. Alfie also had top ten finishes in the 100 metres Freestyle, the 200 metres Backstroke and the 200 metres Breaststroke events.

Caitlin Wheatley (10) completed Maxwell’s medal haul, gaining two Silvers, one in the 100 metres Butterfly and the other in the 200 metres Butterfly which she finished in an impressive 2:57.74. Caitlin came sixth in the overall BAGCAT Standings helped by other top ten finishes in the 200 metres Backstroke and the 400 metres Individual Medley.

Of the other Girls competing Anna Evison (13) produced some good swims to achieve an fifth place in the 100 metres Breaststroke in a time of 1:22.76, which she complemented with eighth place finishes in both the 100 and 200 metres Freestyle events, a ninth in the 200 metres Breaststroke and a tenth in the 400 metres Individual Medley.  Other Maxwell Girls achieving top ten finishes were Abi Bunce (13) in the 400 Metres Freestyle and Emily Martin (11) in the 800 metres Freestyle.

Thomas Mayho (14) and Aaron Lee (13) came ninth and tenth in the BAGCAT Standings for their Age Groups respectively. For Thomas, fifth was his highest place finish that he achieved in the 200 metres Backstroke, completing the race in a time of 2:25.50. He also came sixth in the 1500 metres Freestyle and ninth in the 100 metres Backstroke. For Aaron a time of 1:00.48 was rewarded with a fourth place finish in the 100 metres Freestyle, a placing that was to be repeated in the 400 metres Freestyle. Indeed Aaron competed at a consistently high level also achieving top ten finishes in the 200 and 800 metres Freestyle events, the 100 and 200 metres Breaststroke events, the 100 metres Backstroke and the 200 metres Individual Medley events.

Success for the Club’s other boys came from Joshua Turner (13) who achieved a seventh place in the 200 metres Breaststroke; Luke Scales (10) who came eighth in the 400 metres Freestyle; and Liam O’Brien (11) by finishing ninth in the 100 metres Freestyle. 

 

Maxwell Swim Club