News 2010 - Regional Press

Well Done to all who Attended the Regionals
Maxwell, Aylesbury’s performance swimming club, has competed in the South East Regional Age Group and Youth Championships during May and June. With almost 50 swimmers qualifying for these championships this represents the largest entry in the South East with the exception of Guildford which is a superb achievement in itself due to the very high standards and fast qualifying times required for this prestigious event.

The first two weekends was for the youth championships (Age Groups 14 -18). During these weekends many swimmers achieved many new personal bests. Kevin Brooks Head coach at Maxwell said “I'm pleased to see such strong numbers and depth in the majority of age groups this year; especially at the Bagcats. It's been a tough event to qualify for this year but hopefully these up and coming swimmers can now take their swimming further and be inspired to achieve not only more Regional times next year but also National Qualifying Times. In order to achieve this it’s going to take further commitment and effort in training - I'm sure they'll all rise to the challenge!"
The highlights from the youth championships were, Hannah Askew becoming South East champion in the 50m Butterfly in a time of 28.94, Rory Kemp in the distance events finishing 2nd in the 1500m and 3rd in the 800m in times of 17:25.68 and 9:16.19 respectively, Corrie James put in a personal best of 1:17.74 which resulted in an excellent 2nd Place in the 100m breaststroke. Oliver Brewer had an excellent weekend picking up 2nd in the 200m individual medley with a time of 2:17.35 and 3rd in both the 400m individual medley and 200m backstroke in time of 4:15.97 and 2:19.94.

In the disability category S15, Lucy Chenery had an amazing competition collecting 4 gold medals in the 50m, 100m & 400m Freestyle and a Silver in the 200M Freestyle.
The championship moved onto the younger swimmers for the last two weekends and in the 10 year old boys age group Billy Martin was the star of the show picking up 3 silver medals in the 100m and 200m Butterfly in times of 3:02.23 and 1:22.63 and in the 200m backstroke in a time of 2:56.58. Billy’s weekend was completed with another 3 bronze medals in the 400 and 200m Freestyle and 400m individual medley, This fantastic performance earned Billy 3rd Place in the overall 10 year old boys standings. The Girls didn’t let us down in this age group either with Erin Alder coming 3rd in the 100m breast stroke in 1:36.37.
Zoe Hancock swam well for the 11 year olds adding 2 Bronze medals to her collection in the 100 and 200m Butterfly in times of 1:17.44 and 2:53.58.

In the 12 year old girls, Leah Piccillo and Caitlin Wheatley had a championship to remember. Leah medalled in no less than 7 events, including a Gold in the 200m and 400m individual medley in a time of 2:33.07 and 5:27.16, 2 silvers in the 100m and 200m freestyle and 3 bronze medals in the 100m and 200m butterfly, and 800m freestyle, This impressive haul of medals also earned Leah 2nd in the overall standings for her age group. Caitlin excelled at her specialist stroke being crowned age group champion for both the 100m and 200m Butterfly in times of 1:08.46 and 2:31.60, and finished her weekend with a silver medal in the 400m individual medley.
The 13 year olds also brought home medals with Liam O’Brien taking 3rd in the 100m freestyle in 59.72. Ellie Bunce collected a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle in 4:38.17 and finally Alfie Bones also cherished a bronze medal in the final long distance event the 1500m freestyle in a superb time of 18:23.89.
“With so many swimmers qualifying for these championships this was by some way the most successful year for the club in many years. I am delighted with the efforts of all of the swimmers and extremely proud of all of their achievements” said Paul Pitts Maxwell Chairman.

The final major Competition for Maxwell Swimmers of 2010 will be the British Gas Nationals in July. This is the pinnacle for club swimmers on the domestic scene. As in previous years we want to wish our qualifiers, David Witham, Leah Piccillo, Caitlen Wheatley, Corrie James, Lucy Chenery ,Oliver Brewer, Hannah Askew and Graig Gibbons every success at the Nationals and express our sincere congratulations to them all on converting their talent through hard work into such a notable achievement. GO MAXWELL!!