Here are the posts for December 2009

A long and busy year of competition for two Wyre Forest swimmers came to an end last weekend when Claire Cashmore and Fran O’Connor swam in the Welsh Long Course Championships in Swansea. Most of the swimmers who had competed in the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro the previous week were feeling the effects of viral infections they had picked up while they were away and, as a result, recorded times that were below their personal bests.

However, Fran (18), representing Swansea Performance, managed to buck that trend on the first day as she knocked four seconds off her own British record for the S7 400 metre Freestyle as she stopped the clock in 5:45.86 to win the Gold medal. She also won Gold in the 50 and 100 metre Freestyle events.

Claire (21), representing City of Leeds, won Gold in the S9 100 metre Breaststroke and a Bronze in the 200 metre Individual medley before withdrawing from the rest of the competition due to ill-health.

Both can now enjoy a well-earned break from competition and a rest from hard training before resuming their intensive training in the New Year.
 

Congratulations to both A and B team, last night's Arena galas went extremely well for both teams despite illness. Wyre Forest hosted the 'A' team gala at Cheslyn Hay and once again the organisation went brilliantly. Thanks to everyone who helped out.

The 'A' team came 1st in their round with 213 points, 2nd Haden Hill 204 points, 3rd Mansfield 194, 4th Derby Phoenix with 184 and Northgate came 5th with 181.

Congratulations to the following swimmers who took 1st places:

Individual Events: Max Ladbrooke 15/u 4 lths backstroke and 15/u 4 lths Free, Meg Tinsdale 13/u 4 lths back and 13/u 4 lths Free, Eliza Bradley 15/u 4 lths fly, Scott Allin Open 4 lths back, Beth Hinton 10-11 2 lths breast, Sophie Hall 10-11 2 lths Free and Calum Tinsdale 10-11 2 lths Free.

Team Events: Boys 9 to 11 Freestyle Relay Team of Jacob Jackson, AJ Renton, Calum Tinsdale and Jon McMahon and Medley Relay Team of Renton,Jackson, McMahon and Tinsdale and the Men's Open Medley Relay Team of Scott Allin, Josh Bradley, Luke Ladbrooke and Dan Eddies.

The 'B' Team came 3rd in their round with 162 points, Bilston 1st with 236 points, Linslade Crusaders 2nd with 204 points, Cinderford 4th with 160 points, Solihull B 5th with 142 points and Oldbury were 6th with 125 points.

Well done to the Girls 15/u Freestyle Relay team of Pippa Guest, Grace Catchpole, Jessica Smith and Sophie Haycock-Jones who came 1st and to Sophie Haycock-Jones who also came 1st in the 4 lths Freestyle.

The latest Newsletter is now available on the Forum.

Claire on top of the World

Wyre Forest Swimming Club member, Claire Cashmore (21) came away with two Gold and two Silver medals form the IPC World Short Course Championships in Rio de Janeiro last week. The event was staged in an open-air pool with some spectacular views of the city. However, the swimmers had to contend with unpredictable weather and, on a number of occasions, sessions were suspended as thunder storms passed overhead.

Swimming in the S9 category, Claire won an individual Gold medal in the 100 metre Individual Medley as she stopped the clock in a new world record time of 1:11.83. Adding to her joy was the fact that her best friend, Kate Grey, won Bronze in the same race. Claire also helped her British team mates to a Gold medal and another World record in the 4x100 metre Medley relay on the final day. She also won Silver medals in the 100 metre Breaststroke and 200 metre Individual medley races, setting new personal best times. She also came sixth in the 100 metre Butterfly final in another personal best time.

Club colleague, Fran O’Connor (18), swimming in the S7 category, set a new British record in the heat of the 400 metre Freestyle, which she improved further in the final, despite swimming in torrential rain, as she finished eighth. She was one of only two Europeans to qualify for the finals of the 50 metre and 100 metre Freestyle events. She finished seventh in the former and sixth in the latter.

Both girls compete in the Welsh Long Course Championships in Swansea next weekend before they return home for a well-earned rest over the Christmas period.