Herts ASA Bagats Junior/Youth Championships 2008

Bagcat Championships at Norwich 7^th /8^th and 14^th/15^th June 2008

Two of Hoddesdon swimmers qualified for this year’s ASA EAST Region Bagcat Championships. Thomas Stevens 10yrs and his brother Chris 13yr travelled to Norwich to compete in the Long Course pool accompanied by head coach Janet Warrington.

They swam exceedingly well in such a prestigious event where the swimming standards were of the very best, achieving some excellent personal best times along the way.

Tomas came 11^th in the 100m breaststroke and 15^th in the 200m breaststroke. In the freestyle events he came 20^th in the 100m event and 27^th in the 200m event. He also came 11^th in the 400 IM with negative splits on every 100m. Achieving 23^rd place overall in his age group.

Chris did really well to be placed 5^th in the 100m freestyle heat with a massive personal best time of 1.00.73. Going straight into the final very tired he came 8^th. In the 200m backstroke he came 17^th and was placed 25^th overall in his age group.

We would like to say well done to the boys for their achievements over the last two weekends.

Well done to Rebecca and John at the Bagcats presentation evening

Well done to Rebecca Freestone for her well earned 3rd place in the 9 year old age group in the 2008 Bagcats. Also well done to John Ayres for his 7th place in the boys 14 year old age group in the 2008 Bagcats. link to medal photo of Rebecca and John

Weekend Three Herts Counties

The County and Bagcat competitions finished last weekend at Borehamwood, with Hoddesdon swimmers enjoying their final races.

Head Coach Janet Warrington was very proud of all her squad who competed. She was exhausted after three weekends of intense competition, but couldn’t have asked for anymore from her swimmers.

Lucy Charles continued with her fantastic form & remained unbeaten in all her races in the 14 year age group.On Saturday she won the 50m Backstroke in her own age group & in the Youth competition & then went on to do the same in the 200m individual medley.On Sunday morning she swam a fantastic 50m Butterfly race & again took the title in her own age group & the youth competition.Her last race of the competition was the tough 400m individual medley but she was determined that this was going to be her race & she didn’t disappoint.She stormed home to victory with a massive 6 second personal best taking the title not only in her age group & Youth competition but in the overall championship winning two trophies for her effort.

9Year old Georgina Fisher who was enjoying her first taste of county competition swam a fantastic 50m freestyle race on Sunday.She took an incredible 6 seconds of her personal best to be ranked 3^rd in the heats.She went on to swim a brilliant final smashing another 2 seconds off her time & took the silver medal.

Kirstin Meikle rounded off her counties campaign with some fine racing. On Saturday she swam a great 200m backstroke taking 4 seconds of her personal best & finishing 4^th. On Sunday morning she made it to the finals of both the 100m individual medley & 50m freestyle.In both events she swam faster in the finals but was just nudged out of medal position. Her 3 great weekends of swimming will certainly put her in the top 5 swimmers in the 11 year old age group when all the points have been calculated later this month.

Becky Freestone,another swimmer having her first taste of county swimming was in good form for the last weekend.She finished 7^th in the 200m Backstroke & made the finals of the 100m individual medley & 50m freestyle.She swam faster in the 50m freestyle final but had to settle with 5^th place & was 6^th in the 100m individual medley.Her consistent good form should put her in the top 3 of the 9 year old age group again when the points have been calculated later this month.

Emma Warrington swam a good 200m breaststroke & claimed silver in her age group & Youth competition.She also swam personal bests in her 100m Backstroke & 200m individual medley races.

Hayley Warrington swam well over the weekend achieving personal bests in 3 out her 4 races. Good swims & personal bests were also achieved by Holly Charles, Alex King, Jess Waters, Francesca Bannon, Sydney Crouch, Amy Riddick, Emma Riddick, Rebecca Suzan, Tara Keswick, Roya Keswick & Sharn Verrier.

The Boys of Hoddesdon swimming club were also celebrating success. Ben Mason swam a great 200m Freestyle & got 3^rd place in his 15 year age group. His swim was an East region qualifying time & also broke the club record. Ben then went on to swim his favored 100m freestyle & took silver.

9 year old Matthew Day another swimmer at his first county competition swam a great 200m freestyle race knocking a massive 30 seconds of his previous best time. He finished a credible 4^th and made it to the final of the 50m butterfly & finished 5^th.

John Ayres & Josh Arnold swam well at the weekend & both made it to the 100m Back final finishing 4^th & 5^th.

Kane Hagley-King & Luke Broughal both swam well in their 200m Freestyle event. Both knocking over 5 seconds off their previous best times.

Over the weekend Personal bests were also achieved by Jed Ardren & Jordan Icelli.

The Counties ended on a high on Sunday afternoon with the relay section.The girls U16 medley team of Sharn Verrier, Emma Warrington , Holly Gannon & Lucy Charles claimed silver & broke a long standing club record for that event.

Most of the swimmers will now be trying to rest over the Easter Weekend before they go off to their very hard swim/training camp held at St Bedes school in East Sussex. County Team 2008

Weekend Two Herts Counties

Hoddesdon swimming club continued their good form last weekend and returned from Borehamwood with great results.

The Golden Girls this weekend were Lucy Charles, Emma Warrington and Becky Freestone. Lucy won the 14 yrs 50m freestyle event and then made the final of the 100m freestyle with the fastest heat time. In the final she broke the minute with a superb 59.49 new personal best and National qualifying time. This gave her the 14 yrs county record and 1^st place in the Junior Championship. Then on Sunday evening she swam the 1500m freestyle, winning with a new personal best and a club record.

Emma Warrington swimming in her favoured 100m breaststroke was also fastest in the 14yrs heat and went into the final well placed to win the gold. She swam a great race to capture the overall championship and youth titles.Becky Freestone continued her good start in the 9yrs competition, she was ranked number one in the 200m Individual medley and succeeded by winning the event.She got the gold with a new personal best and club record. This sets her up with a good chance of a top finish in her age group. Golden girls

Other medalists were Paul O’Doherty and Ben Mason who achieved silver and bronze respectively in the 15yrs 100m butterfly. Paul’s time qualified him for the East regions competition and Ben also went on to a new personal best in his 200m backstroke, with a fourth place finish. Paul also won a silver on Sunday evening in his 15yrs 1500m freestyle event.

Josh Arnold swam two events on Saturday making the final in both races. He finished 5^th in the 50m backstroke with a new personal best and 5^th in the final. His 100m individual medley also got him into the final with a new personal best and then under an hour later he went faster in the final knocking a further one second off his new best time.

Other finalists were Kirstin Meikle 100m freestyle, Hayley Warrington 100m freestyle, Jes Waters 50m breaststroke and Matthew Day 100m Individual medley.

Further good swims and new personal bests came from Alex King in both her 50m breaststroke and 100m freestyle races. Georgina Fisher, Francesca Bannon, Roya Keswick, Amy Riddick, Rebecca Suzan, Sharn Verrier and Saffron Ardren also all achieved new personal bests. Not to be outdone boys, Kane Hagley-King, Chris Smith, Luke Broughal, Jed Ardren and Jordan Icelli all swam new personal best times.

Emma Riddick also swam her way to a new personal best on Sunday in her 1500m freestyle race.

Hoddesdon swimmers in top form at County Champs

The Hertfordshire County swimming Championships started last weekend at Borehamwood. The events are contested over three weekends this month and are looking good for Hoddesdon swimmers already.

Lucy Charles shone in the youth championships with some excellent swims. She won all four of her races in the junior championship and 14 year age group, as well as being overall champion in the 200m Backstroke in all ages with a new county record. She also broke the county record in the 200m freestyle and gave a fantastic performance in her 400m freestyle race with a new national qualifying time. All four of her swims were new personal bests and with national qualifying times as well, her confidence for the rest of the champs is high.

Emma Warrington also had a great weekend, winning the 50m breaststroke outright in all age groups and achieving a new personal best in her 200m backstroke. She is looking forward to her forthcoming 100m and 200m breaststroke events, which is her strongest disciplines.

Kirstin Meikle won a bronze medal in her 50m backstroke race and reached the finals of the100m backstroke and 50m butterfly narrowly missing a second bronze medal in the 50m butterfly by a finger nail. She got new personal best times in her 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle event.

Paul O’Doherty won a gold medal in his 200m butterfly and a bronze in the 800m freestyle. They were also both club records and he achieved an East region time in his 50m freestyle.

Becky Freestone won two silver medals in her fist championships. She had new personal bests in both her 50m butterfly and 200m breaststroke on the way to winning the medals. She also made the final of the 50m backstroke with a new PB.

John Ayres and Holly Gannon won bronze medals, John in his 200m backstroke and Holly in her 100m butterfly. John also achieved two further personal bests.

Personal bests were also achieved by girls Hayley Warrington, Holly Charles, Alex King, Jes Waters, Georgina Fisher, Francesca Bannon, Amy Riddick, Rebecca Suzan, Roya Keswick, Sharn Verrier and Sydney Crouch who made the final of the 50m backstroke.

Boys also got on the personal best train, with Matthew Day, Kane Hagley-King, Chris Smith, Luke Broughal, Josh Arnold and Jordan Icelli all achieving new best times.

Ben Mason narrowly missed a medal in his 50m freestyle, but achieved a East region qualifying time for his efforts.

Head Coach Janet Warrington was thrilled with all the great swims and was proud to be the coach of Hoddesdon Swimming Club. She looks forward to all the events to come.