Given the improvement over the last 12 months it was inevitable, but Callum Gascoyne has finally achieved the right to swim at the British Gas ASA National Swimming Championships. Last weekend, at Sheffield, Callum swam 100M freestyle in 56.49 seconds to win gold in that event, and in so doing drop below the national qualifying bar set at 56.79 seconds. This is a huge achievment for Callum and is the culmination of years of effort. The club wish him all the very best at the Championships in July. In his heat Callum had earned the privlidge of swimming against British Olympian Liam Tancock, a marker of just how good he has become. Callum also won gold at the 50M freestyle and two silvers for his efforts at 100M and 50M Breaststroke.
Jorge Thompson also swam at the same meet and set 4 new pb's, including a truly remarkable 9 second reduction in 200 backstroke. His time of 2.30.32 compares with his previous personnal best of 2.39.06 set only in February of this year. We hope Jorge continues to improve at this rate, or close to it, over the coming 12 months and thus creates more Midland Qualifying opportunities for himself.
While these heroics were unfolding at Sheffield a younger group of swimmers swam the Eckington Open meet. Both boys competing, William Needham and Aiden Broadbent, took awards from a number of events, while Aiden's sister, Laura, won an excellent 2nd place in her Breastroke event. Sian Heap went one better to win the 11-y-o Breaststoke race, while Claudia Bray, Lowri Heap and Cerys Heap swam a number of times but failed to gain places this time
Well done to Jorge Thompson who achieved a Midland Qualifying Time over the weekend. Swimming at Macclesfield, Jorge swam the 400M Freestyle event in 4 minutes 35.68 seconds. After two near misses earlier in the month you might say "third time lucky", but this achievement is actually reward of persistence and desire. Jorge now joins Helen Thornhill and Callum Gascoyne in the Regional Championships next month and we wish all three all the best.
The Swimming club is looking to run their first ‘Open Meet’ Gala in September 2013. As you can appreciate an event like this takes a lot of organising beforehand and on the day.
We are asking for your help to take on a role to help organise the gala and run it on the day.


