SWIMMING: SEVEN Princethorpe College swimmers have continued in the school’s strong tradition of qualifying for the Independent Schools’ Association’s National Swimming Championships which will be held in London early next year.
A team of 30 travelled to Walsall Gala Baths to compete against 15 other regional schools and the pressure was on for national qualifying spots the minute the first whistle blew.
In swimming it’s often the distance of a thumbnail that separates the top places were no exceptions to this rule in Walsall with Jack Dennis being out-touched by a breath in the first race.
Fortunately for Jack his power saw him qualify for the Nationals as one of the fastest freestylers where he will join the Midlands relay team, for the second time, in January.
Caitlin Newport and Mollie Dibb (Leamington SC) saw off the competition in their age group breaststroke events with both girls winning their heats. Caitlin, a City of Coventry swimmer, enjoys a 4.30am start for some of her weekday training sessions. Dibb, a veteran of the ISA Championships, was pleased with her breaststroke and 100IM, where she gained a pb in 1.11secs.
Newcomer Jess Mackenzie (Year 7) proved what a welcome addition she is to the team in the individual backstroke and freestyle races.
Princethorpe pretty much had a clean sweep in the freestyle with power house Lucia McCosker-New (Year 8) replicating exactly what she did last year.
Charlie Bracken also came good (Year 8) and dominated his speedy heat too earning him a first time ticket to London for his efforts. And at the top end of the age group Noah Slinn (UVI) streamed through the water in 26.50 secs to win his race.
In all, a tally of seven swimmers will head down to Stratford, East London, on January 21 to the London Aquatics Centre. No better arena is there in the country to welcome the very best Independent Schools swimmers in which promises to be an exciting day of competition.
