Swim England National Summer Meet
The GoCardless Swim England National Summer Meet is Swim England’s biggest domestic swimming event of the year. Once the top ranked swimmers have been invited to British Summer Champs, the next ranked swimmers at Swim England affiliated clubs – or those who have chosen to be ranked as an English swimmer – are invited to compete at the Summer Nationals. The competition took place at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, on 29 July – 3 August. This was the Pink Army’s last hurrah of the season.
The first two days of competition involved most of our swimmers who had qualified for the competition with Tommy and Perrin swimming the most lengths in the distance free events for men. Ever competed in the 400IM after a busy week at British. Camille swam a new PB in the 200m back where she finished 3rd out of the 18yr olds in the 18/over category. Daniel kicked off his competition with the 200m butterfly. Perrin had some big drops in time to move him up the final rankings and Tommy had a good 100m back in a new PB. On her national debut, Nieve qualified for finals where she stepped up with a new best time. Alexandra continued her busy couple of weeks of swimming narrowly missing out on a medal in the 50m butterfly.
Our only medal of the week came on day 2 when Caitlin produced season’s best times to qualify for the 100m breast final where she secured the bronze medal with a strong performance in a tight race.
Day 3 of the meet, her last race of the season and very busy two weeks, Alexandra qualified for another final, this time in the 100m fly. Lucas raced in his first event of the week going under 53 seconds for the first time in the 100m free. Sam faced the gruelling 400IM and was just off his entry time. Great achievements for both boys especially considering they have just finished sitting their A levels. Day 4 and Tommy and Perrin were both back for the 800m free with Tommy also going in the 200m back, a tough combo. Perrin had a other big drop for another PB. Daniel knocked a few more tenths off his 100m fly followed by PB’s for both of our 100m backstrokers, Erin and Camille (whose time was 2nd fastest in 18 yr olds).
Day 5 saw Millie in her national debut. After an unfortunate injury a week before the competition throwing doubt on whether she would be able to compete or not (and having to withdraw from the 800m), she toughed out the 1500m. Megan, swimming in her final race before university beckons, raced in the 50m breaststroke. Lucas swam a fantastic 50m free, taking a huge .5 second chunk off his time and being the youngest and only 18 year old to qualify for the 18/over final. Here he PB’d again to move up one place.
On the final day of racing, Nieve was back in the 200m breast to finish her week of racing. Daniel produced a new PB in the 50m fly to qualify him for the night’s final. Lucas also dropped time in the same event to make it through to his final that evening. Erin had a strong morning swim to place her well going into the last finals of the week. All three were involved in very close, exciting final races to complete a fantastic week for the Pink Army. Well done everyone! Enjoy your rest.
