Bishop’s Stortford Swimming Club’s head coach Kristof Michaliszyn and five swimmers made a hugely successful trip to Glasgow last week to compete in the British Gas Scottish National Championships gaining Championships, regional records, club records and personal best times. It was the first time swimmers from the club had made the trip north for this competition and it was well worthwhile.

Bishops Stortford swimming club took part in the Badger Trophy Gala at Fanshawe Pool in Ware on Saturday 12th June.

Stortford led the competition from start to finish winning 35 out of 49 events. Individual wins in the Under 11 age group for Steven Raphy 25m Breaststroke (23.45), Ellie Mitchell 25m Freestyle (16.36), Megan Cook 25m Butterfly (19.42), Harry Hindmarch 25m Butterfly (20.89), Zara Pretious-White 25m Backstroke (20.16), Ciaran Galligan 25m Backstroke (22.39). Under 13 age group for Amber Cardwell 25m Butterfly (18.51), Martin Brett 50m Backstroke (39.10), Abby Springham 50m Freestyle (35.73), Cameron Brickel (33.64). Under 15 age group for Josh Lloyd 100m Backstroke (1.16.80), Jessica Wacey 50m Butterfly (33.98), Thomas Connolly 50m Butterfly (33.01). Open age group for Alex Snowden 100m Freestyle (56.92) 100m Breaststroke (1.15.36), Charlotte Barton 100m Breaststroke (1.28.01), Jake Lloyd 50m Butterfly (29.61), Lauren Copping 100m Backstroke (1.15.74)

The whole team pulled together and this showed as every relay team in every age group came first with convincing wins in both the 4 x 25m Freestyle and Medley Relays

Under 11 Age Group Girls Olivia Kounnis, Zara Pretious-White, Megan Cook, and Ellie Mitchell.(1.09.48),(1.22.13) Boys Stephen Raphy, Joseph Taylor, Ciaran Galligan and Harry Hindmarch (1.12.73), (1.28.39)

Under 13 Age Group Girls Cira Fletcher, Amber Cardwell, Maya Holroyd and Abby Springham (1.08.54), (1.21.20) Boys Cameron Brickel, Harry Hindmarch, Joshua Ramsey and Martin Brett (1.04.45), (1.17.86)

Under 15 Age Group Girls Katie McGarry, Victoria Snowden, Niamh Lynch and Jessica Wacey (59.89), (1.10.86) Boys Kieran Raphy, Josh Lloyd, James Copping and Thomas Connolly (1.04.45), (1.06.61)

Open Age Group Women’s Charlotte Barton, Charlotte Reynolds, Lauren Copping and Anna Peterson (59.42), (1.07.11) Men’s Jake Lloyd, Henry Crimes, Thomas Connolly, and Alex Snowden (52.32), (59.32)

The squadron race was won which was 1 boy and 1 girl from each age group and was won in a time of 2.04.46

Five 2^nd places in the under 11 age group for Olivia Kounnis 25m Breaststroke (23.09), Joseph Taylor 25m Freestyle (17.98). Under 13 age group for Maya Holroyd 50m Backstroke (46.22). Under 15 age group Katie McGarry 100m Backstroke (1.16.22). Open Age Group Jake Lloyd 100m Backstroke (1.07.67)

Seven 3^rd places in the under 13 age group Martin Brett 25m Butterfly (17.67) Cira Fletcher 50m Breaststroke (47.83), Joshua Ramsay 50m Breaststroke (48.36). Under 15 age group Victoria Snowden 100m Breaststroke (1.36.74) Niamh Lynch 100m Freestyle (1.14.95) James Copping 100m Freestyle (1.10.48). Open Age Group Anna Peterson 100m Freestyle (1.08.39).

Bishop’s Stortford swimming club finished 6th club in the British Gas ASA East Region BAGCAT championships at the University of East Anglia 50m Olympic pool over the first two weekends of June. The championships attracted the top age group swimmers from clubs across the East Region.

Top Stortford swimmer was Max McCusker who enjoyed a final overall place of 3^rd in the 10 year age group and had two individual victories in the 200m individual medley (2.54.13) and the 100m butterfly (1.20.31). Max also came second in the 200m freestyle final (2.32.91) and four third place swims in the finals of the 100m (1.23.25) and 200m backstroke (2.54.20), 100m freestyle (1.11.20) and heat declared winner event 400m Freestyle (5.28.11). His swims in the 200m individual medley and the 100m freestyle were club age group record times.

Samuel Longden competing in the 12 year age group performed very well narrowly missing out on 2 finals by being 2^nd reserve in 100m backstroke (1.15.49) and 1^st reserve in 100m freestyle (1.04.35), 13^th in 200m (2.21.89), 400m (5.01.67) freestyle and 18^th 200m backstroke (2.45.21 and 200m Ind. Medley (2.44.60) and by the end of the completion finished 14^th overall

Top girl swimmer for Stortford was Georgina Pryor who finished 4th overall in the 11 year age group and enjoyed one final victory in the 100m butterfly (1.14.23). There were also three silver medals for Georgina in the 100m (1.15.67), 200m backstroke (2.40.66) finals and heat declared winner event 400m Ind. Medley (5.54.43). Georgina also finished fourth in the 200m butterfly (2.56.80) and the 200m individual medley (2.44.41). Georgina other swims were 5^th in the 200m freestyle final (2.28.83), 7^th in the 100m freestyle final (1.09.17) and 8^th in the 400m freestyle ((5.14.21).

Stortford’s other girls also performed very well in the tough 12 years age category where there was strong competition from a number of national swimmers. Charlotte Longden finished 16^th overall with her best swims coming in her favoured 100m and 200m breaststroke where she came 8^th in both finals. Her times were 1.27.93 in the 100m event and 3.05.93 in the 200m event. Charlotte also came 16^th in the 200m individual medley ((2.48.44), 23^rd in the 100m freestyle (1.09.43) and 20^th in the 200m freestyle ((2.28.45).

Rachel Gunn’s best performance came in the 100m butterfly where she narrowly missed out on a final finishing in 1.18.82. Rachel also did well in the 100m (12^th in 1.17.50) and 200m backstroke (22^nd in 2.50.67), 22^nd in the 200m individual medley (2.50.40), 26^th in the 100m freestyle (1.09.76) and 31^st in the 200m freestyle (2.37.48).

Grace Ledwith made her mark in the championships with a very creditable swim in the 200m backstroke finishing in 2.52.63.

Bishop’s Stortford swimming club’s Alex Snowden (15) was in top form at the weekend whilst competing in the City of Sheffield level one license meet at the Ponds Forge Olympic sized pool in Sheffield on Friday 28th, Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th May 2010.

Alex stormed home to a fantastic 55.56 seconds time in the 100m freestyle event to earn himself a place at the national youth championships at the same venue in August and become the fourth Bishops Stortford swimmer to qualify for the national championships this year under the guiding hand of Head coach, Kristof Michaliszyn. Alex’s time was an excellent achievement as it was a three second personal best. He also earned himself a new club age group record when he competed in the 100m breaststroke event when he finished in a time of 1 minute 13.80 seconds.

Stuart Clarke (26) showed that he is regaining his old form when he achieved a season’s best time in the 200m freestyle event. His time of 2 minutes 1.20 seconds was only half a second outside his previous club record time and was a great confidence booster for Stuart showing that his new training programme is beginning to pay off. Also setting new standards was Grace Lee, who set a new women’s club record time in the 100m freestyle event to finish in 62.69 seconds.

Also competing were Oliver Barker in the 100m backstroke with a time of 65.73 seconds and Jake Lloyd whose best time came in the 200m backstroke when he came home in 2 minutes 28.75 seconds.