Young swimmers shine in big final

THE hard work from endless hours of training and early mornings have paid off for a small group of Chelmsford swimmers who excelled at the British Gas National Age Group Championships in Sheffield.

Qualification times for the event are also extremely challenging and only the top few per cent of swimmers qualify but the five Chelmsford youngsters did well up against top swimmers from across the country.

Scheduled over five days, Daniel Sorrell, 14, was first to compete in the 400m freestyle and achieved the team's first personal best, giving a morale boost to the younger members of the team.

Courtney Sanders, 11, and Eliza Duffy, 12, in the 100m freestyle both achieved personal best times and secured places in the evening finals.

Gus Veasey, 12, also secured a place in the final swimming a PB in the 200m breaststroke.

Sanders, Duffy and Alana Jones, 13, ended the morning session with good performances in the 200m backstroke.

Returning to Ponds Forge on a hot evening, Sanders swam with great courage to take ninth place, while team-mate Duffy managed to secure another PB and finish sixth.

Veasey had some tough competition and finished 10th.

Coach Karen Turner said of the first day: "There were some fantastic individual performances out there."

Sanders and Sorrell returned on Thursday for the 400m freestyle and 1500m respectively, although Sanders did not reach her entered time she still secured 10th place in the final later in the day while Sorrell achieved a PB.

On Friday, Duffy gained another PB and made the final of the 200m freestyle and the evening saw her rise to the challenge and improve upon her morning's time to finish seventh.

Sorrell turned out to give the girls some much needed support and both girls gained new PBs in the 100m back stroke with Sanders again qualifying for the finals. She placed 10th in the final.

Tables turned and the girls were on poolside to cheer Sorrell to a PB in the 800m freestyle.

On the final day, Duffy and Sanders put in good performances in the 200m medley, completing their set of BAGCAT points across the four disciplines (sprint, distance, form and medley), finishing 11th and 13th respectively.

Dean Woodock was the only youth entry and he has been specialising this year in medley races and competed in the 400m.