Liverpool & District Swimming Championships 2012

There was continued success for the Halton SC Relay Teams at the 2012 Liverpool and District Swimming and Water Polo Association Championships held at Everton Park over the first two weekends in February.

The Boys 4 x 100m Medley Relay Team retained their title in fine style and maintained a remarkable sequence of success in this event that stretches back five years to 2008 with this seasons winning quartet of Will Warburton, James Flaherty Craig Langley and Andy Matthews posting an impressive time of 4:06.97, some six seconds faster than the time achieved in taking the 2011 Title. Equally impressive were the Girls 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay of Lucy Hale, Ellie Newby, Leanne Clarke and Sarah Lou Banner who took the Gold Medal in 4:16.15. It was a brilliant performance from the girls who timed their challenge to perfection with Leanne opening up a winning lead on the third leg.

There were also Relay medals on the second weekend of the Championships with the Boys 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Team of Will Warburton, James Flaherty, Andy Matthews and Craig Langley just failing to hold on to the Freestyle Title they won in 2011 despite posting a time of 3:45.67 which was some two seconds faster than thier 2011 Gold medal winning performance but not good enough to catch a strong Everton SA team.

The Girls 4 x 100m Medley Relay team also claimed an excellent Bronze Medal with a superb swim. The team of Lucy Hale, Nikita Jackson, Ellie Newby and Abbie Jenkins unfortunately failed to improve on their third place from 2011 but had the consolation of posting a time some eight seconds faster than last year.

The 2012 Winning Relay Teams are pictured. Well done all.

Outstanding individual achievement of the Championships must go to 10 Years Old Will Woodward who clinched Third Place in the Boys Overall BAGCATS competition following an outstanding run of medal success in his age group throughout the Championships. Will achieved 5 Silver Medals in the 50m Back, 200m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 200m Individual Medley and 200m Backstroke plus a Bronze in the 50m Freestyle. Will also took 4^th place in the 50m Butterfly and 200m Breaststroke in what proved to be an excellent competition for Will. He achieved Personal Best Times in all his events and lowered his 200m Backstroke and 200m Individual Medley times by almost six seconds in each case. This comes close on the heels of his success in the City of Liverpool Winter Distance Meet.

Will is pictured with his BAGCAT award and collection of medals. Top stuff, Will.

Halton’s only individual Gold medal of the Championships came from James Flaherty who took Gold in the 17 years and over Age Group in the Boys 100m Breaststroke event and in doing so went in to the final as the fastest qualifier. Unfortunately, James was unable to repeat his earlier success and was touched out in the Final gaining a Championship Silver Medal in the process.

In the Age Group events, Luke Nisted achieved a Bronze Medal in the 100m Freestyle, and also took third in the 200m Backstroke in a new personal best time. There were also age group medals for: Thomas Roberts, Silver for 1500m Freestyle and Nikita Jackson in the 200m Breaststroke.

Top Six finishes were posted by Tom Patton in the 100m & 200m Breaststroke, Thomas Roberts in the 100m Fly, Chloe Doolan and Nikita Jackson in the 100m Breaststroke, Luke Nisted in the 100m Backstroke, and Alison Steele in the 100m Fly.

Personal Best Times were achieved by: Thomas Roberts in the 200m Breaststroke and 100 Fly, Tom Patton in the 200m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle,  Nikita Jackson in the 100m Freestyle, Eleanor Donald in the 400m Freestyle, Laura Gorry in the 200m Individual Medley and 400 Individual Medley, and Luke Nisted in the 200m Individual Medley and 200m Backstroke events.

PP.  Neil F