N&D Youth/Open Championships, Dolphin Centre, Darlington 16-17 February 2008

There were 17 AA squad swimmers competing at this two day event. With a total of 88 swims the squad came away with 4 Open medals, 6 Youth medals, 15 finals appearances & 50 PB’s.

   Laura Dawson competed in 7 events and did brilliantly to make the Open finals in all of them ! She took the gold in the 50 fly despite being the youngest swimmer in the final & a bronze in the 100 IM. She also took 1 gold, 3 silvers & 1 bronze in the Youth Champs.

   Chris Dixon made two Open finals medalling in both with 2 silvers at 100 & 200 breast. Chris also took silver in the Youth champs.

   Steph Redfern, competed in the most events over the weekend, swimming in 10 events & making three finals, despite being one of the youngest competitors. She had 4 pb’s coming close to the medals with a 5th place in the 100 back.

    Sally Reid had 8 swims, she PB’d twice & made the finals in 100 & 200 Breast. She just missed a medal in the Youth 50 Breast with a 4th place finish.

   Matthew Snowdon was the other AA squader to make a final, finishing 7 th in the 200 Breast, all his 3 swims ended in pb’s.

The other 12 swimmers, many of them competing at these champs for the first time acquitted themselves well with Oliver Bratley, Nicola Hastings, Zoe Kirkwood, Alex Wheeler & Lewis Wiseman-Ord pb’g each time they swam. Also competing were Elizabeth Bishop (4 pb’s), Andrew Burn (5 pb’s), Elizabeth Hierons (3 pb’s), Jamie Magee (3 pb’s), Sean Magee (1 pb), Catherine Shafto & Charlotte Sim (1 pb).