Viking Swimmers start County Campaign early
Our swimmers have already started qualifying for the 2023 County Championships. They began in a gala dubbed “Midsummer Madness” held at the UEA Sports Park in Norwich when they achieved no fewer than 36 County Qualifying times in a team represented by 20 swimmers under the auspices of Lead Coach Sam Watts
New signing, Ellen Eccleston of Aylsham gained three county qualifying times for next years’ championships when she made the grade in the 200m events. In the backstroke she scored a 2:43.81. and there was more success in the freestyle when she picked up her second qualifier in 2:26.09. Her best race came when the 14 year old achieved a bronze medal in a qualifying time of 3:02.02 for the breaststroke which equivocally was not her best time.
Emily Morton has began to fulfill her ambition for next year’s County Championship The 13 year old also achieved the same weighting as Ellen with three county qualifying times and in doing so won the bronze medal over 400m freestyle when she hit the pad in 5:27.37 Her other two qualifiers were the 50m freestyle with her 32.83 and 38.69 over the same distance for her backstroke.
It was silver for Evie Bates who is swimming fluently at the moment. Evie took part in the 400m freestyle in the 11 year age group when she also achieved a County Qualifying time finishing with a 6:42.93 for eight lengths of the 50m pool.
It was the 400m freestyle too for Reuben Seaman when he took the gold medal in 7.22.22. This was the first time the 9 year old had swam this demanding event. However, Reuben went onto gain a silver in the 200m Individual Medley – the event where swimmers must swim all four strokes and he improved his time by four seconds when he completed the course in 3.57.77. More medals followed for Reuben, Silvers in both the 100m freestyle (1:38.52) and 100m backstroke (1:45.24) respectively. Over the 50m sprints he was first in breatstroke (1;00.9) and second in the butterfly (54.11) respectively
However, Reuben was thwarted by fellow Viking Toby Caufield who edged him into silver medal spot for the 50m freestyle. Toby went 42.97 to take the gold over Reuben’s 44.35 and in the 50m backstroke, Toby aged 10, just pushed Reuben into third place when Toby won silver in 50.10 from Reuben’s 50.44 – a split second ahead. The event was easily won by Lawrence Taylor of Norwich in 42.91,however.
The other Viking medal winner was Zak Edridge who came third in the 100m breastroke in 1.42.82 an improvement of six seconds.
Amy-Rose Thomas swam her very best in the 50m freestyle by achieving a personal best over the course in 40.06 and the 13 year old demonstrated how she had improved her technique when she rose to the challenge over 200m Individual medley and looked very sharp. Although she finished in 18th place Amy-Rose went 3.36.71 and as this was her first attempt at the event.
William Coop took part in no fewer than 6 events and the way William is training at the moment it comes as no shock to see him progress. By far his best placing was in the 100m breaststroke when the 14 year old touched in 12 place with his best time of 1:48.64. Ashley Jones came 22 out of a field 33 of but more significantly was his time of 30.84 which gave the 14 year old a ticket to enter next year’s County Championships in the 50m freestyle..
There was further improvement from 14 year old Maisie Fagan by 4 seconds over the 200m freestyle when she completed the course in 2.57.00.
County Qualifying times were also achieved by Toby Caufield, Reuben Seaman, Rosa Sadler, Harry Hudson, George & Zak Edridge.
The club was also represented by Emily & Bailee Beighton, Winnie Browne, Rebecca Burrows, Esme Seaman, Sean & Caelen Godden
Vikings achieved 36 County Qualifying Times, 3 golds, 9 silvers and 6 bronze medals
Well done to all who took part!