No 15 year oldies allowed at this one!
100m IM and 50m sprints in every stroke for all the 14 years and under swimmers promised a fast-paced, eventful occasion. Trophies would be given to the top six boys and girls in each age group – 100m Individual Medley by heat times, 50m events by place in Finals, swum by the top six qualifiers.
16 swimmers would be representing Portland, including Luke and Guy Farnsworth who re-joined the team in purple for the day, having signed up to this Junior Open Meet whilst still members.
After rope-tightening delays in the warm-up and starter problems in the first 2 heats of the BOYS 100m IM, Archie Symes began Portland’s exploits with winning ways, coming first in his heat, followed by speedy swims from Guy and Luke.
Jo’s early morning dash back from Manchester to see Freya McGarva’s very first Open swim paid off – she was there to remind Freya to put on her goggles and to witness her PB in the 50m BACKSTROKE, along with seven other PBs by Isabelle Day, Alice Mulligan, Charlotte Taylor, Mia Cunnison (a great achievement at her first Open), Jaime Misiuda, Rebecca Horne (despite a slip at the wall) and Lizzie Mulligan. Erin Birney set a fab new time.
The 50m BREASTSTROKE resulted in another eight PBs for Portland: Freya – also a County Time (good job mum was there to prompt the goggles again!), Erin, Isabelle, Orla Beavan (superb for her first Open), Olivia Misiuda, Jaime, Rebecca and Jade Kennerell (must have been her dad’s smiley face breakfast – an egg, bacon and beans arrangement – not his demeanour. We all saw the photo.). Charlotte and Mia set really good new times.
The 50m BUTTERFLY produced five more PBs: Jaime, Olivia, Alice, Rebecca and Erin. Isabelle and Jade set fantastic new times. Dahlia Brinklow, just hundredths off her PB, swam an excellent race.
Freya (‘Freya, goggles!’) kicked off the 50m FREESTYLE races with a new time, followed by six best times for Isabelle, Erin, Jaime, Olivia, Jade (due to dad’s piri piri chicken this time!) and Rebecca –with a County Time. Tom’s dive session at Friday’s training was evident in some of the brilliant dives and underwater work that we saw.
Seven additional PBs were attained in the GIRLS 100m IM by Orla, Jaime, Olivia, Jade, Dahlia, Rebecca and Lizzie.
Congratulations to the trophy winners:
50m BACK
- Guy 1st – faster in the Final than in the heat
- Olivia 3rd – an amazing last length
- Jaime 6th – another PB in the Final
50m BREASTSTROKE
- Jade 2nd
- Dahlia 6th
- Guy 1st
50m BUTTERFLY
- Guy 2nd – faster in the Final
- Jaime 2nd
- Olivia 3rd – faster in the Final
- Alice 5th – also faster in the Final
50m FREESTYLE
- Guy 1st – faster in the Final
- Jaime 2nd – yet another PB in the Final
- Olivia 6th
- Jade 5th – a PB again in the Final
100m IM
- Guy 1st
- Jaime 2nd
- Olivia 3rd
- Alice 6th
- Jade 3rd
Hats off to Jaime and Rebecca accomplishing PBs in all 5 events!
But well done to all the Portland swimmers for a fantastic day’s racing! A big ‘thank you’ to Dom and Jo for looking after the team.
