Counties 2016 - Final Weekend Summary

Post date: Feb 20, 2016 3:19:10 PM

Counties 2016 – the Final Weekend

23 Barramundi swimmers took part in the 2^nd weekend of the ONB Counties Championship, in Aylesbury on 13^th/14th February. Once again, our swimmers were a credit to the club and were noted for their team support poolside. It was especially pleasing to see them also supporting Thame swimmers, particularly in the finals, and vice-versa. Unfortunately a handful of swimmers were unable to compete due to illness; our commiserations to them – we hope to see them back at training very soon.

Here are the results in detail…..

Saturday

Five boys took part in the 100m Breaststroke – Joe Nimmo, Chris Sims, Nick Sims, Alec Purvis and Ed Burrowes. Joe, Chris, Alec and Ed all achieved new PBs, with Chris Nick and Ed qualifying for the finals. Despite a great swim, knocking over 3 seconds off his PB, Joe was unlucky and a DQ followed.

Maddison and Isabelle Langley and Bethan Newland-Smith all achieved new PBs in the next event – the girls 50 free, with Lauren Kernan finishing 2^nd and qualifying for a finals place.

There was a great turnout for the boys 50 fly – Harrison Deeley, Jack Mason, Ben Newell, Chris Sims, Ben Titchener, Nick Sims, Ed Burrowes, Dan Amphlett and Ollie Beard. Harrison, Ben Newell, Ben Titchener, Nick and Ed all achieved new PBs. There was even a new PB for Dan Amphlett – particularly impressive as his coaching commitments mean that he hasn’t done much training! Chris, Ben, Ben and Nick qualified for the finals. Bethan Newland-Smith was our only female swimmer qualifying to swim next in the girls 100IM (top 24) – well done Bethan!

The lunchtime session began with the boys 200IM and we welcomed 8 swimmers – Ben Newell, Ben Titchener, Alfie Baum, Chris Sims, Alex Nicholson, Michael Fabes, Nick Sims and Ed Burrowes. Michael Fabes knocked an impressive 6 seconds off his PB, and Ben Newell over 4 seconds – well done to both. There were also PBs for Alfie, Chris, Alex and Ed, but an unlucky DQ for Ben T (despite a new PB). Medals were claimed by Chris (3^rd), Nick (3^rd) and Ben Newell (7^th), with regional-accepted times for Chris and Nick. Next up was the girls 200 free, which saw Maddison Langley knock a pleasing 5 seconds off her PB, finishing in 7^th place. Isabelle Langley and Eliza Nicholson also swam well, enjoying new PBs.

Finals

Boys 100 Breaststroke

Chris Sims 1st (& SE Region accepted)

Nick Sims 3^rd (& SE Region accepted)

Ed Burrowes 7^th

Boys 50 fly

Ben Titchener 3^rd (& SE Region accepted)

Chris Sims 7^th

Ben Newell 8^th

Nick Sims 4^th

Girls 50 free

Lauren Kernan 2^nd (SE Region accepted)

This meant that Lauren finished in overall 3^rd place in the girls junior championship for 50 free. It was great to see a Barramundi swimmer on the podium for the presentations at the end of the evening – well done Lauren!

The boys 16U 4x50m freestyle relay team consisting of Finnley Clarke, Dom Ward, Alexander Nicholson and Nick Sims put on an impressive display, finishing in 6^th place out of 16 teams competing. Well done boys!

Sunday

Sunday morning kicked off with the girls 100 backstroke and great swims from Maddison Langley, Isabelle Langley and Bethan Newland-Smith. The Langley girls achieved new PBs and places in the finals, finishing in 5^th and 6^th place, respectively. This meant a long-awaited SE Regional accepted time for Isabelle, who swam with great determination – well done Isabelle – we were all rooting for you!

Another good boys turnout followed for the 100 free – Zack Hickton-Collins, Harrison Deeley, Chris Sims, Ben Newell, Ben Titchener, Alex Nicholson, Finnley Clark, Nick Sims and Ed Burrowes. Chris Sims managed to knock 4 seconds off his PB, with Alexander Nicholson breaking the 1-minute barrier for the first time, finishing in 59.74 – congratulations Alex! Zack, Ben, Ben, and Nick also achieved new PBs, with finalists’ places for Chris, Ben Newell and Ben Titchener, all in the 13U age-group!

Heather Day, Eliza Nicholson and Bethan Newland-Smith were up next, competing in the 50 breaststroke. Heather swam well, knocking 2 seconds off her PB, and Eliza qualified for a place in the finals.

The last event in this session was the boys 50 back, with 10 Barramundi boys competing – Harrison Deeley, Jack Mason, Ben Titchener, Chris Sims, Ben Newell, Nick Sims, Alex Nicholson, Dom Ward, Dan Amphlett and Ed Burrowes. There were PBs for Jack, Ben, Chris, Ben, Nick, Alex, Dom, Dan and Ed! Chris, Ben Newell, Nick and Alex qualified for the finals.

Sunday lunchtime events comprised of the girls 200m fly, 200m breaststroke and boys 200m backstroke. In the boys 200 back, 3 boys competed for Barramundi – Zack, Ben Newell and Ed. Zack Hickton-Collins earned himself another finalists block, finishing 8^th in the 10/11 boys age group. Ben Newell knocked a fantastic 6 seconds off his PB, finishing in 4^th position for the 13U age. There were just 2 girls competing for us in the 200m breaststroke and both were worth watching. Heather Day had a great swim, knocking an astounding 10 seconds off her PB – well done Heather. Eliza Nicholson was also in great form, knocking over 5 seconds off her time and earning herself a finalists block, finishing 6^th in the 12u age group.

Finals

Girls 100 back

Maddison Langley 3^rd

Isabelle Langley 7^th (& SE Region Accepted)

Boys 100 free

Ben Titchener 2^nd (& SE Region Accepted)

Chris Sims 6^th

Ben Newell 8^th

Girls 50 Breaststroke

Eliza Nicholson 5^th (& SE Region Accepted)

Boys 50 back

Chris Sims 4^th (& SE Region Considered)

Ben Newell 7^th (& SE Region Considered)

Nick Sims 4^th (& SE Region Considered)

Alex Nicholson 7^th

Congratulations to all our County Swimmers!

Many thanks again to our team of helpers, TMs and officials – we wouldn’t be able to compete without you! Hope everyone is enjoying a well-earned rest now. Not for too long though – lots of galas to follow next month, with Regionals just around the corner.

Katie Sims