Sheffield Snow Frills Long Course Report
Ponds Forge, Sheffield
Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd November 2014

Kingston upon Hull swimming club took a large number of swimmers to compete in the Sheffield snow frills long course gala at Ponds Forge Sheffield. For some of the younger swimmers this was their first time swimming on a 50m pool.

National Squad

The National squad had a very successful weekend achieving personal bests and walking away with a huge haul of medals. Altogether 15 gold's, 17 silvers and 8 bronze medals.

Shannon McGahey age 15 competed in the 15/16 years age group. Shannon had a great weekend competing in 5 races and walked away with 2 gold medals and 3 silver medals. The first medal came in the 200 meter freestyle which was silver. Shannon's first gold medal came in the 200 meter butterfly with a personal best time. Shannon's biggest personal best came in the 200 meter breastroke with a massive 21 second personal best in long course and claimed silver medal for her improvement. Another personal best and silver medal came in the 100 meter butterfly. Shannon finished her weekend off with a final gold in the 100 meter backstroke.

Hannah Willingham age 15 competed in the 15/16 years age group and secured 3 medals, gold, silver and bronze. Hannah posted a personal best in 50 meter freestyle 30.65,and secured a Yorkshire qualifying time for 2015. In the 100 meter breastroke Hannah claimed bronze medal and secured a qualifying time for the North East Regional championships in May 2015 with a time of 1.23.82. In the 50 meter breastroke silver medal was claimed. Gold medal claimed in the 200 meter breastroke with another North East Regional time for 2015 with a personal best time of 2.57.02.

Alexandra Stringer age 14 swam in 7 events and achieved 3 gold and 3 silver medals. Alex proved herself as a fine breastroke swimmer claiming gold's in all distances. First gold came in the 100 meter breastroke with a personal best 1.19.39. Silver medal came in the 200 meter individual medley with a 2 second improvement. Alex was a clear winner of gold medal in the 200 meter breastroke by a massive 10 seconds clear of 2nd place. In the 100 meter butterfly Alex took silver medal. Another silver claimed in the 100 meter backstroke with a personal best time. Final gold of the weekend came in the 50 meter breastroke with another personal best time posted. A personal best was also achieved in the 100 meter freestyle.

Abigail Stringer age 15 years swam in 5 events in the 15/16 years age group. Abigail posted a personal best in the 50 meter freestyle and finished in 8th place. A 4th place finish in 100 meter breastroke. Abigail finished her weekend on a high by securing gold medal in the 50 meter breastroke.

Aleah Ross age 13 years also claimed medals, 2 gold and 2 bronze medals. First bronze medal came in the 200 meter freestyle. Another bronze followed in the 100 meter breastroke. Aleah improved her positions in the 200 meter individual medley to claim gold medal. The final gold came in the 50 meter breastroke. A 4th place finish came in 100 meter butterfly and 6th place in 100 meter backstroke.

Bailey Hairsine age 15 competed in the 15/16 years age group. Bailey also had a great weekend securing 2 gold medals, 2 silvers and 1 bronze, also 4 personal bests. First medal was silver in the 200 meter freestyle with a 3 second personal best time in a new time of 2.05.78. Bronze medal in the 200 meter butterfly. In the 200 meter breastroke Bailey posted a 3 second improvement to claim a silver medal in a new time of 2.44.48. In the 100 meter backstroke another personal best of 2 seconds with a new time of 1.05.64 which claimed gold medal. Bailey finished his weekend off with a final gold medal in the 200 meter individual medley with a personal best time 2.21.08 a 1 second personal best.

Adam Alcock age 14 continued with his fine form of late started his weekend off well with a silver medal in 200 meter freestyle with a personal best time. In the 200 meter butterfly another personal best and bronze medal. Gold medal claimed in 100 meter freestyle with another personal best. Silver medal in the 200 meter backstroke. Another silver medal in the 100 meter butterfly with a 2 second personal best time. Adam's final medal came in the 100 meter backstroke. To finish off his weekend Adam also posted a personal best in the 200 meter individual medley knocking 2 seconds off.

Regional A Squad

Regional A squad coached by Graham Martin amassed 54 PB’s and 13 medals over the weekend in what was the squads most successful gala of the year.

Jack Woodcock, 14, had an amazing weekend taking home 1 silver and 4 bronze medals and 5 YQT in the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly. Oche Igoche, 18, swam his way to 2 gold medals, 2 new PB’s and YQT in 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle. Liam Spence, 14, gained a bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke, a 7 seconds PB in 200m backstroke, 6 seconds PB in 50m butterfly and a 5 seconds PB in 200m freestyle. Michael Hill, 13, took an amazing 15 seconds off his 200m freestyle PB, 13 seconds off his 100m breaststroke and 200m backstroke, 7 seconds off his 100m freestyle and 3 seconds off his 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke. John Adams, 13, took 10 seconds off his 200m freestyle, 9 seconds off his 100m breaststroke, 8 seconds off his 100m freestyle and 1 second off his 50m freestyle. More PB’s followed from Mitchell Davis, 14, Ethan Kingdom, 13, Jake Conlon, 13, and Matthew Dixon, 13.

Melissa Machin, 14, had an astonishing weekend, taking home 2 silver and 1 bronze medal, 4 new PB’s and 4 YQT in 50m and 100m butterfly, 100m and 200m freestyle. Megan Batterbee, 13, achieved 3 new PB’s and a bronze medal and YQT in the 50m backstroke. Ellie McKay, 17, won a silver medal in the 50m backstroke. Katy Greenacre, 12, knocked 11 seconds off her PB in 200m freestyle and 3 seconds off her 100m freestyle. Natasha Clark, 15, got a 4 seconds PB in 200m

freestyle and a 2 seconds PB in 50m and 100m freestyle. More PB’s followed from Amy Greenacre, 14, Darcey Hambly, 14, Emma Newmarch, 14, Kennedy Akrill, 14, and Molly Marrit, 13.

British Gas Disability Championships

While all of the Regional squad where at Sheffield Natalie Moon, 19, was competing in the British Gas Disability Championships at Manchester. Competing in the S14 category in the 19 years and over age group she swam her way to gold medals in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly. A silver medal in 200m freestyle and 2 bronze medals in 50m freestyle and 200m individual medley. Her success did not stop there as she was awarded top swimmer at the championships.