Five Carlisle Aquatics swimmers
braved the deep snow over the weekend of 26th to 27th
January to attend the Northern Area Zonal Championships at Sheffield’s Ponds
Forge. Jack Barker and Laura Davison led the way with seven final appearances
between them and Matthew Nicholson added two more to the clubs tally. Zara
McKnight and Amy Heard made their first ever appearance at this level, gaining
long course PB’s in all their races.
Zara was first to feel the water
temperature racing the 200m backstroke, producing a long course PB of 2:37.84
to gain 21st place. Jack’s weekend started with the 50m freestyle
heats coming 6th, a placing he repeated in the final with a time of 24.38s.
Not to be outdone Laura
followed, producing an excellent fifth in the 200m fly heat, and worked hard to
get a sixth place in the final. Amy also made her debut in the same race, but
it was the 400m freestyle that was to be her best race of the weekend, leading
her heat from the front and getting 15th place.
Jack and Matthew then competed
in the 200m breast, both qualifying for the finals finishing fifth and seventh
respectively in the heat. Going head to head the final the race was keenly
fought but the positions remained the same.
Laura closed the first day in
the 400m IM, with her butterfly giving her a good start to finish in 12th.
Given a call up for the final she didn’t waste the opportunity finishing in 8th
place.
The second day was filled with a
similar level of dedication and swimming talent. This time Amy was in first for
her 200m freestyle, followed by Laura in the same event who hit a long course
PB time of 2:24.15. Zara swam the 100m backstroke, improving her position to 19th
place and another long course PB.
Jack and Matthew met once more
in a keenly fought breast stroke final, this time the 100m. Laura was again
superb in the fly, getting 7th place in the 100m final. It was left
to Jack to finish the day, qualifying for the 50m breast final to finish in 3rd
place.
Overall the swimming was
excellent, with deserved congratulations to those who took part. And finally
thanks to Graham for taking the coaches role.
