Event: Yeovil and District Level 3 Christmas Open Meet
Venue: Millfield School
Date: 30th November and 1st December 2013
A squad of 31 from Swindon Dolphin headed to Somerset for the Yeovil and District Christmas short course level 3 open meet at Mllfield. Racing out of county enables swimmers to experience being out of their comfort zone by meeting new competitors in unfamiliar surroundings; an essential element of all swimmer’s development.
As expected, the vast majority of swimmers easily achieved county qualifying times although the real prize for most of the Dolphin competitors was to earn the right to return to the Millfield pool in long course mode for the Regional Championships next summer.
Alice Lockey added four events to her county portfolio and came within a few seconds of her regional qualifying time in the 200m breaststroke. William Davies was equally close to his regional time in the same event with his increased training regime starting to pay dividends. Also reaping the rewards of an enhanced schedule, Annie Ward achieved her first regional qualifying time of the season in the 100m freestyle. Kayleigh Bartlett became Dolphin’s 27th swimmer of the season so far to achieve the regional grade as she swam under the mark in the 100m breaststroke.
Improving on last year’s impressive performance at the same meet, Dolphin’s star performer was Sophie Bartlett who recorded six regional qualifying times and also looks likely to add to this number as the season progresses.
Sophie Bartlett ~ impressive performances at Millfield
Top Dolphin medallist was ten year old Henry Pearce with 2 gold, 2 silver and bronze. Others picking up podium finishes were Sophie Bartlett (gold, 4 bronze), Regan Jefferies (gold, bronze), Kayleigh Bartlett (gold), Louise Gardo (gold), David Ward (3 bronze), Josh Fox (3 bronze), Jake Lewis (2 bronze), Ella Wardale (bronze), Laura Brown (bronze), Lucie Wells (bronze).
