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Inter Association Age Groups Championships 2008
PRESTON Swimming Club provided 26 of the team in a mighty North Lancashire win in the annual regional Inter-Association Age Group Championships staged at Everton Park.The region’s six swimming associations – completed by Bolton and Manchester, Central Lancs, Liverpool, North Midlands and Cumbria, held competitions earlier in the year and the top swimmers from those were invited to compete.The event provided two days’ nail-biting swimming as the six teams battled it out in the closest final for a number of years. Ultimately, North Lancashire triumphed for a third straight year, narrowly beating a strong Liverpool district team. Not only did Preston provide most swimmers, but also the team boss, and proud coach Steve Heaps said: “This is my third year as team manager for North Lancs and the most nerve-racking. I would like to thank all the swimmers for their impeccable behaviour and exceptional swimming in a high-class and highly competitive meet. I would also like to thank all the coaches for getting the swimmers in top condition. The standard increases every year so for the team to win for the third consecutive year is a truly remarkable achievement. I would also like to mention 14-year-old Joanne Cutler, the girls’ team vice-captain, unable to compete due to injury but at the gala to support the team." The Preston swimmers achieved event records, personal best and national qualifying times (NQTs). In the 14-year-old age group Luke Pool took bronze in the 400m freestyle, was fourth in the 200m, eighth in the 100m and seventh in the 200m backstroke. Jack Holden was seventh in the 100m and 200m freestyle, while Lois Vail won bronze in the 200m individual medley (IM), Bethany Shaw was seventh in the 100m and 200m butterfly, with Charlotte Sinclair seventh in the 200m breaststroke. The 12-year-olds were on fire, Georgia Barton winning gold in the 100m and 200m butterfly and 200m IM, all with NQTs, as well as a silver in the 400m freestyle, and set a 200m butterfly record. Florie McLeish continued the good work with silver in the 200m butterfly, bronze in the 200m breaststroke and 200m IM, as well as fifth in the 100m breaststroke and 200m backstroke. Not to be outdone, Cameron Austin earned gold in the 100m and 200m breaststroke with NQTs, with the 200m a record. The 11-year-old girls struck gold through Abbie Kitcher in the 400m free, in a NQT. She also won bronze in the 200m IM and 200m breaststroke,was fourth in the 200m freestyle and fifth in the 100m freestyle. Katie Mawdsley took silver in the 100m, 200m and 400m free, and bronze in the 100m back, plus eighth in the 200m back. Abby Huartson came fourth in the 100m breaststroke, while boys Harry Murphy and Joe Brass took eighth and 11th in the 50m backstroke and Matthew Rosbottom was 12th in the 200m backstroke. Shauntelle Austin, 10, was in fantastic form to claim five golds and set new records in all her events, with success in the 200m and 400m free, 50m fly, 200m backstroke and 200m IM. Preston’s 11-year-old girls took further medals through Eleanor Laurence, gold in the 50m breaststroke and bronze in the 200m butterfly, also fourth in the 200m breaststroke and fifth in the 200m IM. Molly McManamon won bronze in the 50m freesytle and came seventh in the 50m backstroke while Olivia Baron came sixth in the 50m breaststroke. And Lee Reeder was fifth in the 50m butterfly, seventh in the 200m IM, 10th in the 200m freestyle and 11th in the 50m breaststroke. Final result:
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