ASA National Championships 2009

Written by Alison Willmott

The British Gas Age Group, Youth and ASA National Championships were held at Sheffield's Ponds Forge 50m pool. Middlesbrough Swimming Club took a squad of 11 swimmers to the competitions which lasted 11 days.

The first 5 days were for the younger members of the squad.  Perry Gardner 12 years old set the standard with 2 gold medals in the 100m and 200m  backstroke, he then went on to collect a silver in the  400m Individual Medley and just missed out on the medals in 100m fly and 200m Medley and was placed 7^th  in the 200m fly. Perry achieved great personal best times in all his events, his hard work this year has really paid off.

11 year old Daniel Andrews coached by Ben Philo was competing in his first Nationals. He qualified for the 100m and 200m butterfly. Daniel made the final of the 100m fly finishing in 8^th place recording best times in both.

With a days grace it was time for the older swimmers to take over, hoping to carry on where Perry had left off. 

Aimee Willmott 16 yrs old was in the 16/17 age group, winning two medals which both came on the first night.  Aimee won gold in the 16/17 age 400m Individual Medley and within the hour won silver in the open final of the same event. She was then back in the water finishing off with 6^th in the 200m backstroke open final. Aimee also competed in heats, semi-finals and finals in 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle and 200m Individual Medley recording personal best times, but due to Team GB commitments had to pull out of the finals.

15 year old Daniel Johnson competing in the tough 15/16 age group started the week with the 400m freestyle. He was the only 15 year old in the 100m freestyle final finishing 7th in a new North Eastern Junior Record. Daniel also progressed through the semi-finals and finals in 200m freestyle finishing 6th and 200m Individual Medley finishing 10th.

Also 15 years old Jordan Heaney competed in the 400m and 100m freestyle and was just outside his personal best time. Stephen Loughran 16 years old travelled down for the competition and competed in the 200m butterfly.

Chloe Coates 15 years old recorded personal best times in the 100m freestyle, breaststroke and  50m freestyle,  she also competed in the relay teams

14 year olds Chloe Willmott & Ellie Stephenson were in the 14/15 age category. Ellie had a tough week with the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle and relay teams.  Chloe competed in 400m and 200m Individual Medley and 200 butterfly just outside her personal best times.

Supporting the relay teams were 15 year olds Katy Templeman and Helena Teague.

The squad and coaches Steve Cox and Ben Philo now take a break before they head off to Tenerife in September for a weeks long training camp.