30 Oct 2024

A very busy month with three big galas, Sharks’ first outing to the Commonwealth Games venue in Sandwell and the Masters smashing it in Sheffield, Birmingham and Portugal!

Coventry and Districts Meet

The Autumn Coventry and Districts meet was a full programme of events spread over 2 weekends (including 800m and 1500m - thanks to our volunteer timekeepers for taking that on!). Sharks put out a large team with many swimmers competing at their first open meet. 

Placings go down to 8th and we had a large number of medalists including:-

1st: Jacob S(100 back, 200 IM, 100 fly, 50 breast, 100 breast, 200 back, 200 Breast ), Harry C (50 breast,100 breast),Martha B (50 Free), Tob S (200 Breast), Evangeline H(50 Fly), Grace M (100 Free)

2nd: Grace M(100 back, 100 fly, 50 Free, 50 Back), Toby S(100 breast), Emilia P (200 fly), Isla T (50 Back), Katy H (100 Free)

3rd: Arabella (100 back, 100 fly), Issy G (100 Back), Becca M(200 Back), Harry C(50 Free), Evangeline (50 Free, 100IM), Katy H (50 Free), Eve (50 Back), Grace M(50 Fly), Hannah J(50 Fly), Oil S (50 Fly)

4th: Isla T(100 back, 100 fly), Evangeline (200IM), Bella B(50 breast), Arabella (200 back, 400 IM), Ellison B(50 Free), Toby S(50 Back), Issy G(100IM), Harry C (200 Breast)

5th: Evangeline(100 fly), Paige K(100 Fly), Harrison (50 breast, 100 breast), Toby S (400 free), Lara D (200 fly), Eve E(50 Free), Amelia J (50 Free), Pearl (50 Free), Paige K(100IM), Annabel S(200 Breast), Isla T (50 Fly), Barney D (50 Fly), Josh L (100 Free),

6th: Oli S(100 fly), Annabel S(100 fly), Henry SF(50 breast), Amelia J(100 breast), Pearl (100 breast), Barney D(200 Back, 50 Free), Paige K (50 Free), Annabel S(100IM), Evangeline H(200 Breast), Ruby W (200 breast), Chris D (50 Fly), Hannah J (100 Free)

7th:Beth R(100 back), Daniel T(100 back), Katy H (200IM, 800m Free), Hannah J (200 free),Ruby W (7th 100 breast), Cora Wh(50 Back), Eve E (200 breast), Immy H(200 breast), Paige K (50 Fly), Annabel (50 Fly), Amelia J (100 Free)

8th:Pearl (100 back), Cora Wh(100 back), Alex S(100 back), Toby S(200IM), Hannah J(100 fly), Oli S (50 breast),Beatrix D (100 breast), Will H (50 Free), Soliman N(100IM), Pearl (200 Breast), Ruben HM(50 Fly),Arturo (100 Free).

We also had some big PBs including Ben W, who slashed 13 seconds off his 50 free time, and Cora Wr who slashed 12 seconds off her 100 free time!

Jacob Smith also swam new club records for 200IM, 100 Back and 200 Back to add to his ever-increasing collection. 

The event was well supported by all the volunteers and team managers who helped made sure everything ran smoothly over the 3 days.

Arena League

This year’s Arena league kicked off with Sharks’ first ever team outing to the Olympic-sized venue at Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Smethwick, which was host to the Commonwealth Games - a great opportunity to swim at this fantastic venue. 

The league is very competitive with teams fielding some of the best swimmers from the region, including a handful of national-level swimmers. Sharks performed really well in every race, finishing 6th which puts us 16th/24th in the table at the end of round 1. 

There were some great placings, including:

1st: Harry (100 breast), Jacob (100 fly)

2nds: Bella B (100 breast), Martha (100 fly), Hannah J (100 Free), Annabel (100 breast), Zoe, Martha, Hannah and Annabel (girls 15 Medley relay), Arabella (100 fly)

A special mention to Jacob G who took on the 100 fly for the first time, finishing 6th.

Gloucester Level 2 meet

Sharks took a small team over to Gloucester for the final gala of a very busy month. It is a Level 2 meet, requiring competitors to be faster than the qualifying times, so tends to be for more experienced swimmers. 

A number of Sharks did especially well. Harrison picked up 5 medals (3rd 50 back, 3rd 100 back, 3rd 50 breast, 2nd 100 breast, 2nd 100 free) and Jacob picked up 6 1st places (1st 50 back, 200IM, 100 Back, 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 100 Free)

Other medalists were:

Annabel (1st 100 breast, 200 Breast), Freya( 1st 50 free), Katy (3rd 400 free), Harry (2nd 100 breast), Evangeline(1st 50 fly, 2nd 50 back, 3rd 200IM, 3rd 100 breast), Eve (2nd 200m breast, 3rd 100 back), Sophie S (2nd 100 free)

ESSA & ISA

A number of Sharks swimmers represented their respective schools at the ESSA (English Schools Swimming Association) Secondary School Team Championship (West Midlands qualifying round). Congratulations to Martha Bullock’s Kings High team who made it through to the National Finals. We also had girls compete at the ISA (independent schools association) West Midlands Swimming Competition.  Congratulations to Eve Elek who came 2nd in the West Midlands, narrowly missing out on the finals, and Arabella Partington and Martha Bullock who won their respective qualifiers so will go on to represent the West Midlands at the national championship finals held at London Aquatic Centre at the end of November.

There were also several sharks swiming for the their schools at the ISA Midlands qualifying event - including Lily W, Sammy W who was part of team winning year 4 bronze shield, Will H got silver in Year 6 fly and bronze in Year 6 freestyle - and Beth R is representing Midlands in relay team at ISA National swimming finals at London Aquatics on 29th November

MASTERS NEWS 

Ironman Portugal 

Masters swimmers Inés and Matt took on Ironman 70.3 in Portugal this month, passing many other competitors in the water to finish the swim section in a little over 34 minutes. They completed the race together in perfect weather. Inés reports that they are super happy to have competed even though the run (which comes after a 1.9km swim and 90km bike) was a “bit hard” - testimony to her Ironman spirit! 

University of Birmingham Master meet

Sharks’ team of 5 masters competed in 20 individual races and 2 relays and came away with plenty of medals after a very enjoyable day. Placed in the 200+ age category (yes, that is a thing!) for the medley relay, Sharks came away with a very well-earned 2nd and 5th. Neil, Helen, Clare and Rob all swam new club record times proving that experience counts for as much as youth in the pool!

Swim England Masters National Championships

Ali and Neil competed alongside 1600 other Masters swimmers at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Centre, both swimming PBs and having a thoroughly good time. Neil swum a PB in the 50m back, finishing 8th, Ali was 4th in 100 breaststroke knocking a second off her previous best time this year, 6th in the 200IM, 7th in 50 breaststroke and won a silver in the 200 brea stroke swimming more than 2 seconds faster than at the C&Ds a fortnight earlier!

CLUB NEWS

Short Course Regionals

Good luck to Martha, Annabel and Izzy who are competing at Short Course Regionals this coming weekend. 

Farewell to Sophie Warden

Sophie Warden has decided to step away from her coaching role with Sharks due to other work commitments. Sophie has been with Sharks for many years, starting as a swimmer before transitioning into coaching, and her knowledge and dedication have greatly benefitted our swimmers. She will be deeply missed by the coaching team, Trustees, and swimmers alike. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

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