We are delighted to hear from Alex Dawson, Head Coach at our sponsees Leicester Swimming Club, that the club is going from strength to strength.
Here is the lastest news from the club:
SMITH FINISHES SEASON ON A HIGH AT THE US OPEN
Competing at the US Open for Great Britain as a part of a select group of swimmers targeting Rio Olympics 2016, Sophie Smith produced strong performances in her signature events Freestyle and Ind.Medley. Against tough opposition from America, Canada, France, New Zealand and Australia Sophie finished 5th in the 200m Ind.Medley Championship final against other potential 2016 Olympic swimmers. Sophie also produced strong performances in the 50m and 100m Freestyle event just missing out on her personal bests.
GIRLS RETAIN AGE GROUP NATIONAL RELAY TITLE
After claiming the title of National Medley relay Age Group Champions back in 2011 the quartet of Candice Hall, Megan Morrison, Harriet West and Zoe Tildesley produced a guts swim under pressure to retain the 2012 National title.
After setting a commanding lead after the Butterfly from National Age Group Champion Harriet West, Zoe Tildesley held her nerve to place her hand on the touch pad a fraction before rivals Taunton Deane.
WEST STORMS NATIONAL AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS
At the National Age Group Championships Harriet West produced an outstanding week of performances in which she was was crowned National 100m Butterfly champion. Harriet also achieved Silver in the 200m Butterfly, Bronze in 400m Ind.medley and Bronze 200m Ind.Medley.
Candice Hall achieved four finals in the 100m/200m Backstroke and 200m/400M butterfly. Megan Morrison achieved two finals in the 100m/200m Breaststroke. In her first Championships Danielle Tomlinson achieved a semi - final place in the 100m Breaststroke. Hannah Knight claimed 10th in the BACGAT awards.
CITY GIRLS SMASH THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDRENS GAMES
The four girls from City of Leicester, Harriet Cooper, Harriet West, Candice Hall and Megan Morrison travelled to south Korea to compete in the International Childrens Games they struck gold in the freestyle relay and added a silver in the medley. In the individual events, Cooper won gold in the 50m Backstroke setting a new junior East Midlands regional record. She also won three silvers, in the 50m and 100m freestyle, and 100m backstroke. Harriet West won silver in 100m and 200m butterfly, and finished fourth in the 200m individual medley and fifth in the 50m butterfly. Morrison won bronze in the 200m and finished seventh in the 100m breaststroke. Hall was fourth in the 100m and 200m backstroke, and the 200m freestyle as well as sixth in the 200m individual medley.
SMITH AND BALLARD SHINE AT YOUTH NATIONALS
At the ASA National Youth Championships COLSC youth swimmers produce outstanding results against the best swimmers in the country. After competing at European Juniors and International Children's Games Harriet Cooper returned on the last day of competition to claim the Bronze in the 50m Freestyle. In the same event Sophie Smith was crowned National Champion and had previously in the week achieved three 4th places and a Silver medal in the 200m Ind.Medley. Jack Warren - Ballard had an amazing run of form and despite not achieving a podium finish competed in three National finals in 200m Ind.Medley and 100m/200m Backstroke finishing fourth in the later. Both Jamie Thorpe and Tsubasa Nakagawa had strong performances in the 50m and 100m Freestyle events making final performances. Jamie set a new Senior County record in the 100m Freestyle event.
SECOND SILVER AT EUROPEAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
After the success of the 4x100m Freestyle silver medal at the European Junior Swimming Championships on day 2, Harriet Cooper swam a great heat of the 50m Freestyle and qualified for her first Junior international individual semi final in which Harriet finished 14th. Later in the same session Harriet swam the freestyle leg of the 4x100m Medley team and brought the quartet home to a silver medal.
A great championships in which she can return to next season in the search for individual podium performances.
EUROPEAN JUNIOR SILVER MEDAL FOR COOPER
After narrowly missing out on a place in the Semi-finals of the 100m Freestyle on day one of the European Junior Championships, Harriet joined fellow GB team members to deliver a 55.9 on the third leg of the 4x100m Freestyle team to achieve a silver medal on day two.
With more individual events coming up Harriet hopes to convert this podium performance to her remaining events.