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KILLERWHALES AT POTTERS BAR WINTER OPEN MEET
Killerwhales post impressive new personal best times at Potters Bar

The Furzefield centre was the venue for Potters Bar Swimming Clubs 2006 open meet on Saturday night. Intermediate and Junior squads were bolstered by some senior squad swimmers who led the way in taking medal positions although it was to be 11 year old Georgia Beadel who set the tone for the event in Killerwhales first swim of the night smashing her personal best in the 200 freestyle by a massive 44 seconds. Georgia also took a five second PB in the 100 medley before withdrawing from the event injured following a fall.

The first medal of the evening was claimed by 14 year old Kalei Andrews finishing 5^th in the 100 medley, and adding a creditable 6^th in the 200 free following a gutsy swim which saw her pull back a 5 metre deficit in the last two lengths in her heat. Team mate Katie Miles held on well later in the same event to finish 8^th. Swimming a day before her 14^th birthday Josie Larkin caught the eye with some sparkling performances, saving her best till last in the 50 free where she secured the best position of the Killerwhales girls in that age group.

In the Open age group 15 year old Katherine Walsh the first of four Killerwhales swimmers off the blocks in the 100 medley, but Ellena Wheately led at the turn at the end of the fly length. Team-mate Susannah Hayes pulled level down the backstroke length but Katherine and Alice Scott both found form in their favoured breaststroke to take them clear turning 1^st and 2^nd heading into the freestyle. Walsh hit the front down the last length to finish 5^th overall in the event. This reversed an earlier defeat by Scott (5^th) in the 200 free earlier on. Katherine also took the 50 free. Team mate Julia Braybrooke claimed 6^th for both the 200 free and medley with a solid effort in both swims.

The whales had to wait until event 16 for a boy to take a medal and this time Adam Conway (6^th) just denied James Croxon in the 100 medley in the Open Age Group. James had earlier powered through a fine 200 freestyle winning his heat by half a length with a 20 second personal best. The lack of competition in that heat appeared to cost him and Conway secured an 8^th place with a strong swim with a marginally quicker time.

Fine swims from Charlie Wood, Martin Butterworth and Andrew Dawkins kept competition tight amongst the Killerwhales in the 14 to 15 years age group, but it was Lee Parker who took the honours and was top placed ‘Whale in that age group. 11 year old Tom Skingsley also featured strongly with a 4 second PB in the 50 freestyle leaving him just one place from a medal position.

It was however, a night for some of the more inexperienced ‘Whales swimmers to develop and with all swimmers picking up personal best in at least one event there should have been some satisfied swimmers travelling back down the M25 later that night.

see results sheet