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KILLERWHALES SPIRITS NOT DAMPENED AT LONDONS'

With the temporary closure of the pool at the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace the 2008 National Youth Championships moved to the 50m pool at Gurnell Leisure Centre, Ealing.

Although the poor lighting and subdued atmosphere did not encourage swimmers there were still a number of notable performances and probably our highest ever tally of top three finishes in these Championships.

Henny Andrews and Matthew Smith (Matt swimming under his dual club registration) were top performers for the Killerwhales both achieving silver medals. Matt gained his two silvers in the 50 and 100 Breaststroke events in the 17 and over age category whilst Henny’s best performance came at the end of the meeting where she took a creditable 2^nd place in a remarkable final of the 50 metre ‘fly for the 116+ age group. Remarkable not just because of her own performance but because of the six swimmers in the final, four were Killerwhales with Henny heading home sister Laura, Kalei Andrews and Julia Braybrooke.  Henny also finished just outside the medals with 4^th in the 50 Breast and 5^th in the 200 medley.

Julia Braybrooke had earlier claimed 3^rd in the final of the 200 ‘fly to take a her second Bronze medal of the championships and add to the one she achieved in Day 1 of the competition with a gritty performance in the 800 freestyle.

Katinka Merchan, swimming in the 14/15 age group won bronze in the 50 backstroke with a determined swim and also appeared in the finals of the 100 Back and 50 Fly. Team-mate Kalei Andrews also had a busy weekend figuring in 4 finals over the weekend with a bronze in the 400 medley being her top result, gained at the start of the weekend.

Dean Smith featured for the boys as he took bronze medals in the 100 ‘fly and 200 Freestyle events as well as 4^th in the 200 ‘fly and 5^th in the fiercely competitive 50 metre freestyle sprints.

Jon Congdon changed down from his usual long distance events to take 5^th in the 50 free and also took a top six spot in the 400 metre version, whilst Lee Parker’s swim in the 800 free saw him finish just outside the top six with a determined performance.

As is often the case some of the most exciting racing was to be had in the relays. The 17+ boys team of Matthew Smith, Tom Bircham, Jon Congdon and Dean Smith recorded a great set of swims in the in the 4 X 100 freestyle relay to finish in the bronze medal position whilst in the medley the same quartet were just unable to repeat the feat and ended in 4^th place by the narrowest margin.

The 16+ Girls didn’t fare quite so well with the Freestyle team of Henny Andrews, Katinka Merchan, Kalei Andrews and Georgia Shaw coming home 4^th. Holly Jackson replaced Georgia for the medley relay and despite a powerful last 50 the team were edged into 5^th.