The Herts County Championships saw Hemel swimmers setting no fewer than 29 new club records. This is a fantastic achievement and shows the depth of talent coming through the club.
Topping the record-breaking charts was Club Captain Tom Sherriff who broke a total of 7 records in the boys’ 15-years age group. All but one of these were improvements on his own previously held records. The events were 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle, 200m and 400m IM and 200m breaststroke. In the 200m backstroke he took the record previously held by Tom Osborn.
Next highest record breakers were Max Jelfs and Megan Pirrie with six records apiece.
Pirrie broke records already previously owned by her in the 11-year girls’ 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, as well as the 200m and 400m IM and the 200m butterfly.
Max Jelfs’ new records were mostly improvements on existing records already held by him. They were the 9-year boys’ 50m and 200m freestyle, 50m and 200m backstroke and the 100m IM. His 200m IM time of 3.05.91 bettered the record held previously by Thushi Kumarage.
Devon Prior broke four records in the 14-year girls’ category. Two of these, the 50m and 200m breaststroke were hers already. She took the 800m freestyle record from Lois Moore and bettered Vickie Fisher’s previous club best in the 200m IM.
Adam Daniell enjoyed the accolade of breaking the longest-standing records, taking Bill Woodhouse’s previous times in the 15-year boys’ 50m and 100m breaststroke which have stood since 1999.
Other record breakers were Paige Wilding who bettered her own previous record in the 12-year girls’ 200m IM.
Ben Garratt broke his previous best in the 10-year boys’ 50m freestyle with a blinding time of 31.68.
Kyle Holmes smashed his own club record in the 11-year boys’ 200m breaststroke, beating his old time of 3.17.86 with a 3.09.88.
Finally, Club Captain Lois Moore took Katie McLaren’s 50m backstroke record in the 15-year girls.
Congratulations to all the record breakers.
A full round-up of County medal winners and BAGCAT top eight scorers will follow shortly.