Swimmers from Hemel Hempstead SC were in the hunt for County Qualifying times on Saturday at the Hertfordshire ASA Development Meet at Borehamwood…
They were rewarded with a host of Qualification certificates, medals and PBs.
Swimming in the first heat of the first race, Ben Garratt set the standard by blasting his way to a County QT in the 200m IM, not only meeting the standard for his own 9 year age group, but posting a fast enough time to qualify him for the age group above. Ben consolidated his success with another QT in his 200m backstroke.
Another swimmer on blistering form was 11 year-old Aimee Abrey, who swam comfortably inside the qualifying times for the 200m IM, 200m breaststroke and 50m butterfly.
Team-mate Emily Jelfs, also 11, made sure of her place at the County Championships in March with QTs in the 200m IM and 50m breaststroke. Emily just missed out on her 200m breaststroke time, but took home a silver medal as second fastest non-qualifier as consolation. She also posted 6th place in the 50m butterfly.
Peter Kennett had a good day at the office with QTs achieved in the 11 years’ 200m IM and 200m backstroke and a 5th in the 50m butterfly. Josh Gaines, 11, secured a QT in the 200m backstroke and took home the bronze for the 200m IM, finishing 9th in the 50m freestyle.
Alisha Kan was another 11 year-old to pick up QT certification on her 200m IM, whilst claiming gold in the 200m breaststroke and fifth in the 50m butterfly.
Kyle Holmes was one of only a handful of swimmers to take on the 200m butterfly and was rewarded with a qualification certificate in the 10 years’ age group.
9 year old Christopher Cox made sure of his County debut appearance by coming under the time in the 50m freestyle, whilst taking bronze in the 200m event.
There were great swims too for 9 year-old Nell Baughan, who claimed qualification in the 200m breaststroke, 7th in the 50m event, 5th and 8th in the 200m and 50m freestyle respectively and 6th in the 50m backstroke.
Chloe Hall, also 9, took gold in the 200m freestyle, with a 4th in the 50m backstroke and 6th in the 50m butterfly.
11 year-old Isabella Sherwani-Keeling took silver in the 200m freestyle, 4th in the 50m backstroke, 8th in the 200m IM and 11th in the 50m freestyle.
Samuel Hutchings made his mark in the 9 years’ age group with a bronze in the 50m backstroke, 4th in the 50m butterfly, 5th in the 50m freestyle, 6th in the 50m breaststroke and 9th in the 200m freestyle.
Shaminah Sherwani-Keeling took the bronze in the 9 years’ 50m butterfly along with 7th in the 200m freestyle, and 11th in both the 50m freestyle and the 50m breaststroke.
Lauren Windsor fell foul of the judges with a couple of DQs but made good with a massive PB to finish 7th in the 200m freestyle, also coming 14th in the 50m event.
Chloe Purkis, 10, put in a strong effort with a 5th place in the 200m breaststroke, 9th in the 50m event, 11th in the 50m freestyle, 12th in the 200m freestyle and 14th in 50m backstroke.
Alice Fender made 6th in the 9 years’ 200m freestyle.
Emma Riley made a top ten in the 200m breaststroke with a huge PB, coming 6th, whilst Ellen Fender’s personal best in the 50m freestyle put her 9th.
Jacob Hutchings made 5th in the 200m breaststroke with a big PB and another top ten finish in the 50m butterfly, coming 8th.
Other Hemel swimmers putting in some great personal improvements were Emily Horwood, Emily Cox and Katie Dignum.