64 Hemel swimmers participated in the Terry Davies Alternative Nationals at Woodside swimming pool last weekend and achieved a fantastic 82 top three finishes and 175 personal best times from 271 swims. 2 new Club age group and 4 new open records were set along with an age group county best time.
There were 25 first places from Izzy Anderton (2), Freya Beresford, Grace Cawley, Jack Christie, Joe Coldwell, Jonny Farrow (3), Billie Grant, Millie Herbert, Harrison Newbury-Kemp, Chloe Purkis, Grace Rayner, Holly Robinson (4), Matt Sherriff, Tom Sherriff, Jack Spence (4) and Freddie Woodcock.
The senior boys were out in force with Jack Christie, Matt Sherriff, Tom Sherriff and Jack Spence filling 4 of the 8 places in a thrilling final heat of the 50 free to be joined by Freddie Woodcock in what was if possible an even more exciting final heat of the 100 free which saw Freddie swim under 54 seconds for the first time.
Millie Herbert confirmed her recent improvement, posting a massive 80 second PB on what was admittedly an old 200 breaststroke time but with a time which was almost faster than she swam a rather more recent 200 free! Other significant improvements were posted by Natasha Acres (13 seconds in the 100 free), Grace Cawley (16 secs in the 200 breast), Joe Coldwell (19 secs in the 200 IM), Mabel Coldwell (10 secs in the 200 back), Pippa Croucher (11 secs in the 100 IM), Ben Davies (10 secs in the 200 IM), Tom Frewin (12 secs in the 100 IM and 16 secs in the 200 fly), Elizabeth Kelly (15 secs in the 100 free), Rebecca Sewell (12 secs in the 200 back) and Amber Stratford (10 secs in the 200 IM and 21 secs in the 200 free).
Club age group records were set by by Leanne Abrey (100 fly) and Holly Robinson (200 back) and 4 new open club records were set by Grace Rayner (100 IM) and Jack Spence (100 & 200 back and 100 free). Jonny Farrow’s 2:30 in the 200 back is currently the best in Hertfordshre by a 13 yr old boy by over 6 seconds.