Good luck to all the Worcester swimmers who will be competing at National Championships over the next few weeks
Kicking things off will be Asha Mahanta who will be racing at the Irish Championships in Dublin, following in mum Orla’s footsteps! These championships run from Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24th July and Asha will have a very busy programme competing in 5 races in the 14/u age group – 200m Backstroke, 100m Butterfly, 200m Individual Medley, 100m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke plus relays for her adopted Irish club “Sundays Well”
It will then be the turn of Grace Earp, Frankie Barry, Ben Gooch and Grace Ciancio who will be competing at British and/or UK Home Nations Championships in Sheffield
Invitations to these are hard earned with the top 24 swimmers in each event based on times achieved in the 12-week qualifying window March-May competing at the British event and then the next best ranked 20 swimmers in England, Scotland and Wales to their respective “Home Nations” meet
Grace Earp will be doing a Breaststroke double in the 15-year old age group, competing in both the 50m and 100m events at British. It will take a big Personal Best Time to make Finals and secure second swims but she is in great form and goes into these Championships flying so keep an eye out for her results, with the 50m on Saturday 23rd July and 100m on Thursday 28th
Sandwiched between Grace’s two swims will be Frankie Barry. The Club’s top sprinter, she will be really up for the 14-year old 50m Butterfly on Tuesday 26th July at British and with just 0.85 seconds separating all 24 entrants, who knows!?!
Frankie will then be back in action a couple of weeks later at English Home Nations, a little later than normal this year, as it’s been put back until after the Commonwealth Games – don’t forget, double Paralympic medallist Becky Redfern swims in those, albeit in 50m Freestyle rather than ger usual 100m Breaststroke (Saturday 30th July). Frankie will be sprinting again, this time in the 50m Freestyle (Saturday 6th August)
Joining her at English on that day will be 16-year old Grace Ciancio. After a wonderful long course season, culminating in a Bronze medal at West Midland Championships, Grace has qualified for the 200m Breaststroke at Sheffield, an event in which her long, powerful stroke enables her to excel
Finally, also there will be Ben Gooch who like Asha at Irish, should have a busy week, with entries in the boys 15-year old 50m Freestyle (Fri 5th), 100m Freestyle (Sun 7th) and 50m Butterfly (Tues 9th). His training has been immense in the run up to Championships and having set a big PB short course on 100m Freestyle representing the County the other day (taking 2.5s off to go 54.24) hopes are high for a successful meet
All of these swimmers will be making their debuts at this National level – a superb achievement of which they and their families should be hugely proud, and reward for all their hard work and dedication. I’m sure I speak for everyone at Worcester Swimming Club when I wish them all the very best of luck!!!
Mark Stowe
Head Coach