The 2018 British Summer Championships took place across six days from 24th-29th July where the country’s top 24 swimmers in GB in each age group and event were invited to compete.
The heatwave was unforgiving in the environs of Sheffield’s Ponds Forge pool and with temperatures outside hitting record highs, the atmosphere inside matched the rising temperatures.
Sevenoaks had six swimmers representing them, the boys were: Ellis Stanhope (16) and Louis Hayes & Jake Hudson (14) and the girls: Amy Farthing (20), Zoe Naylor-Perrot & Maddie Glen (15).
All swimmers produced outstanding swims with the most notable of the boys being Louis Hayes qualifying for five finals from six races.
He finished a great 9th in 50m & 100m free, an even better 6th in 100m back & 100m fly. Finally in his last race he pulled out all the stops for an incredibe 4th in 50m fly, missing the bronze medal by just 0.02 seconds.
Jake Hudson, in his inaugural National meet, produced a good personal best in 100m breast finishing in 16th and went on to qualify for the finals in 200m breast securing a superb 7th place.
Amy Farthing, also at her first individual Nationals, started the week off with a wonderful PB in the 400IM finishing 14th having jumped two places in the rankings and then went on to finish in 21st in 200m fly. Finally came the 1500m freestyle where she finished a very credible 7th.
Maddy Glen produced a strong swim in the 50m breast jumping five places from entry and finished in 17th. She then went on to the 100m breast where she produced a gutsy swim to finish in 19th. Zoe Naylor- Perrott also swam well to finish in 17th place in the 50m free.
In the 800m free, Ellis Stanhope swam himself to three positions better than entry and finished strong for 15th place.
Great results and super swimming by all in the sweltering heat.
Swim England’s National Summer Meet also at Ponds Forge takes place at the start of August and pits the next 20 English ranked swimmers (after the British qualifiers) against each other. Where Ellis, Louis and Maddy will be joined by Ollie Coote, Imogen Stoddart, Nathan Rodrigues, Eva & Izzy Okaro, Ellie Vowell, Lilie Chambers, Zac Raymond, Aiden McMillan and Kara Dimond.
Sevenoaks Swimming Club were quick to thank Jo King, who is currently acting as Headcoach, for her unstinting support and invaluable advice during the meeting.
