Sevenoaks Swimming Club – Summer Nationals report

The 2017 British Summer Championships took place across six days at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge pool from 25-30 July where the country’s top 24 swimmers in each age group and event are invited to compete.

Sevenoaks had nine swimmers representing them, four boys: Seb Stewart (17), Nathan Rodrigues & Ellis Stanhope (15) and Ben Ward (14) along with five girls: Annie Keppel-Palmer (20), Ellie Vowell, Zoe Naylor-Perrot, Maddie Glen and Rosie Compton, (all 14).

All swimmers produced outstanding swims with the most notable of the boys being Ellis Stanhope’s 7 second PB in 1500m placing him 10^th nationally. Ben Ward and Seb Stewart making the 100 Breast finals with Seb coming 8^th and Ben 6^th. Ben also swam superbly to gain a 9^th in the 50m Breaststroke final and then a 6^th in the 200IM with his best result in the 200 breast narrowly missing out on a medal but gaining a wonderful 4^th place.

The girls had some great performance also with Zoe making the final of the 50 free and finishing in a very respectable 10^th place and Maddie Glen managing to swim her way to the finals of both the 50 & 100 Breast managing an 8^th place in both.

The following week was the turn of the Swim England’s National Summer Meet also at Ponds Forge and pits the next 20 English ranked swimmers (after the British qualifiers) against each other.

The qualifiers were: Louis Hayes (13), Oliver Coote & Ben Ward (14), Nathaniel Rodrigues & Ellis Stanhope (15), George Tyler (16), Milly Childs (13), Rosie Compton, Zoe Naylor-Perrott, Ellie Vowell (14) Frankie Whiting (15).

Yet again the swimmers proved their metal with some amazing swimming from all those who attended.

Outstanding results were from Rosie Compton and Ben Ward who both made the finals in the 400IM and then produced amazing swims to both win GOLD.

The other finalists who performed brilliantly were Nathan Rodrigues 5^th in 100 fly, Frankie Whiting 4^th in 50 Free & 10^th in 100 free, Ellis Stanhope 4^th in both 100 free & 400 free missing medals by a fraction, Louis Hayes 10^th in 50 Back, Millie 7th, Rosie 9th & Zoe 4th all in 50 back & Zoe also managed 8^th in 100 Free and 5^th in 50 fly.

Huge thanks must go to Matt Smithurst, Sevenoaks SC Head coach, for his invaluable support and advice during the 2 weeks of tough racing.