A very big THANK YOU to all the officials, parents and swimmers who made the annual DRSA Schools Gala happen yesterday evening. Taking part were 192 Primary children representing 17 schools and 108 Senior students representing 14 schools from all around the city. This was DRSA’s biggest entry list to date and wihout the help of vounteers it could not have taken place. Please click here for results.
2nd Week Devon Champs and the medal success story continues.
DRSA presented 7 swimmers who had secured the challenging entry times for the county’s premier meet: Jordan Nicholson, Victoria Philpott, Rachel and Bethany Ward, Dan Crook, Finlay Bowden and Rhiannon Davies. All swimmers competed strongly with the majority enjoying personal best times. Jordan, Dan, Finlay and Rhiannon also negotiated their way to the county age-group finals. The platinum performance surely goes to the men’s team captain Jordan. Not only has he led the club squad to league promotion as champions this season but on Sunday gained a well earned silver medal in the 16+over 200 Backstroke final. Rhiannon ensured further DRSA success with a bronze in the 10 year old 200 backstroke. Dan Crook nearly doubled his personal medal tally when he came a close 4th in the 100 BRS. Finlay made his second county final but on this occasion had a technical glitch on a backstroke turn.
Also well done to our second claim swimmers: Connor Andrews and Sinead Davies who are currently in PL’s performance squads. They claimed gold in the 200BRS and 100BK respectively. This breadth of success is a real testament to Terry Mansell’s long-term commitment to high quality development coaching.
A sensational start for our DRSA swimmers. As the first day ends we bring back gold and bronze. Well done to all our swimmers for their gallant efforts: Sam and Finlay Bowden, Dan Crook, Rachel Ward, Brittany O’Reilly, Livvy Nel-Barker and Rhiannon Davies.
The highlight of the day was the Girls 10 years breaststroke race. All 3 of our swimmers stormed through to the 6 lane final. What a line up!!! Devonport Royal hosting 3 swimmers, the rest of Devon’s elite clubs only a further collective 3 swimmers. Dominating the race, Brittany brought home the gold with Rhiannon and Livvy smashing their personal bests to take 4th + 5th.
Dan Crook ensured that the boys also brought back a podium finish in the Boys 13years 100IM race. His bronze medal came courtesy of some superbly dynamic swimming in this medley event. Ten year old Finlay Bowden also gave everything in his highly competitive 100 IM race to finish a very creditable 4th in the final.
Another satisfying statistic to note was that all 5 of our finalists did personal bests under the cauldron of pressure associated with a county final race. Testimony to the hard work of all our coaching team. Well done folks and enjoy the rest of the championships.
Caroline has issued the swimmers logbook which can be found on this website on the COACH page (click here for a quick link). All squad swimmers MUST print off one copy and bring it along to their first swimming session in 2010 and Caroline has also requested that they must bring it along to the session on Wednesday 13th January.
Maximum Performance (run by double Olympians Ed Sinclair and Matt Kidd) are running a swim camp from 4th – 7th April at Millfields School, Somerset. Places are limited and are filling up fast! visit the website www.swimcamp.co.uk for more info and please speak to Caroline.
Please click here for a full report and photos of the team
Three of our young swimmers; Rebecca Hingston, Livvy Nell-Barker, and Brittaney O’Reilly competed in the Exeter Open Meet on 29/11/09 and all three had a very successful day. Their first event was the 200 breast. Livvy swam very well to gain an 8 second PB, ever closer to a Devon time. Then it was Brittaney’s turn to really swimming well and gain a Western County time. Rebecca started her race really well taking a good lead but then had breathing difficulties, still managing a PB and so close to a county time.
In the afternoon session Brittaney and Livvy made good PB’s in the 100 IM, 10s and 3 s respectively. Rebecca was then in the 100m Breast and did an excellent swim with a 6 sec PB and a county time.
In the evening session Rebecca and Brittaney both did the 50m Breast. Rebecca won silver in her age group and Brittaney won gold in the 10 and under.
Well done all three. (Report by T.Mansell)