Over the last month, members of the Senior Elite Squad have been in action in 3 high profile meets, culminating in 2 COSSS swimmers, Becky Turner and Ellie Faulkner, representing the GB team at the European Short Course Championships (see the the website entry below for weblinks to interviews with them both). Head coach, Russ Barber, is delighted by the standard of the performance at this stage of the season when the swimmers are in the middle of hard training and were competing untapered. There have been multiple PBs and Yorkshire records achieved – read on for more detail!
Canada Cup, Toronto
Dan Cocking and Lucy Spencer represented Sheffield on the ASA England Team in Toronto held on the weekend of 25th-27th November. This is a very high standard international meet at which many past Olympians have competed in the past. Highlights included Lucy winning the 200 IM in 2.15.73 and coming 2nd in the 400 IM in 4.49.17. She also won a gold as part of the 4x100 med team with Natasha Hofton on back, Molly Renshaw on breast, Lucy on Fly (swimming a PB of 1.02.34) and Rebecca Guy on free. Dan swam the 100, 200, 400 and 1500 free, finishing 5th in the 1500 and 8th in the 400.
Dutch Nationals, Eindhoven
Thirteen swimmers travelled to Holland to swim in this international meet between the 2nd and 4th of December. This is always a high standard meet, but even more so this year as it doubled up as the Dutch team's Olympic trials. All Sheffield swimmers were untapered as the GB trials are not until March, but all competed very well, with some achieving PBs and Yorkshire records. Some of the standout performances included:
• Joe Faulkner's 3rd place in the Youth 1500 free in 16.20.85 and 7th in the Youth 400 free in 4.10.46;
• Tom Sunter's 10th place in the 1500 free in 15.49.84;
• Becky Turner won the C final 100 free in 55.78, 5th in the A final of the 200 free in 1.59.16
• Ellie Faulkner was 4th in the 800 free in 8.31.55 (which was a PB and Yorkshire Record) and 5th in the 400 free in 4.10.41
• James Kirton was 3rd in the B final 100 breast in 1.02.79 (his fastest ever mid-season swim), 2nd in B final 200 breast in 2.18.32
• Hannah Wardle 7th in B final 200Br 2.38.62
• Braxston Timm was 5th in the B final 100 fly, 54.78 (his fastest ever mid-season swim), 7th in the A final 200 fly in 2.06.48
• Tegan Turner-Clarke was 1st in the B final 200 fly in a PB of 2.20.15
• Lewis Coleman was 3rd in the 200 IM B final in 2.05.90
• Lucy Spencer's 7th place in the 400 IM in 4.52.83, and 3rd in the B final of the 200 IM in 2.18.36
European Short Course Championships, Poland
To round off 3 weeks of fantastic swimming, Ellie Faulkner and Becky Turner represented GB at the European Short Course Championships from the 8th – 11th December, to which Russ also travelled as a GB Coach.
Ellie set PBs in 3 events (100 free – 55.74; 200 free 1.59.55; 800 free - 8.20.91) and set a Yorkshire record in the 800 free. Becky also set PBs and Yorkshire records in both her events, finishing 9th in the 100 free in 53.88 and 4th in the 200 free in 1.54.84. Becky's impressive 200 free swim was the fastest GB time this year and the 2nd fastest set in a textile suit in GB history!
Interviews with Ellie and Becky are available on the British Swimming website here:
Eleanor Faulkner's interview http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/news/swimming/smith-continues-medal-rush-in-poland/11938/
Rebecca Turner's interview http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/news/swimming/hat-trick-of-medals-to-end-european-challenge/11943/
