Yorkshire Championships Sprints and Teams
On the weekend of the 19th and 20th March Ponds Forge was the venue for the Yorkshire Swimming Association Sprint and team Competition over 50 Metres. Rotherham Metro swimmers once again came away with many PBs, medals and lots of top ten finishes.
Leading the way was the formidable fourteen year-old talent that is Matthew Sotheran who struck Gold in the Freestyle and Fly as well as finishing 4th in the Backstroke and 6th in the Breaststroke. In the girls open section sixteen year-old Charlotte Pearson dominated from start to finish in the Fly competition taking the Gold medal and following this up with 4th and 5th position in the Backstroke and Freestyle respectively. In the boys open competition eighteen year-old Simon Worne claimed Silver in the Breaststroke and Bronze in the Fly. Twelve year-old Alice Aucott proved once again that she is becoming an exceptional talent at the Breaststroke by taking the Silver medal in an extremely completive event with fellow twelve year-old Alicia Hartley coming home in 9th position. In the 14/15 year-old girls competition fourteen year-old Emily Shone claimed Bronze in a hard fought Backstroke event and was 4th in the Breaststroke competition. Fast emerging talent George Russell (13) won Bronze in a very close finish Fly competition and was placed 9th in the Breaststroke.
One to watch for the future is nine year-old Jack Whitehirst who had a tremendous first Yorkshire sprint competition by reaching three finals and finishing 4th in the Freestyle, 6th in the Backstroke and 7th in the Fly. Also reaching three finals is the up and coming talent Rebecca Finnie (11) who finished 5th in the Backstroke, 6th Fly and 9th in the Freestyle. The ever dependant Connor Neal once again reached two finals finishing 5th in the Fly and 6th in the Backstroke. In the boys 15/16 age group Adam Parkes secured 6th position in the Backstroke, Holly Sotheran (12) claimed 7th in the Freestyle and also claiming 7th in the girls 14/15 age group fly was Jessica Bushby. Nine year-old Kenyon Kellett was in outstanding form claiming 8th in the Breaststroke and Rebecca Bamber claimed 9th in the girls eleven year-old event.
Many of teams reached the relay finals with numerous teams just missing out on the medals.
Other swimmers taking part were:Adam, Edge, Liam Blackwell, Dylan Bohm, James Newton, Sam Pearson, Rebecca Durn, , Hannah Dannatt, , Benjamin Cliff, Devin Kellett, Josh Hillman, Kelsey Longden, Kimberley Bush, , Aaron Waterhouse, , James Shiel, Rebecca Britten, Chloe Rooker, Shannon Eades, Bethany Woodcock, Laura Gillott, Josh Whitehurst, Thoms Gibbons, , Sam Pearson, Jack Mcgann, Abbie Ackroyd, James Newton, Kayley Britten, Debbie Cocking, Ellisia Dawson, Rachel Grainger, Claire Short and Dale Waterhouse.