Four talented youngsters from South Lincs Competitive Swimming Club travelled to Sheffield’s Ponds Forge for the Burns Meet over the weekend.
William Swain (age 15) was aiming to achieve a qualifying standard for the 2016 Olympic Trials in Glasgow at the level one competition, while Ellisha Cookson (11), Andre Ubaveciute (11) and
Amelia Fovargue (12) all youngsters earned vital experience in the 50m pool.
On the first day of competition Cookson and Fovargue both lowered their personal best (PB) times in the 200m backstroke, with Cookson picking up the silver medal in the process.
Cookson then went on to lower her PB time in the 100m breaststroke.
The dynamic duo of Fovargue and Cookson were once again on fine form in the 50m backstroke, with Cookson securing the gold medal.
Swain then contended the 200m freestyle – recording a time just outside his best, but still a better time than he managed at the same stage last year.
The fine form continued in the afternoon. Cookson secured three more PBs in the 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle, collecting silver (400m) and bronze (50m) medals.
Fovargue also managed PBs in both the 400m and 100m freestyle events, with Swain swimming to silver in a PB time for his preferred 50m freestyle event.
Day two continued with the same intensity, as Ubaveciute clocked a PB in the 50m breaststroke en-route to the silver medal.
Fovargue then contested the 200m freestyle event, again managing a PB as she learned from her mistakes made on day one.
The afternoon was slightly busier, with Ubaveciute recording a PB time for 200m breaststroke before being disqualified for a faulty turn. Fovargue was then back in action, PB-ing in the 50m freestyle, followed by Swain’s 100m freestyle, where he also secured a PB and the bronze medal.
Head coach Callum Lawson said: “All in all this was a superb weekend of racing, transferring our skills from short course into a long course pool.
“It was really encouraging to see the kids enjoying their racing, delivering skills and recording new best times.”
