A 15-strong AXA Wealth International Isle of Man Swimming Club team travelled to the Derventio eXcel Meet in Sheffield recently for their first long course (50m pool) competition since July.
The competition was tough as always at this meet, with strong representation from Edinburgh and Loughborough Universities as well as five Olympians and senior internationals taking part.
Over the weekend three swimmers qualified for senior finals, these being Brody Hewison, Guy Davies and Alex Bregazzi.
Brody was the only swimmer to win a medal by taking gold in the 50m fly in the 16-17 years age group, adding the 100m fly to his Commonwealth Youth Games and Island Games consideration times when finishing fourth.
Alex and Guy also achieved further consideration times in their respective events for Island Games, with Alex also doing likewise for this year’s CYG in Samoa.
The junior 15-and-under swimmers were on fine form with standout sets of performances, this time from the girls, in particular Emma Hodgson and Kazia Whittaker.
Both girls became the fastest of their age that the island has ever seen in the 50m freestyle and 50m fly respectively.
Emma had the standout performance of the meet finishing third in the 13-14 years 50m freestyle and thus qualifying for the British Championships at the London Aquatic Centre in April, which is also the selection meet for the European Youth Olympic Festival.
She will be joined at that meet by Guy Davies in the men’s 200m breaststroke and team-mates based off-Island in Laura Kinley, Charlotte Atkinson and Niamh Robinson.
At the Derventio meet but competing for their off-island clubs were Niamh Robinson and Kinley.
Niamh broke a number of junior island records and one senior island standard in the 200m breaststroke. Unfortunately for Niamh, her hold on the 200m breaststroke senior mark fell in the next race as Laura finished second in the 17+ final to take back her record.
This continues to be a fascinating battle that shows no sign of slowing down and is just one of a number of rivalries that is driving times down across the squad.
Next up for Isle of Man Swimming Club is the third round of the AXA League Match series at the NSC followed by the Lancashire County Championships in Liverpool and Manchester.
In between the weekends of the championships, the Edinburgh International Meet is also being targeted by some of the older swimmers.