Winter Short Course Championships Report

The Swim England East Region held its Winter Short Course Championships at Luton Inspire over the weekend of 5-7 November 2021 and six of our swimmers attended. James Atwell and Toby Martin were our 2 male competitors, while Izzy Chapman, Emma Craig, Larissa Dean and Luci Stanley all swam.  Over 28 individual events, there were 17 personal bests, 12 new age group records and 3 new club records.

James set a new personal best time in all 8 of his events and now holds the club record for 50m freestyle, a record previously set in 2010, and 50m backstroke with the record taken from Ed Castro.  He also set the 16 year old age group records for 100m back that has been in place for 8 years, and took the 50m fly record from Angus Harrow.

Izzy swam a personal best in 100m breast to set a new age group record and club record, last set by Abby Smith in 2017.  Izzy also set a new 17 year old age group record for 50m fly, going sub-30 seconds to take another record from Abby Smith, previously set in 2014.

Larissa returned from uni to swim for the club placing three personal bests and setting records in the 18 and over age group for the suite of fly events; 50m (breaking her own record), 100m taking nearly 5 seconds off a time set by Juliet Merelie in 2017, and 200m to take a record set 5 years ago.

Emma swam 3 personal bests and set a new 17 year old age group record for 50m back.

Toby, aged 13, did really well to qualify for this meet as there is only the open age group.  He swam two races, set two personal bests and broke two of his own age group records; 50m free and 50m fly.

To finish off the results, a mixed 4 x 50m freestyle relay team consisting of James, Toby, Larissa and Izzy set a new club record to break the previous one set at the last County Championships in January 2019.

Head Coach, Annie, said “This is a great set of results and well deserved. The swimmers put in the work and reaped the rewards. This sets us up well for the meets in the build up to Counties and I hope to see more excellent swims at Watford, Club Champs and Last Chance.”