PERSHORE Swimming Club’s Simon Sweatman was in dominant form at the recent Level 1 Coventry Open Meet as he won seven gold medals in as many events.
Competing in the 12-year-old age group, Sweatman saw off challenges from top opposition from some of the Midlands’ biggest swimming clubs including City of Derby, Boldmere, Nova Centurion and City of Coventry.
Sweatman (12) took all four gold medals in the freestyle as he produced a series of strong performances to win the 50m in 28.86 (MQT), 100m freestyle in 1.02.83 (MQT), 200m freestyle in 2.16.34 (MQT) and 400m freestyle in 4.45.07 (MQT).
He then made it a clean sweep in the backstroke as he again won all three events with wins in the 50m backstroke in 33.17 (MQT), 100m backstroke in 1.08.89 (MQT) and 200m backstroke in 2.28.90 (MQT).
Alexandra Barry (11) was another swimmer in sparkling form and looking to achieve qualification times for the forthcoming Midland District Championships in June.
Barry stormed to five gold medals, with her best performance of the weekend coming in the 200m IM in which she clocked 2.43.38 to claim a well deserved MQT.
She then claimed four more gold medals in the 50m backstroke (36.77), 200m backstroke (2.46.84), 200m freestyle (2.27.22) and 400m freestyle (5.14.40), but had to settle for second places in the 100m freestyle (1.09.56) and 50m fly (35.03 MQT), plus a bronze in the 400m IM (5.55.94).
Patrick Heeks (11) bagged six medals across the weekend including two gold medals. Heeks’ best performance was undoubtedly in the gruelling 200m fly as he edged out some top district swimmers from Nova and Ellesmere to win gold in 2.48.96.
Heeks’ second victory came in the 50m freestyle (31.93) and he then snatched silver medals in the 100m backstroke (1.17.35), 100m freestyle (1.08.23) and 50m fly (35.62) and bronze in the 100m fly (1.16.72).
Although he did not medal in the 200m IM, his time of 2.51.62 was enough to secure another MQT.
In the girls’ ten-year-old age group, Jasmine Franks claimed her first gold at a Level 1 meet with a fantastic swim in the 50m breaststroke with a time of 45.55.
Franks came close to making it double gold in the breaststroke, but was edged into second place in the 100m breaststroke with 1.34.71 and was unlucky to finish fourth in both the 50m freestyle (34.32) and 200m IM (3.05.24).
Despite Chris Vizard (13) producing massive long course personal bests throughout the weekend, the competition in the 13-year age group was such that he only came away with bronze medals in the 200m fly (2.41.54) and 50m fly (31.78).
He came close to two more podium finishes with fourth places in the 100m fly (1.11.49) and 50m breaststroke (38.02).
Other swimmers competing at Coventry, either just missing out on medals or producing personal bests included: Megan Annis (12) – 100m freestyle (1.09.86), 200m backstroke (2.45.79) and 50m fly (34.70); Isobel Cumming (12) – 400m IM (6.14.43), 100m freestyle (1.14.18), 200m freestyle (2.37.31), 200m IM (3.03.22), 50m fly (37.41), 50m freestyle (34.12), 100m fly (1.30.21), 100m backstroke (1.24.90) and 400m freestyle (5.21.30); Amy Weston (13) – 100m freestyle (1.11.78), 200m backstroke (2.40.53) and 50m fly (35.08); Jasmine Taite (14) – 100m freestyle (1.08.37), 200m freestyle (2.33.84), 100m backstroke (1.18.26), 50m fly (33.36) and 50m freestyle (31.14).