REPORT: Scottish ASA East District LC Open Championships

Performance Group 2 excels at Scottish East District Championships

On 27/28 April a (very elite) horde of five team GAW swimmers crossed the Scottish border to showcase their skills in the East District Regional Championships, held at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.  Though our numbers were small, quite an impression was made by all that competed, and Scottish gold (as well as silver and bronze) was plundered.

To our finalists. Both Grace Idowu and Elif Celikay managed to achieve second swims in a number of events, with Elif managing to final in the 50m and 200m breaststroke, as well as the 50m butterfly, showing a great ability to step up her performance levels from heat to final.  Grace achieved final outings in all three backstroke distances as well as the 50m butterfly and freestyle, demonstrating a new found ability to perform in multiple events.  At one stage in the weekend Grace competed in three different finals within 45 minutes of each other.

And now to our medal winners.  Leading the way was senior athlete, breaststroke specialist, Zoe Price who took home both the 50m and 100m breaststroke titles, smashing out club record performances in the process.  Zoe also impressed in her less favoured distance of 200m breaststroke achieving a hard fought PB and impressive 4th position.  Joining Zoe on the breaststroke podium in the 50m (bronze) and 100m (silver)was 13 year old Naomi Parker.  Her achievement all the more impressive, given that this was an Open competition with all age groups competing as one.  Across the weekend, Naomi was far and away the most impressive 13yr old in the competition gaining top five positions in the 100m and 200m fly as well as the 200m and 400m individual medley events.  All in all, Naomi achieved personal best performances in all seven events contested, before going on to improve her new PBs even further in four finals.  Completing the trio of GAW medallists was all-rounder Alex McGill who picked up a silver medal in the 100m backstroke along with a well earned bronze in the 200m distance.  Alex added to her growing CV with top five performances in the 50m backstroke and 200m IM, while making the A. final in her other event of the weekend, the 200m freestyle.

All five athletes performed fantastically well, representing team GAW with a great deal of distinction, and creating a fantastic impression on our welcoming hosts.

Paul