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Gold rush for the kids from COPS
The first weekend of the ASA Regional British Age Group (Bagcat) championships in Norwich saw swimmers from the City of Peterborough club (COPS) strike gold with the promise of more to come.
The first weekend of the ASA Regional British Age Group (Bagcat) championships in Norwich saw swimmers from the City of Peterborough club (COPS) strike gold with the promise of more to come.The COPS squad of 24 swimmers qualified for a total of 34 finals places, taking five gold medals and five bronze medals.
At the half-way stage of the event COPS have improved on last year’s performance and are sitting in fourth place in the medal table.
Wisbech schoolboy Liam Knight (14) underlined his recent run of good form by taking gold in the 200m individual medley in a time of 2.17.59 and the 100m backstroke in a time of 1.02.94. Both these finishes were new East Region record times.
Knight completed his medal tally with a bronze in the 200m freestyle and another bronze as part of the boy’s freestyle relay team with Nick Ilsley (14), Sam Holmes (12) and Matt Brigham (13).
Holmes also picked up an individual medal himself, claiming bronze in the boys 800m freestyle event with a time of 9.56.31 while in the girls 800m event 12-year-old Molly Norman took the gold medal in a time of 9.56.14.
Thirteen-year-old Zara Bailey took the top spot in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2.51.02 and Bethany Freeman (12) won COPS’ fifth gold medal in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2.32.44 – which is also a qualifying time for the National championships.
Norman, Freeman and Bailey then teamed up with thirteen-year-old Katie Fitzjohn to take the bronze medal in the girl’s 400m freestyle relay.
COPS other finalists were:
Lee Clarke (10) 400m free - 7th; Hal Whyatt (10) 400 free – 13th; Piers Casey (10) 400 free – 16th; Daniel Powell (11) 400 free – 11th; Tom Mitchell (11) 400 free – 22nd; Sam Holmes 400 free – 4th, 100m back – 4th, 100m freestyle - 7th; Joshua Aylett (12) 400 free – 5th, 800 freestyle – 4th; Ottavio Tanzillo (12) 400 free - 11th; Matthew Brigham (13) 400 free – 9th; Liam Knight 400 free – 5th; Nicholas Ilsley (14) 400 free – 14th; Katherine Fitzjohn 800 free – 8th, 200m fly – 7th; Olivia Standish-Leigh (10) 200m back – 6th, 400 IM – 6th, 200m fly – 7th; Molly Norman 200 back – 8th, 100m fly – 7th, 400im – 6th; Bethany Freeman 400 IM – 4th; Zara Bailey 100m breast – 4th.
COPS head coach Ben Negus said: “This was an excellent start to the championships for us. Compared to last year we are ahead in the table and, with some of our swimmers racing their preferred events in the second weekend, I am confident that their individual standings will improve.
“However, not everyone will achieve to their expectations as form can dip, even after a season’s long preparation.
“We have to take strength from our overall improved position and learn from this year’s experiences.
“We will look at what has worked and what hasn’t and then plan for next year’s campaign based upon those lessons.”
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 11 February 2012
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