sport-swim

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden New Journal - by STEVE BARNETT
Published: 3 January 2008

Camden Swiss Cottage duo Felix Samuels and Alex Mackay capture triumphant times in their final meet of 2007

Swim stars shine at Winter Meet

SWIM stars Felix Samuels and Alex Mackay gained vital qualifying times for this year’s national calendar when they powered through the water at the Plymouth Leander Winter Meet, which was held in the 50m pool at Millfield School in Somerset.
In their final outing of 2007, the Camden Swiss Cottage duo put in a series of perfect pool performances as they took the top class level one event by storm.
Felix clinched a place in the National Youth Championships in July after he swam brilliantly in the 50m and 100m freestyle to record respective times of 26.16 and 56.61 seconds. The talented 14-year-old also secured two stunning silver medals for his efforts in the 100m heat and the 14 and under junior championship final.
Felix also finished third in the 100m fly with a new personal best time of 1.02.36, capturing his second bronze of the competition.
Meanwhile club mate Alex, who has already qualified for the British Olympic Trials in April, also picked up valuable points to earn his place in the youth championships this summer.
The speedy 15-year-old won bronze in the 1500m freestyle when he touched home in third place with a time of 16.49.11. Alex also gained a national qualifying time in his 800m split during the 1500m with a time of 8.57.47.
The highly-rated Camden Swiss Cottage swimmer completed his hat-trick of qualification times when he finished fourth in the 400m individual medley in a long course best time of 4.51.66.
Overall the Camden and Islington club took a team of 12 swimmers to the Plymouth meet. Among the star performers was Harry Needs, who won a deserved gold medal in the 50m backstroke and two bronze medals in the 50m breaststroke and the 100m backstroke.
Teammate Alex Peake also clinched gold when he powered his way to victory in the 50m breaststroke with a time of 37.94. The sprightly swimmer completed a clean sweep on the medal front when he took silver in the 50m fly and bronze in 100m breaststroke.
The medal mania continued with Joel Sands winning silver in 800m freestyle, Ed Walsh claiming bronze in the 50m breaststroke and Bogac Ayhan capturing bronze in the 50m fly.
Despite missing out on podium finishes, Sarah Taylor-Reid, Jessica Hobbs, Clara Ahmed, Leo Jaggs and Metin Ayhan all put in creditable performances.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: