P79 Swimmers in Top Form at Stockport

Our Pioneer 79 swimmers were on top form this weekend at the Stockport Metro November Meet. The competition was a ‘last opportunity’ for swimmers to achieve Winter Short Course National Qualification Times as the closing date for entries is Thursday, so for those close to the qualification times it was an extremely tense weekend. With the competition heavily over-subscribed, there were an awful lot of rejected entries, but included in the accepted entries were numerous British International Swimmers including British Olympian Max Litchfield.

Starting the competition off on Friday evening, we had 4 swimmers taking to the pool in the longer distance events, 800m for the girls and 1500m for the boys. Beth Hartwell (12) finished 8th in her age group with a time of 10.28.83; Isabel Cockerham (16) finished 6th in a time of 9.36.49; Meghann Leaver (17) also finished 6th in her age group in 9.02.16. Ben Makin (14) finished 8th in his age group in a time of 17.25.21. Each of these swimmers achieved new personal best times in their respective events.

Arran Bostock (17yrs)

Saturday produced a number of outstanding swims including Elodie Smallwood (15) achieving a further 2 Short Course National Qualifying Times to add to the other 2 she has already in the bag (200Fly/400IM). In the 100m Individual Medley, her time of 1.07.58 was 0.12 inside the qualifying time, whilst her 100m Butterfly (1.04.98) was 0.02 inside! Tom Gilroy (20) also produced a SCNQT in the 50m Backstroke – 26.38. Saturday’s MEDALLISTS in their age group categories included: Ben Turland (Bronze) 50m Back, (Silver) 100m Freestyle, Tom Gilroy (Silver) 50m Backstroke, Ben Martin (Gold) 100m Freestyle, Jess Simpson (Bronze) 100m Breaststroke, Ethan Naisbitt (Bronze) Multi-Disability 400m Freestyle, Lily-Grace Duckworth (Gold) 50m Freestyle and Ben Makin (Bronze) 50m Breaststroke.

Sunday was another successful day, with even more swimmers achieving new personal best times as the competition drew to a close. 15year old Ben Turland’s efforts throughout the weekend produced no less than a 100% pb rate in all 7 events he swam, unfortunately missing 5 Junior SCNQT’s by less than 0.5 seconds on each occasion. One of his most outstanding results was that in the 200m Freestyle, where he broke the ‘2’minute barrier for the first time, producing a time of 1.59.99! Another fantastic result was that of birthday boy, 17year old Arran Bostock, who broke the ‘1’minute barrier for the first time in the 100m Backstroke, a target he has been aiming for quite some time – so his time of 59.36 was probably one of the most fitting birthday presents he could have asked for! 15year old Ellie Ward had been aiming for a SCNQT in both the 100m and 50m Breaststroke. Narrowly missing the 100m Breaststroke time by less than half a second, she went on to produce a time of 34.31 in the 50m Breaststroke, providing her with her first SCNQT for the Winter Championships, and a well-earned silver medal in the process!

Ellie Ward (15 years)

Sunday’s medallists in their age group categories included: Ethan Naisbitt (Silver) Multi-Disability 100m Butterfly, (Bronze) Multi-Disability 100m Backstroke, Ewan McKavett (Bronze) 100m Butterfly, Ben Turland (Silver) 50m Butterfly, 100m Individual Medley and 50m Freestyle. Ben Martin (Gold) 50m Freestyle, (Silver) 50m Butterfly and (Bronze) 100m Individual Medley, Ella Williams (Gold) 50m Backstroke, Ben Makin (Silver) 100m Individual Medley and Ellie Ward (Silver) in the 50m Breaststroke.

One of Pioneer’s younger swimmers, Katie Hale (11) who was competing for Ellesmere College at this event, competed in 3 events, she returned with 3 new personal best times and 2 bronze

medals in the 200m Freestyle and 400m Individual Medley.

Other swimmers competing were: Beth Hartwell, Mia Smith, Mikaela Shackleton, Isabel Cockerham, Meghann Leaver, Baylie Seery-Kelly, Leah Williams, Ellie Perris, Charlotte Collin, Eleanor Collin, Caitlin Armstrong, Ruby Cain, Emily Nuttall, Kara Pedley, Olivia Nicholls and Darcy Williams.

Pioneer 79’s Head Coach Mike Wilson, Assistant Head Coach James Thompson and Coach Ste Davison were on poolside at various times throughout the 3 days of competition, giving vital information to swimmers both before and after their swims.

Earlier, on social media, one of the coaching staff commented on how impressed he was with the Club’s progress so far this season, with both the dedication shown by the swimmers and their continued success, the depth of support from Pioneer parents and other coaching staff and how delighted he is to be part of this increasingly popular and successful club. Well done to all our swimmers on their achievements throughout the weekend and good luck to those who have qualified to compete in Sheffield at the Winter National Championships which will take place in December.