The first event of the final week was the boys 100m freestyle, with the fastest eight qualifying for the final the heats were about qualifying with something left in the tank. Joe Evans, George Brear and Lawrie Mills all cruised to the final. They were supported by Michael Ankrett and Joshua Newman who both recorded PB’s. The final was an impressive show from the trio, Mills was piped at the post to finish 2nd in a PB, claiming a club record and National Qualifying Time in the process. Brear secured 4th place have swam a personal best and Midland District Youth Qualifying Time in the heats and Evans, the youngest in the field took a fine 5th place, PB, club record and a Midland District Youth Qualifying Time.

  The girls had a harder time in the 100m Backstroke however Rebecca Sherren and Kara Malins set PB’s with Megan Pashley, Caroline Ankrett and Emma Bysouth having solid swims. The boys 200m Individual Medley was next and a further six personal bests were set by Matthew Newman, Andrew Morley, Ankrett, Alex Helliwell, Newman and Mills. Evans finished 2nd in his age group, Walker 6th, Brear 9th and another superb performance by Mills saw him win the county title in a personal best, club record and National Qualifying Time.

  The girls 50m Butterfly saw PB’s from Ellen Price and Gwennan Williams. Further improvements were seen by Ankrett, after recent illness, Bysouth and Grace Wright who finished 9th in her age group. In the boys 50m Backstroke Evans and Helliwell achieved PB’s. Supported by strong swims from Walker, Morley and Ankrett. Brear made another final in which he finished in bronze medal position.

  The final event of the morning was the Gils 400m freestyle four swimmers took to the water and did not disappoint! Emma White stormed to victory in a personal best, club record and Midland District Youth Qualifying Time. Sherren showing what huge improvements she has made over the last twelve months finishing in bronze medal position in a personal best, club record and Midland District Youth Qualifying Time. Bysouth had a super swim and is returning to form finishing 7th overall in a club record and Midland District Youth Qualifying Time. Price in her first competitive outing over this distance also set a big personal best.

  The afternoon session started with the boys 400m freestyle Mills and Evans were in fine form and finished in 2nd and 4th place overall, Mills gaining a National Qualifying Time and Evans a personal best and Midland District Youth Qualifying Time. The other shark’s entrants did not disappoint either with Helliwell, Newman, Walker and Newman all achieving personal best times. The girls 50m freestyle saw more personal bests notched up by sharks swimmers including Price, Pashley, Eleri Williams, Kate Bellamy, Annie Cox, Lucy Tame, Lydia Fulford, Rhiannon Williams and Becky Tame. Emily Key and White had tremendous swims finishing 1st and 2nd in qualifying, White in a Midland District Youth Qualifying Time. Due to other swims White did not contest the final however Key did not disappoint winning the event and in doing so claiming the county title in a personal best, club record and National Qualifying Time.

  Andrew Morley was the sole representative in the boys 200m breaststroke and had an excellent swim recording a personal best time. The girls 100m breaststroke was another success story for sharks with seven personal bests and one Midland District Youth Qualifying Time. White and Becky Tame made it through to the final, White achieving the MDYQT and Tame recording a personal best along with Pashley, Williams, Malins, Tame, Ankrett and Carla Neiss. In the final White raised her game once more and produced another shark’s victory with Tame just missing a podium finish.

  Grace Wright contested the 200m Butterfly and was rewarded with a personal best, club record and 5th place overall in this gruelling event. The boys 50m Butterfly saw yet more personal bests, these were achieved by Helliwell, Joshua Newman and Joshua Martindale who also broke the club record and finished 4th in his age group other top age group places were achieved by Walker 5th, Evans 1st and the ever improving Ankrett 2nd.

   This left the final two races of the day the girls and boys 200m freestyle relays open to 11- 16 yr olds. The boy’s team comprising Brear, Ankrett, Helliwell and Evans had a tremendous swim finishing in 2nd place an even greater achievement as three of the boys will still be eligible next year. The girls team followed suit Sherren leading off to Bysouth, Becky Tame and the individual 50m freestyle winner Key. Sharks supporters in full voice cheering on a fantastic victory to take the county title and finish off three weeks of tremendous competition. To crown off the championships Joe Evans won the 14yr Bagcats award and took the overall top boy for the championships as a whole.

  This must rank as one of the best county championships competitions for Sharks. It is great to see the younger swimmers claiming personal bests and club records but as important are the more established swimmers performing at the top end still recording personal bests and winning county titles. Credit must go to all the swimmers, Mike Cole, head coach, his team of willing volunteers and continued parental support.