Two members of Stratford Sharks, James Wardle (24) and Joe Evans (16) recently competed at the prestigious Burns Open Meet held at Pond’s Forge, Sheffield. The Burns, generally regarded as the number one club meet held in the UK, this year attracted entries from 90 clubs from as far a field as Dubai. As a British Swimming designated preparation meet, the qualifying times were extremely demanding which resulted in a programme made up the countries top junior, youth, open and international swimmers.

  James Wardle competing on just the first day of the two day meet was first into action in the 100m Fly setting a new open age club record time before finishing 24th overall in the 50m Freestyle. Joe Evans competed in five events over the weekend in the extremely tough 15/16 year age group. The pick of his events came in the 200m Freestyle. A time just outside of his best saw him finish 13th but it was good enough to qualify him in the older 17yr age group for this year’s National Youth Championships.

   Evans, recently voted third in Stratford District Council’s Junior Sport Person of the Year Awards has now been selected for a place on English Swimming’s Beacon Programme which will enable him to train with the other members of the ASA West Midlands Region’s England Talent Programme athletes on a weekly basis at Coventry’s 50m pool.