Exmouth shine at Nationals

November 21, 2006, 11:06 am

Masters swimmers from Exmouth Swimming & Life Saving Society returned triumphant from the ASA National Championships in Sheffield.

Every Exmouth swimmer won at least one medal on top of the team’s accumulation of two gold, three silver and four bronze medals.

The standard of competition was high with many top masters there, including ex-Olympic swimmers. The Exmouth squad has had a successful first year of competition so expectations were high.

Gold medals went to Exmouth’s GB record holder Bill Letch, who took the 200 individual medley title in the 65-69 age group. He followed this up with an unexpected gold in the 100 freestyle.

Sally Stewart, competing in the 18-24 age group, underlined her reputation as a talented distance swimmer by powering her way to two medals. She took the silver in the 200-metres backstroke and a bronze in the 200-metres breastroke, setting two club records on the way.

Olly White surprised all by knocking seven seconds off his 200 individual medley time to finish in 2:20.71. This was a lifetime best and enough for White to take a bronze medal in the 25-29 age group.

The remaining medals came in the relay races. These events proved highly competitive with only tenths of seconds separating the teams.

The women’s team of Libby Kathro (back 35.78), Sally Stewart (breast 36.20), Gemma Franks (fly 35.46) and Tara Dudley (front crawl 27.70) went all out in the medley and took the bronze medal after a tight finish.

The men’s team left it until the last event to take a medal. In a close medley race the team of Richard Lander (back 30.1), Olly White (breast 32.1), Ross Szender (fly 27.02), and Adam Tapp (front crawl 25.66) touched in a club record time of 1.54.88 to take a bronze behind Worcester SC and Swindon Dolphins.

The strength of swimming in Exmouth was noted by many of the larger clubs. The future looks even stronger with plenty of other swimmers coming through and Bob Clarke in charge of coaching. His input has already made a huge difference.

Training takes place at 9pm on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Exmouth Sports Centre and all standards of swimmer are welcome to turn up.

(this article was taken from the exmouthherald.co.uk)