24 Apr 2019

Three Deepings Swimming Club swimmers medalled at the Derventio Excel long course meet in Sheffield against top competition from across the country.

A squad of 10 travelled north for the Level 1 meet, which took place in the Ponds Forge international pool, winning five medals and breaking one club record.

Beth Eagle-Brown added to her collection of age-group 100m freestyle Deepings records by taking more than a second off the old mark for 16-year-olds, swimming 59.56s to claim bronze. She added a second bronze in the 50m butterfly with a personal best and achieved a second PB in the 100m butterfly, finishing sixth.

Beth capped a fine weekend with a strong swim in the 50m freestyle, just outside her best time.

Tom Neal doubled up in the backstroke events with silver in the 17yrs/over 50m and bronze in the 100m. He also finished sixth in the 50m butterfly with a new PB of 27.04.

Completing the medal-winning performances was 10-year-old Jacob Briers, who won silver in the 10/11yrs 200m breaststroke, swimming a new personal best of 3:33.65. Jacob also PB’d in the 200m backstroke, finishing sixth in 3:06.98.

Also representing the club at the weekend for the girls were Holly Leggott, Jessica O’Herlihy, Lorna McGill, Molly Briers and Emma Wilde. The quintet swam strongly, achieving several personal bests. Jessica was the busiest swimmer, racing in five events. In the 100m freestyle, she set a new personal best of 1.08.56, and was unlucky to miss the Midland Qualifying Time by less than half a second.

Tom Adams and Louis Metselaar completed the boys’ team. Tom had an action-packed weekend, racing in five events: 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle (swimming 56.33, a two-second PB).

Louis competed in four events, achieving two personal bests. His highest placed finishes were in the 17/over 50m and 100m breaststroke where he came fourth overall and was the top 17-year-old in both. His 50m time was a one-second personal best of 30.72, which set a new Deepings club record, despite carrying a light cold.

Louis also achieved a three-second PB of 2:06.74 in the 200m freestyle and wrapped up his weekend with a 25.92 50m freestyle, just off his lifetime best.

Lynn Chapman, Deepings head coach, said: “This was a tough competition and our second long course meet in as many weeks so I was delighted with many aspects. Our swimmers competed hard and their skills were good, although we have a few tweaks to make before Midlands starts later this month. We’re in a strong shape and some of the team have a chance to get national qualifications if they keep working hard in training.”

While a select group of Deepings’ top swimmers were mixing it up with the best in Sheffield, many of the club’s up-and-coming members were in Grantham for round three of the Grantham Grand Prix.

There were a number of top three finishes among an incredible 52 personal bests by the team of 22.

Lucia Karic took first in the 200IM and was second in the 50m freestyle in the 10yrs age group – both new PBs - while Alex Sadler won the 50m butterfly, was second in the 200m freestyle in a new PB and came third in the 50m backstroke.

Lilly Tappern achieved a trio of personal bests including a new club record in the 200IM, breaking her own mark set just two weeks ago, finishing second in 2:44.55. She also took second in the 50m freestyle and was fourth in the 50m breaststroke.

Deepings’ fine tradition in the 200IM was upheld by Grace Edwards, who finished second in a new PB of 3:14.75, while third-place finishes on the night went to William Burdock (200m freestyle and 50m backstroke, Freya Chiva (50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke) and Lewis Tarver (50m backstroke). All were new personal bests.

Every squad member achieved at least one PB, including for the girls: Evie Fletcher, Sasha Johnson, Maya Sangiorgio, Millie Herrick, Emma Dennis, Holly Roffe, Maddy Partridge and Ella Gerrard; and for the boys: Aaron Sadler, Oliver Shepherd, Daniel Partridge, Joseph Black, Jack Cradock, Antony Hall and Ryan Weise.

Deepings assistant coach Zoe Fisher said: “Our younger swimmers have made huge improvements over the first three rounds of the Grand Prix and I’m delighted with their progress. We enjoyed a great evening of competition.”


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Deepings Swimming Club, swimming, Sheffield, Ponds Forge