Winsford Swimming Club

Over the weekend of the 6th and 7th November Winsford Swim Team took 18 swimmers to Manchester to race in the annual North West Winter Regional Championships. These championships are for those swimmers who have achieved the qualifying times in two age groups, either the Junior (16 Under) or Senior (17 Over) age groups, and pits us against the very best swimmers in the North West of England.

The team we took to Manchester was large, probably our largest team we have ever taken to Manchester, with Winsford taking the 5th largest contingent out of all clubs competing, this in itself is a fantastic achievement for such a small town as Winsford. The team was also very young with many of our Junior swimmers racing up in the 16 under category, which bodes very well for next year and beyond. 

The racing over the weekend was superb with all swimmers gunning for some fast times, places in the finals, and Winter National Qualifying Times which take place in Sheffield early in December.

On the first day we had 11 top 8 placings/finals and 2 new National Qualifying Times, with Lois Inch (100 Breastroke 5th) and Amy Kenworthy (800 Freestyle 6th) both achieving the very high standard to book their place in Sheffield, with two superb swims. Tom Kud also brought down his 200 Butterfly PB in the final to cement his place at the National Championships and gaining 4th place. We also had Lois Inch (8th 100 IM), Will Murray (7th 200 Breastroke), Sophie George (6th 100 Butterfly), Ethan Wright (4th 200 Butterfly, 5th 400 IM), Lewis Turner (7th 400 IM, 8th 400 Freestyle) and Izz Burton (7th 50 Backstroke) making the top 8/finals.

So many stand out swims on the Saturday, with every swimmer absolutely smashing out so many new life time bests. It all bodes very well for the next days racing where we will be going again. In the mean time we will settle down to watch some Worzel Gummidge and then of course Strictly Come Dancing, and then maybe fire a few rockets off. 

On to day 2 and Winsford Swim Team were again looking to swim very fast and that is what we did, adding another 15 finals, 3 medals, and another 4 Winter NQTs. Sunday was super Sunday with Winsford time and time again racing with all our might, over the day we secured 3 medals and 4 new NQTs. Lois Inch won a GOLD 200 Breastroke with a phenomenal swim to win the 16 under category, in a new life time best and a NQT. We also had Lewis Turner gain a BRONZE medal in the 1500 Freestyle, again in a new life time best and NQT, and Ethan Wright gained a BRONZE medal in the 17 over 1500 Freestyle in a new SC life time best. Amy Kenworthy (6th 400 Free NQT, 7th 400 IM), Adam Wright (7th 1500 Free), George Young (8th 1500 Free), Tom Kud (4th 100 IM NQT), Lewis Turner (8th 100 IM), Ethan Wright (7th 100 Fly), Carys Roberts (4th 50 & 100 Free), Ethan Jones (5th 50 Backstroke), Izzy Burton (5th 100 Backstroke), Will Murray (8th 100 Breastroke) all achieved a final/top 8 placing. 

Over the weekend we achieved:

3 Medals

27 Finals

12 Swimmers making a final/s

6 New National Qualifying Times

Congratulations to all swimmers who raced for Winsford Swim Team at the North West Winter Regional Championships 2021 in Manchester, what a weekend for our club and our swimmers. So many positives and highlights for such a young team, with everyone getting stuck in. So many highlights, but again it was so pleasing to see Winsford heavily represented into the middle and longer distance events, with Winsford having a third of all swimmers competing in the boys 1500 Freestyle event. This again shows we have many swimmers with the right mentality to challenge themselves over the 200s, 400s, 800 and 1500. The events which require a firm commitment to the training. Special mention for Isobel Whittle for whom this should have been her first ever Regionals - sadly Isobel couldn't attend due to Covid.

We now have 5 swimmers achieving the Winter National Qualifying standard over 8 events, which is the largest number of qualifiers we have ever had:

Lois Inch (aged 14, 16 Under category): 100 Breastroke, 200 Breastroke.

Amy Kenworthy (aged 15, 16 Under category): 400 Freestyle, 800 Freestyle.

Tom Kud (aged 16, 16 Under category): 100 Individual Medley, 200 Butterfly.

Lewis Turner (aged 15, 16 Under category): 1500 Freestyle.

Ethan Jones (aged 19, Open category): 50 Backstroke.

We also have the Stockport Metro Meet in 2 weeks time where our swimmers will be looking to add to our National Qualifiers, as we have numerous swimmers very close to achieving the standard.

Lois Inch (Junior 16 Under): GOLD 200 Breastroke, 5th 100 Breastroke, 8th 100 Individual Medley, 

Ethan Wright (Senior 17+): BRONZE 1500 Freestyle, 4th 200 Butterfly, 5th 400 Individual Medley, 7th 100 Butterfly, 

Lewis Turner (Junior 16 Under): BRONZE 1500 Freestyle, 7th 400 Individual Medley, 8th 400 Freestyle, 8th 100 Individual Medley, 

Carys Roberts (Junior 16 Under) 4th 50 Freestyle, 4th 100 Freestyle.

Tom Kud (Junior 16 Under): 4th 200 Butterfly, 4th 100 Individual Medley, 

Izz Burton (Senior 17+): 5th 100 Backstroke, 7th 50 Backstroke, 

Ethan Jones (Senior 17+): 5th 50 Backstroke.

Amy Kenworthy (Junior 16 Under): 6th 800 Freestyle, 6th 400 Freestyle, 7th 400 Individual Medley,  

Sophie George (16 Under): 6th 100 Butterfly, 

Will Murray (Senior 17+): 7th 200 Breastroke, 8th 100 Breastroke.

Adam Wright (Junior 16 Under): 7th 1500 Freestyle.

George Young (Junior 16 Under): 8th 1500 Freestyle.

Alissa Clarke, Sophie George, Sophie Grindley, Ross Hanley, Lois Inch, Ethan Jones, Amy Kenworthy, Tom Kud, Will Line, Eleanor Ma, Jonny Mullett, Carys Roberts, Lewis Turner, Isobel Whittle, Adam Wright, George Young, Izzy Burton, Jay Cushen, Will Murray, Ethan Wright.

We now look forward to the Arena League on Saturday where we will be chomping at the bit to swim extremely fast, and boy/girl oh boy/girl we will be giving our all for Winsford Swim Team.

Lots and lots of exciting weeks ahead for racing, let's prepare thoroughly by optimising our training.

Well Done Winsford Swim Team, each and every swimmer gave their all, and for that everyone can be so proud of their achievements. It was lots of fun in Manchester, a great team spirit and exciting to watch you all race.

See you at the pool.

Dan.