Gateshead and Whickham Summer Meet 12 – 14 July 2019

Potential Squad Report

Well it’s the final event of our season and what a busy and interesting event it was!!!

The Squad started off the weekend with the 800 metre distant events and all swimmers achieved personal best times; Maia Stovold, Amie Errington and Mari Lilley (who lost her goggles on the first 50 metres and her hat with around 100 metres to go!!!) for the girls and the boys – Oliver Quigley, Tom Goulden and Cole Reid.

Returning to the ‘Hot Box’, otherwise known as the pool, the swimmers were warming up for day two and many, many swims to be swum.  The first event was the 200 IM which saw Carman and Anabel Gaish, Madeleine Jeffers, Erica Mould and Faye Brown all qualify for the afternoon Skins – awesome event… congratulations to the girls on their winnings.

Other notable events were the 100 backstroke, Holly Lawson- Ebbatson, Kate Binningsley, Cole, Ethan Storey, Lewis Richardson, Tom and Oliver.

Starting the final day, with the end in sight and much consumption of ‘heat winning lollipops’ – SUGAR CRUSH… the girls started their 400 IM with personal best performances from Maia and Evie Johnson.  With a surprise visit from Coach Kieran raising spirits; Tom’s 200 IM result, managed to find him on his way into the Skins events that would take place in the afternoon …..as yesterday with full support of the swimmers  Tom did well…. other notable swims were in the 200 Fly by Emma Lavery and Oliver, gave them a season’s best time.

The afternoon was rounded off with the boys 100 backstroke and all entrants gaining personal best times.  Congratulations to Cole, Devrim Celikay, Ethan, John Patterson, Owen Jackson and Scott Owen!!!!
Back to the pool and skills skills skills!!!!!
Proud Coach,
Sue Thorpe.

Potential squad compete at North Tyneside Mad March Hare gala 22/23 June 2019

Not only was the poolside warm, the swimmers performance was too.
Saturday saw a total of 84 entry swims be upgraded to 55 personal best swims.  As there were many good swims, my notable swims for the Saturday morning session were from the boys Cole Reid, Lewis Richardson, Henry Stephenson and Ethan Storey in the 400 front crawl all working together to gain personal best times.  For the girls Mia Smith and Beatrice Wright in the 200 breastroke due to their staying on race plans.

After lunch, with everyone refuelled the swimmers continued with some good swims and continued to achieve prizes and medals. Swims by Tom Goulden (100 Fly) and Ethan (50 BK), along with Chloe Stephenson (100 BR) and Erica Mould who achieved personal best times in every event!

 
Sunday, with the chance of a cooler day due to possible rain outside, inside the swimming was just getting warmed up…. the swim total was 70 with 48 personal best times.

Notable swims from John Patterson (200 breastroke) also Owen Jackson (100 front crawl). Girls took on the 200 IM and Isla Johnson and Laura Taylor really worked hard to stay with plan.

 
On to the final session of the gala and the swimmers were still on form and energy levels were high.  Boys 200 backstroke had John, Ethan and Devrim Celikay producing some of the biggest reduction in their personal best times.  Not to be outdone but the Browns, (Faye and Hannah), produced a race plan for the 50 front crawl and were rewarded with their best ever times.  Final flurry of events included the 100 fly for girls with Elissa Smith and Evie Johnson rose to the challenge.

Congratulations to all swimmers and you were a credit to the GAWSC.
Thank you to poolside helpers and parents don’t forget you can volunteer to come poolside, just let the squad representative know.
Proud Coach,
Sue Thorpe

Performance Group 2 excels at Scottish East District Championships

On 27/28 April a (very elite) horde of five team GAW swimmers crossed the Scottish border to showcase their skills in the East District Regional Championships, held at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.  Though our numbers were small, quite an impression was made by all that competed, and Scottish gold (as well as silver and bronze) was plundered.

To our finalists. Both Grace Idowu and Elif Celikay managed to achieve second swims in a number of events, with Elif managing to final in the 50m and 200m breaststroke, as well as the 50m butterfly, showing a great ability to step up her performance levels from heat to final.  Grace achieved final outings in all three backstroke distances as well as the 50m butterfly and freestyle, demonstrating a new found ability to perform in multiple events.  At one stage in the weekend Grace competed in three different finals within 45 minutes of each other.

And now to our medal winners.  Leading the way was senior athlete, breaststroke specialist, Zoe Price who took home both the 50m and 100m breaststroke titles, smashing out club record performances in the process.  Zoe also impressed in her less favoured distance of 200m breaststroke achieving a hard fought PB and impressive 4th position.  Joining Zoe on the breaststroke podium in the 50m (bronze) and 100m (silver)was 13 year old Naomi Parker.  Her achievement all the more impressive, given that this was an Open competition with all age groups competing as one.  Across the weekend, Naomi was far and away the most impressive 13yr old in the competition gaining top five positions in the 100m and 200m fly as well as the 200m and 400m individual medley events.  All in all, Naomi achieved personal best performances in all seven events contested, before going on to improve her new PBs even further in four finals.  Completing the trio of GAW medallists was all-rounder Alex McGill who picked up a silver medal in the 100m backstroke along with a well earned bronze in the 200m distance.  Alex added to her growing CV with top five performances in the 50m backstroke and 200m IM, while making the A. final in her other event of the weekend, the 200m freestyle.

All five athletes performed fantastically well, representing team GAW with a great deal of distinction, and creating a fantastic impression on our welcoming hosts.

Paul

Potential Squad Report: Gateshead and Whickham Spring Meet 6/7 April 2019

It was a busy weekend at the first home gala of the year.

The squad settled into stretches and team morale was upbeat. Warm ups completed and the event began with the boys 400 IM. As the morning developed many personal best times were achieved, with a poolside motivation of a sugar treat for heat winners.

There were notable swims from Oliver Quigley (NER qualifying time 400IM), Carman Gaish (200IM), Cole Reid (200 frontcrawl) and breastroke swims from Jess Milburn, Kate Binningsley, Ethan Storey and Henry Stephenson.  

Moving onto the afternoon session with the 400 frontcrawl……Matthew Stovold deciding to attack the event, certainly taking the others by surprise, awesome.  In the girls 200 frontcrawl Hannah Paget gave a good demonstration of her underwater skills all the way through! Again with breaststroke events there were more good swims from Fintan Airey, Tom Goulden, Faye Brown and then Hannah Brown and Sarah Wright producing NER qualifying times!

After a good nights sleep, Sunday began with the girls 400 IM and Faye Brown was again working hard and finished with a huge personal best time. Sprints in the 50 breastroke saw Carman Gaish, Robyn Clarke and Sarah (NER qualifying time), producing good performances.  The boys then competed in the backstroke events and Oliver Quigley managed another NER qualifying time in the 50m and Tom gave a good example of how to swim a 200m, well done.  

Into the final session and with some quite tired swimmers, they pushed on.  Girls turn to compete in the 400 frontcrawl and Rebecca Allen, Hannah Paget, Taylor Lewis and Emma Lavery all producing personal best times.  Not to be outdone the girls competing in the 200 backstroke, namely Anabel Gaish, Faye and Freya Doddinson raced well to best times too.  Devrim Celikay along with Ethan Storey and Henry Stephenson delivered good 100 frontcrawl swims.

The swimmers did a really great effort in keeping themselves motivated and recovered to produce some good swims all weekend, congratulations to all medal/lolly winners!!!

Sue Thorpe

Potential squad at the Sunderland National Qualifier

Members from the Potential squad attended the Sunderland National Qualifier event on March 23 and 24 and for some of the swimmers this was a first time experience in a Long Course (50 metre) pool either swimming or event competing.

 
Even though the days were long, the swimmers did really well to keep on top of their effort throughout. From 58 swims they had 36 personal best times and a few others were very close too, so congratulations to all that competed.  In addition there were 5 swims which are all but achieved for the Counties 2020, so keep up the training and confirm your places. Your plans went well and so set new ones for the home gala!!!

Congratulations to all who swam, my notable swimmers were Sophie Brown (50 FC), Madeline Blakelock (50 FC) and Evie Johnson (100 FC), also Oliver Quigley (50 BR).

 
In the younger potential swimmers special mention to Cole Reid (50 FC), Ethan Storey (50 Fly) and Isla Johnson (50 BK).

Happy coaches all round.
Sue Thorpe