SWIMMING: Silverware came thick and fast for the small contingent of Stowmarket swimmers who took part in the recent Great Eastern Open meet.Just eight swimmers put themselves to the test in this highly competitive Lowestoft-based event, but each one provided some exceptional individual performances.

By Debbie Watson

SWIMMING

SILVERWARE came thick and fast for the small contingent of Stowmarket swimmers who took part in the recent Great Eastern Open meet.

Just eight swimmers put themselves to the test in this highly competitive Lowestoft-based event, but each one provided some exceptional individual performances.

In all, a haul of four firsts, a second, a fifth and four sixths, meant that a well deserved selection of trophies made the return trip to the presentation cabinet at the Mid-Suffolk Leisure Centre (the club's home pool). Open category swimmer Shaun Harrison proved himself the perfect toast of the club after the tough meet.

Having been in fine form at recent regional competitions, he once again swam impressively in all the heats to claim places in the final of each his three events.

He swam faster times in two of his event finals – claiming him a hat-trick of firsts.

After competing at the meet for the last seven years, Shaun celebrated by swimming his fastest ever Great Eastern times in the 50 metre and 100m freestyle events.

Nicola Prowse and Emma Carter were among the other talented performers of the event.

Both swam particularly well over the weekend, claiming ten personal best times out of 13 races swum. Nicola gained two sixths in the 12-year-old category and Emma (13) a fifth place in the finals. Jessica Beatty again demonstrated her rising dominance of the 100m backstroke with another commanding win at the distance, improving on her heat time by over half a second.

Stowmarket coach Nick Minns was thrilled with the club's overall performance.

He said: "The Great Eastern Open comes at a time when swimmers are beginning to return to training after the summer break.

"I would not expect very many personal best times to be produced at this time of the year, so to have some of the younger swimmers produce so many improved times is certainly worthy of mention."

He added: "As the competitive season gets under way I am quietly confident of success for the Stowmarket team this year."

Stowmarket's full results from the Great Eastern Meet at Lowestoft are:

Jessica Beatty (13 years) 100m freestyle: 1.11.78, 100m backstroke 1:16.72, 100m backstroke (1st final): 1:16.06, 100m breaststroke: 1:32.40

Amanda King (13 years) 200m freestyle: 2.36.06, 100m backstroke: 1:24.96, 100m breaststroke: 1:35.32, 100m flystroke: 1:22.99 (pb), 100m freestyle: 1:08.41, 100m freestyle: 1:08.86 (6th final), 200m medley: 2:51.94 (pb)

Nicola Prowse (12 years) 200m freestyle: 2.43.86 (pb), 100m backstroke: 1:26.10, 100m freestyle: 1:12.35 (pb), 50m flystroke: 43.02 (pb), 50m breaststroke: 43.82 (pb), 50m breaststroke 44.00 (6th final), 50m backstroke: 37.65 (pb), 50m backstroke 37.97 (6th final),

Shaun Harrison (Open) 100m freestyle: 57.50, 100m freestyle: 55.11 (1st final), 100m breaststroke: 1:16.71, 100m breaststroke: 1:14.02 (1st final), 50m freestyle: 24.94, 50m freestyle: 25.19 (1st final)

Emma Carter (13 years) 100m backstroke: 1:24.56 (pb), 100m flystroke: 1:22.59 (pb), 100m flystroke: 1:21.45 (5th final pb), 100m freestyle 1:09.34 (pb), 200m medley: 2:59.22 (pb)

David Harrison (Open) 100m freestyle: 59.54, 100m freestyle: 1:02.34 (6th final), 100m breaststroke: 1:15.48, 100m breaststroke: 1:14.15 (2nd final), 50m freestyle: 26.82

James King (12 years) 50m freestyle: 37.62 (pb), 50m breaststroke: 51.80 (pb)

Jennifer Thomson 100m breaststroke 1:36.85, 100m freestyle 1:15.68.