SWIMMING: Stowmarket swimmers have provided a sensational finale to their annual club championships – taking the tally of 2002 new club times to an amazing 80 in all.

By Debbie Watson

SWIMMING

STOWMARKET swimmers have provided a sensational finale to their annual club championships – taking the tally of 2002 new club times to an amazing 80 in all.

Records had been sent tumbling throughout the early stages of the championship, but in the final sessions it seemed all age groups were determined to pull out the stops.

The chief record breakers, claiming an impressive four each, were the unstoppable teenage trio of 12-year-old Nicola Prowse, 13-year-old James Christopher, and 14-year-old Adam Batchelor.

With the club coach really witnessing some swims to be proud of, it was the girls who significantly came out on top this year.

On the final count they had managed to smash some 18 records against the boys eight.

The last girls event of the evening was a dramatic 200m butterfly race which perfectly proved the great competitive form of Stowmarket's females.

For many of the swimmers it was a first attempt at the stamina draining distance and stroke, but an exciting pair of heats saw some very close competition with all four age group records being smashed in the one race. Nicola Morgan, Nicola Prowse, Joanne Cuff and Emma Carter claimed the age group honours.

Other swimmers setting new club records were Jessica Beatty (3), Louise Christopher (3), Nicola Morgan (3), Emma Carter (2), Joanne Cuff (2), Harriet Chidwick (1) and Hannah Stockley (1).

Stowmarket coach Nick Minns said: "I am glad to see that some of our 'next generation' youngest swimmers are competing at the Championships.

"It is even more pleasing that they are setting new records for the club – certainly something for next years crop of swimmers to measure themselves against!"

The full results from Stowmarket Club Championships Session 3 & 4 at Mid-Suffolk Leisure Centre are:

Girls 400m freestyle: 9yrs Louise Christopher (club record), 11yrs Nicola Morgan (cr), 12yrs Nicola Prowse (cr), 13yrs Alison Jeffries, 14yrs Emma Carter (cr), 15yrs Hannah Stockley, 16+yrs Sarah Goddard.

Girls 100m freestyle: 10yrs Harriet Chidwick (cr), 11 yrs Nicola Morgan, 12 yrs Nicola Prowse (cr), 13 yrs Julie Edwards, 14 yrs Jessica Beatty (cr), 15 yrs Hannah Stockley, 16+ yrs Sarah Goddard.

Girls 200m butterfly: 11yrs Nicola Morgan (cr), 12 yrs Nicola Prowse (cr), 13 yrs Joanne Cuff (cr), 14 yrs Emma Carter (cr).

Girls 200m breaststroke: 9yrs Louise Christopher (cr), 10 yrs Harriet Chidwick, 11yrs Nicola Morgan, 12yrs Sarah Cuff, 13yrs Joanne Cuff (cr), 14yrs Tanya Watling, 15yrs Hannah Stockley (cr), 16+yrs Sarah Goddard.

Girls 200m individual medley: 9 yrs Louise Christopher (cr), 10 yrs Harriet Chidwick, 11yrs Nicola Morgan (cr), 12yrs Nicola Prowse (cr), 13yrs Joanne Cuff, 14yrs Jessica Beatty (cr), 15yrs Hannah Stockley, 16+ yrs Sarah Goddard.

Girls 100m backstroke: 10 yrs Harriet Chidwick, 11yrs Nicola Morgan, 12yrs Nicola Prowse, 13 yrs Julie Edwards, 14yrs Jessica Beatty (cr), 15yrs Hannah Stockley, 16+yrs Sarah Goddard.

Boys 400m freestyle: 9 yrs Ashley Hammond, 11 yrs James King, 12yrs Joshua McMullan, 13yrs James Christopher (cr), 14yrs Adam Batchelor, 15yrs James Mockford, 16+yrs Shaun Harrison.

Boys 50m freestyle: 8yrs Aaron Lynch.

Boys 50m butterfly: 8yrs Aaron Lynch.

Boys 100m freestyle: 11yrs Troy Lynch, 12 yrs Joshua McMullan, 13 yrs James Christopher, 14 yrs Adam Batchelor (cr), 15 yrs James Mockford, 16+ Shaun Harrison.

Boys 200m breaststroke: 9 yrs Jake McMullan, 11yrs James King, 12yrs Joshua McMullan, 13yrs James Christopher (cr), 14yrs Adam Batchelor (cr), 15yrs James Mockford, 16+yrs David Harrison.

Boys 200m individual medley: 10 yrs Stuart Lambert, 11yrs James King, 12yrs Joshua McMullan, 13yrs James Christopher (cr), 14yrs Adam Batchelor (cr), 15yrs James Mockford 16+yrs Shaun Harrison.

Boys 100m backstroke: 11yrs Troy Lynch, 12yrs Joshua McMullan, 13yrs James Christopher, 14yrs Adam Batchelor (cr), 15yrs James Mockford, 16+yrs Shaun Harrison.

Boys 200m freestyle: 8 yrs Aaron Lynch, 9 yrs Ashley Hammond, 10 yrs Matthew Davies, 11yrs Troy Lynch, 12yrs Joshua McMullan, 13 yrs James Christopher (cr), 14yrs Adam Batchelor, 15 yrs James Mockford, 16+yrs Shaun Harrison.