SWIMMING: On a day when Suffolk was busy being battered by storms, Stowmarket Seal swimmers were storming home in pursuit of medals and personal bests.

By Debbie Watson

SWIMMING

ON a day when Suffolk was busy being battered by storms, Stowmarket Seal swimmers were storming home in pursuit of medals and personal bests.

In total the squad managed to pick up an impressive haul of 22 medals from 54 races at the Ipswich Junior Open Meet.

The meet enabled swimmers to gain qualifying times for national competitions and championships and saw 37 personal best times recorded, many of them by significant margins.

The honours were shared across all age groups by both boys and girls.

Fourteen-year-old Adam Batchelor, 13-year-old James Christopher and 16-year-old Lawrence Howes all achieved a hat-trick of medals in 100m events.

Stowmarket team coach Nick Minns said: "The Ipswich Junior Open has established a very good reputation in providing a stiff and demanding competitive environment for the top Eastern Counties junior swimmers.

"We are now halfway through a training cycle and we can take stock on how we are progressing – and I am glad to see that most of our swimmers are on target. I am particularly pleased with the performance of the older swimmers."

Full Stowmarket SC results – Girls: Jessica Beatty 6th 13/14 yrs 100 back, Nicola Prowse 7th 12 yrs 100 breast, Hannah Stockley 3rd 15/16 yrs 100 breast, 4th 15/16 yrs 100 back.

Boys: Adam Batchelor 4th 13/14 yrs 100 back, 7th 13/14 yrs 100 free, 8th 13/14 yrs 100 fly, Adrian Bird 4th 12 yrs 50 fly, Edmund Crosthwaite 3rd 12 yrs 50 free, 7th 12yrs 50 breast, James Christopher 6th 13/14 yrs 100 fly, 8th 13/14 yrs 100 back, 8th 13/14 yrs 100 free, David Harrison 2nd 15/16 yrs 100 breast, 4th 15/16 yrs 100 free, Lawrence Howes 6th 15/16 yrs 100 back, 8th 15/16 yrs 100 free, 8th 15/16 yrs 100 fly, James King 6th 11 yrs 50 breast, Troy Lynch 6th 11 yrs 50 fly, Joshua McMullan 4th 12 yrs 50 back, 8th 12 yrs 50 breast.

Personal best times were swum by: Jessica Beatty, Emma Carter, Stephanie Durrant, Amanda King, Nicola Morgan, Nicola Prowse, Hannah Stockley, Tanya Watling, Adam Batchelor, Adrian Bird, Edmund Crosthwaite, James Christopher, Matthew Davies, Oliver Davies, Oliver Drew, Adam Duszynski, David Harrison, James King, Troy Lynch, Joshua McMullan.