SWIMMING: Deben Swimming Club has held the first round of its annual club championships – putting distant skills to the test in two highly demanding events.Over one evening session, a small contingent battled for best time in both the 800 and 1500 metre events.

DEBEN Swimming Club has held the first round of its annual club championships – putting distant skills to the test in two highly demanding events.

Over one evening session, a small contingent battled for best time in both the 800 and 1500 metre events.

An impressive number of PBs were recorded in both the female and male categories, with Felicity Hawkins, Mark Stevens and Ben Spashett stealing the limelight overall.

For Deben – whose club home is at Woodbridge – this is just the second time that their annual championship has been split in to the current format. It corresponds with the new national categorising method, now known as BAGCAT.

"We've changed the way we operate the Club Championships because of the way the ASA is

trying to encourage more all-round swimmers," said club

spokeswoman, Kim Stevens.

"The BAGCAT principle means that swimmers should be granted more opportunity to compete at distance events, and to improve on their times in strokes across the board.

"By running several Championship sessions – and including more distance events – we can help swimmers get that chance."

Traditionally Deben had operated an intense weekend Club Championship – just as many of the region's clubs have done throughout the years.

However, Suffolk ASA has now fully adopted the Continuous Development Continuum – a

principle which dissuades swimmers against premature event specialisation – and so, most clubs now favour a staggered championship with a wider array of events.

"The Championships work out really well like this and Deben is certainly embracing the new

system of points and overall development on a national level," said Kim.

"Our club events will now run throughout the summer and conclude with a final two weekends of competition, on June 22 and 29."

Deben's next round in the Club Championships will take place on May 31, when the 400 metre Freestyle event will be held.

The 4x100 metre Individual Medley event will be held on 10 June 10.

Results of Club Championship – round one. (Year of birth in brackets).

Girls

800 metres: 1. Felicity Hawkins (87) 10:39.09, 2. Wendy Burrows (86) 11:11.97, 3. Chloe Battle (89)11:19.39, 4. Georgina Young ( 89) 11:26.37, 5. Carly Godbold (89) 11:45.82, 6. Jessica Gibbs (88) 11:50.77, 7. Claire Cawood (87) 12:08.32, 8. Katherine Milkovics (89)12:28.49, 9.Clare Sager (87) 12:32.77, 10. Emma Parker ( 91) 13:29.43

Boys

800 metres: 1.Mark Stevens (90) 10:31.67, 2.Ben Davies (91) 11:55.07

1500 metres: 1.Ben Spashett (85)18:37.20, 2. Tom (87) 20:18.17, 3. Alistair Howard (73) 21:29.06, 4. Andrew Slater (87) 23:07.30, 5. Brett Thornton (89) 25:08.04