TEAM Ipswich head to Norwich this weekend for the Youth Regional Championships with their largest-ever number of qualifiers for this competition.The Youth Regionals run from Friday to Sunday, are open to anyone over the age of 14 and offer a chance for some of the older swimmers to test themselves against the best in the region at their level.

TEAM Ipswich head to Norwich this weekend for the Youth Regional Championships with their largest-ever number of qualifiers for this competition.

The Youth Regionals run from Friday to Sunday, are open to anyone over the age of 14 and offer a chance for some of the older swimmers to test themselves against the best in the region at their level.

Team Ipswich head coach Dave Champion said: “We have 25 swimmers travelling at the weekend which is great because it's a good standard to qualify for.

“Hopefully, this will expose them again to a top level that they will keep getting used to. I've always said that we start out looking to finish in the top 10 at least in these sort of competitions and I think that will be a very realistic goal this weekend.

“Our swimmers are quite versatile in the number of events they can do and that bodes well for their future.

“This weekend gives the guys that have made national times the chance to consolidate on their performances, while it also gives anyone who hasn't got a national time the chance to get one because it still isn't too late.

“We have got a least six swimmers who are just a second away from the time they require and there are plenty more opportunities for them to make that, the likes of Bethany Catchpole and Chloe Price are very close.

“Everyone works hard at this club, but since the Cup Final I think they have seen that they have to work harder. I don't want them to just go and take part this weekend now, I want them to come away with something.”