2023 is wrapped up in style

The Swim England National Winter Championships is the biggest English swimming meet of the winter months and always promises some exciting short course racing with the fastest swimmers in England competing across three days of action at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge pool. Qualification is extremely tough with no split by age and just a single male and female qualification time for each event, but outstanding short course (25m) swims during the past year secured spots for six BSSC members, including first timers Dylan Davenport (14 years) and Jakey Hayes (16 years).

A number of the swimmers were fighting seasonal illnesses so had to withdraw from some events, but all who were able stepped up to the occasion and swam superbly. BSSC’s youngest qualifier Dylan Davenport was the 5^th fastest 14 year old (108^th overall) in the 50m Freestyle and his time of 24.74 seconds broke the BSSC Age 14-15 year short course record (24.92) that had been held by Dan Chada (now a BSSC Masters swimmer) since 2016. Jakey Hayes continued his fantastic recent form, with personal best times in the 100m Backstroke (59.86, 78^th overall) and the 200m Backstroke (2:09.90, 59^th overall). Laura Burgess achieved the best overall result, coming 43^rd in the 50m Freestyle (26.69). Congratulations to all the swimmers.

Ella Greatbatch, Jakey Hayes & Lauren Gore

Dylan’s 50m Freestyle time was also the 7^th fastest short course time recorded by a 14 year old in Britain in 2023. Although they didn’t record their fastest times at Winter Nationals, three other Winter National qualifiers recorded swims in the top 25 in Britain for their age groups during 2023. Ella Greatbatch (15 years) swum the 17^th fastest 50m Breaststroke (33.72) and the 20^th fastest 100m Breaststroke (1:13.14); Laura Burgess (17 years) swam the 17^th fastest 50m Freestyle (26.55) and the 24^th fastest 100m Freestyle (57.92); and Lauren Gore (17 years) swam the 22^nd fastest 100m Breaststroke (1:13.56) and the 24^th fastest 50m Breaststroke (33.72).