April 16-20 saw some of the biggest names in British swimming, including Adam Peaty, James Guy, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor and Freya Anderson head to Glasgow for the 2019 British Swimming Championships. Joining them this year were Dan Chada, Bryn Couser, Henry Baker and Isabella Renwick, all of whom are associated with Bishop’s Stortford Swimming Club.
This event crowns the British Champions and is also the Team GB selection meet for the World Championships in Gwangju as well as the European Juniors, European Youth Olympic Festival, World Juniors and World University Games. Qualifying for these Championships is a huge deal, with typically only 50-70 British swimmers across all age groups meeting the qualifying standards for each event. Results are posted showing rankings in the 17 or 18 Yrs/Under (Women’s or Men’s Junior), 23 Yrs/Under (Transition) and Open categories.
Bryn celebrated his 17thbirthday in style by coming 36thin the Junior category (61stin the Open category) of the Men’s 100m Breaststroke with his 3rdbest long course time (1:08.55), in an event that saw the World Record holder Adam Peaty win in commanding style, clocking the fastest time in the world this year. The 200m Breaststroke heats were tough, with the final producing one of the best battles of the Championships between Commonwealth Games champion James Wilby, Ross Murdoch and Craig Benson, but Bryn dug deep to finish as the 18thfastest Junior in Britain (33rdOverall) with a PB of 2:25.25.
Two home grown swimmers, Izzy (Millfield School) and Cira (Nova Centurion SC) battled in the 50m Breaststroke alongside 50 of the top Breaststrokers in Britain, including the Commonwealth Games champion, and event winner, Sarah Vasey. Izzy came 28thin the Junior category (45thOverall) with a long course PB of 34.30 seconds, whilst Cira came 21stin the Transition category (23rdOverall) with a time of 33.21.
Dan swum a great long course PB (59.92) in the Men’s 100m Backstroke, that was won by Commonwealth Games medallist Luke Greenbank, and placed 28thin the Junior category (55thOverall).
Henry (who trains with BSM Marlins in Oman) swam his 2ndfastest long course Men’s 100m Freestyle (53.93) to finished 27thin the Junior category (55thOverall), in an event won by Duncan Scott in a new British Record of 47.87. He followed that great swim with another in the 50m Freestyle, seeing him place as the 28thJunior (58thOverall) in a time of 24.75, in an event won by the World medallist and European Champion Ben Proud.
Congratulations to them all for their outstanding performances!
