Bournemouth Meet report, 20 May 2005
by Peter Hood

A small group of swimmers from Reading Evening Post sponsored Reading Swimming Club travelled to Bournemouth last Sunday to take part in their "Level 3" meet.

Despite a small group the swimmers came away with 11 medals and a host of person best times. The meet was organised for swimmers of similar standards therefore swimmers had to be within two time bands. Any swimmer swimming "too fast" was given a speeding ticket. Two of the Reading team gained these "speeding tickets". Eleanor Cawthorne swam a best time of 41.03 for her 50 metres backstroke while Eleanor Wood swam 36.60 in her 50 metres freestyle.

Eleanor Wood swam in the 10 year age group which was particularly successful. As well as her speeding ticket Eleanor picked up two more medals. She came second in the 50 metres butterfly in 44.02 and second in the 50 metres breaststroke in 50.67. She was beaten in the breaststroke by team mate Georgina Wilkins who got the gold for her time of 50.58. Georgina and Eleanor swam best times in all their other swims. Also in this age group for the boys Matthew Alderman gained the silver in his breaststroke in a time of 53.29. Will Tyrell was the other swimmer in the 10 year age group and swam best times in 3 out of his four swims.

The other Eleanor (Cawthorne) swimming in the 11 year age group also swam best times in her 200 metres freestyle, 100 metres back and the 100 metres freestyle. Joining Eleanor in this age group was Katherine Hawkins who swam best times in her 100 metres freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke events. For the boys James Bradley came away with a silver in the 100 metres free swimming 1.18.54. James also swam best times in his 100 metres back, 200 metres free, 200 metres IM and 50 metres backstroke.

One age group up in the 12 year age group, Rachael Mills came away with four medals. She won gold in the 200 metres freestyle in 2.34.35, Slivers in 50 metres breast, 100 metres free and bronze in her 50 metres back.

Drew Samimi-Mawby was the eldest of the Reading swimmers. Drew swam in the 14 year age group and came away with medals in two of his three events. He won the gold in the 100 metres breast in 1.31.81 and silver in a best time of 31.66 in the 50 metres free. Drew also swam a best time in his 50 metres backstroke.

Overall a very successful day for the small Reading team in the excellent Littledown Centre.

-----------------------------