Fifteen-year-old Garry Dixon was again in record-setting form out as the Reading Swimming Club 2005 championships continued at Central Pool. For the second week running, after the previous week's 1500 freestyle, Dixon and Russel Korting fought out a thrilling heat, this time in the 400 individual medley.
This time Korting got the touch in 4.42.81, a five-second PB, and thus won the top age category,16 and over – where the 1995 record stands to Ian Edmond, who went on to be a world-class breaststroke swimmer. Dixon's time of 4.43.16 won the 15s age group and beat the record set by Korting in 2004 by some seven seconds.
Bruno Bamberger took the silver in the top age category, while York Kloeppel was runner-up to Dixon with Craig Frankum third in a slight PB. Ollie Burgoyne placed fourth, a huge 42 seconds inside his previous best in this tough event.
Alex MacArthur (5.10.35) was top 14-year-old, while silver-winning Markus Orgill put in the best PB of the day as he cut a 6.32 entry time to 5.33.51.
Adam Barrett was the only one of three 13-year-olds with a previous time over the distance and was very near his best in recording 5.15.16. Conor Sandell continued his good form this season with a silver in 6.26.42, with George Feast third.
Six boys tackled the youngest age category, for this event 12 and under. Winner Chris Boyce (5.29.38) and runner-up Callum Willcox (5.49.25) both posted slight PBs. James Tichband took the bronze in his first outing over the distance in a promising 6.26.36 with James Bradley fourth just ahead of David Mills and Jason Passmore sixth.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Fields in the girls' 400 IM were bigger than the boys' and all the existing records stood. Frankie Wilkins took the 12-and-under honours in a.5.38.93 PB, while Katie Hawkins showed how important a strong breaststroke is to successful medley swimming as she cut 55 seconds from her entry time to take the silver in 5.50.92. Rachael Mills took bronze. Annette Hopson was the pick of four girls in the age group for whom this was a first-ever 400 IM, heading Eleanor Cawthorne, Natalia Ciecierska-Holmes and Georgie Wilkins, who was the only 10-year-old to tackle the swim.
Ashley James (5.43.16) was a clear winner in the 13's group, with Rebecca Lowe second some 38 seconds inside her entry time. Zoe Knott placed third and Beth Sturgess, in her first championships swim, fourth.
Amy Kunicki, with a particularly strong first half in her heat, was over four seconds inside her PB as she won the 14s age group in 5.18.55, a PB of over four seconds. Kristina Paige took the silver in a nine-second improvement with Naomi Herring third, Vanessa Wood fourth, Rheannon Sandell fifth and Hannah Field sixth.
Fifteens winner Louisa Downs was fastest overall in 5.06.57, a slight PB and a second up on Holly Tanner as both showed up well in what have been their weakest strokes, backstroke and breaststroke respectively. Louise Gillatt took the bronze. (over)
Top breaststroker Leona Jones won the senior age group in 5.15.53, a six-second best. Leanne Haas was second and Amy Thomas third, while Louisa Herring in fourth was nine seconds inside her entry time.
--------------------------------------------
Holly Tanner posted Reading's first national youth championships qualifying time of the season at Aldershot's Garrison Pool on Sunday at the Rushmoor Royals open meet. Tackling only the 1500 freestyle, which has been added to the programme for girls from county through to national level this season, Tanner needed to beat 18:12.36 and stopped the clock in 18:11.80 in her first ever 1500 in a 50-metre pool. The gutsy effort, off a training schedule hampered by illness, won silver in her age group.
----------------------------