Report on the Reading Swimming Club Championships Girls' 800m Freestyle

2005's internal Reading Swimming Club championships kicked off with five heats of the longest event in the girls' programme, the 800 metres freestyle. Several age-group records stand to Olympian Becky Cooke and look set to last for a generation or more, but there were solid swims in all ages, particularly from some of the club's youngest members.

Ten-year-old Georgie Wilkins swam her first ever 800 - 32 lengths of Central Pool - and as the only under-11 entrant was always guaranteed a gold, but on top of that swam a well-controlled, even-paced heat, cutting her notional entry time of 14.41 to 13.07.44. This would also have won the next year up, where Alice Hopkins headed Eleanor Wood.

Older sister Frankie has a number of 800s under her belt and a PB of 10.16.51 took the 12 years gold ahead of Rachael Mills (a big PB in one of the night's most confident swims) and Katie Hawkins, with further PBs for Eleanor Cawthorne, Natalia Ciecierska Holmes and Katherine Hawkins in a well contested year. Wilkins looks well set to break 10 minutes next time out.

Thirteen-year-old Ashley James cut her previous best by some 23 seconds in winning that year in a time of 10.28.56. Silver here went to Rebecca Lowe - over two minutes inside her previous time - and bronze to Rebecca Turner in her first outing over the distance. Another newcomer to the event, Beth Sturgess, placed fourth and Katie Ferns fifth.

Fourteens' winner Kristina Paige beat a significant barrier as 9.51.75 put her under the 10 minutes for the first time. Amy Kunicki took second, Naomi Herring third, Vanessa Wood fourth, Rheannon Sandell fifth and Grace Waldron sixth – Wood and Waldron both cutting their entry times significantly.

Louisa Downs swam easily the fastest time in the session as she powered away in the final heat to take the 15s gold in a PB of 9.13.70. Silver in the year went to Louise Gillat.

Reading Easter Open meet champion Louisa Herring won the open age group, although outside her PB as were fellow medallists Leona Jones and Leanne Haas. Beth Ayerst placed fourth and Masters swimmer Carolyn Fox was an excellent 10 seconds inside-entry in fifth place.

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