Reading Swimming Club's 2007 championships kicked off on Monday evening in the unusual surroundings of the Bradfield College pool, one of the club's most popular training venues.
With the bulk of the championships to be swum this weekend, and the 800 freestyle at Bradfield next Monday, session 1 pitched boys and girls into mixed heats of the 1500 metres freestyle – 60 lengths of the pool and a daunting challenge for several youngsters for whom it was a first ever long-distance race.
It was no surprise at all that the fastest overall was Garry Dixon, 2006 British national champion in the event and Reading's outgoing junior sports personality of the year. Dixon and coach Tony Woodward will have been absolutely delighted with a time of 16.11.08, very close to a PB, this early in the season.
Chris Boyce, two years younger, just had the edge in a close race between the two younger pretenders, swimming 17.48.63 to Callum Willcox's 18.03.75.
Rachael Mills, who swam an outstanding 1500 at the national youth championships in Sheffield in July, was also a brilliant early-season form and slashed her previous best over the distance to 18.05.60, fastest 14-year-old and fastest girl overall, with Louise Gillatt next best and quickest in the top age category.
Ellie Wood, 13, was another top squad swimmer reeling off a good time, fastest in her heat by just over a minute in 19.24.17, while in the 15s age group Natalia Ciecierska-Holmes on 20.50.91 just pipped Zoe Knott (20.53.27). Georgie Wilkins won the 12s age group in the same heat in an excellent 20.54.73.