CCS Bermuda National Swimming Championships

The CCS Bermuda National Swimming Championships 2012 took place this past weekend, with a number of new records set by the local swimmers.

Ben Smith, co-National Swim Team Coach, said: “The CCS National Swimming Championships held last weekend was the highlight of the local swim calendar. This year for the first time the junior and senior Nationals were combined to give us a true National Championships with a 12 and under category and a 13 and over category.

“The result was the best atmosphere that I have seen at a local competition in a very long time. To have most of Bermuda’s top swimming talent in attendance at the same time was exciting. The swimmers seemed to feed off the energy as the records tumbled all weekend and personal best times were achieved one after the other.

“With a qualification to enter the meet it was a true achievement to participate in the meet and the swimmers that were there seemed to relish opportunity. From the parade of athletes and National anthems on Friday night the spirit was high even before the weather turned in our favor on Saturday afternoon.”

“Having near Olympic qualifier Juliann Fletcher on island and in top form was a treat for the spectators and he showed his fast breaststroke along with his speed in most strokes. Julian helped to organize bringing in some of his teammates from SMU who added great depth to the meet and helped to push our swimmers to their full potential.

“Roy-Allan our lone swimming qualifier for this summer’s London Olympic Games also was back and was ready to display his world class speed. He was able to lower his own National records in the 50 and 100 free and to claim the National record in the 50 fly. He was dazzling in the relay swims and showed closing speed that we rarely get to watch in the local pool.

“The young swimmers were in awe and lined up to get Roy and Julian’s autographs. It is great for Bermuda swimming to have the opportunity for our future stars to see these role models first hand. During the meet you could see some of the young swimmers trying to emulate the freestyle stroke that Roy will be displaying in London.”

“The youngsters were also out in full force to make their own marks at this meet and the records secretary will be busy after 33 records fell over the 4 days of competition. As the Sharks head coach I was very pleased to have so many personal best times, record breakers and finalist. The club was able to sweep the high point winners with Mitch Gariepy in the 12 and under Boys, Madelyn Moore in the 12 and under Boys, Shannon Hassell in the 13 and over females and Roy-Allan Burch in the 13 and over males.

“I am pleased with all the Sharks swimmers for their effort and focus throughout the meet and would like to congratulate Paige Bruton from Sharks and MacKenzy Cooper from the Dolphin Swim Team for making their times for the National training team. It was evident that the swimmers that have taken part in the National training programme this year were primed and ready for this part of the season as they all lowered times and were racing fast. The swimmers that will be travelling to Aruba for CISC and Coral Springs should be able to really represent Bermuda well in the coming weeks.

Co-National Coach and Harbour Swim Team Coach Richard Goodwin noted “Ben Smith was the architect for these redesigned Championships and he should be highly commended for creating an exciting and rewarding environment. The results speak for themselves; it has been nothing less than superb”.

“For Harbour Swim Club, once again their two 10 year old girls, Ashley Irby and Emma Harvey, broke and re-broke 9 age group records between them. In a 12 and under Junior Championships, they easily managed to hold their own against the older girls. Jude Moseley also posted a record swim in the 100 backstroke.”

Coach Elise Cooper from the Dolphin Swim Team stated: “The Dolphins made it to the A finals and then the podium. Myself and Coach Nathan Frick, are extremely happy with the performances of our junior swimmers. Genevieve Lau and Skylar Trott both established two new records in the 10 & under age group.

“Special mention should go to Madson Irvine for her performances in the butterfly, Brett Smith for his performances in the backstroke and Rebecca Harrison for her performances in the breastsroke. Coach Barry Hanson also commented there were excellent performances with great swims from Mackenzy Cooper and Alice Branagan. Great job all!”

Records Set at the 2012 CCS National Championships:

• Ashley Irby 9-10 800 free – old record 12:02.41 – new record 10:56.08 – Harbour Swim Club
• Jessica Bruton 8 & under 50 back – old record 4.29 – new record 44.28 – Sharks Swim Club
• Emma Harvey 9-10 50 fly – old record 34.12 – new record 34.06 – Harbour Swim Club
• Ashley Irby 9-10 100 free – old record 1:08.24 – new record 1:08.01 – Harbour Swim Club
• Emma Harvey 9-10 200 back – old record 2:52.58 – new record 2:47.78 – Harbour Swim Club
• Ashley Irby 9-10 400 free – old record 5:13.98 – ew record 5:12.99 – Harbour Swim Club
• 11-12 medley relay (Ashley Irby, Sophie Clare, Emma Harvey and Alyssa Paynter) – old record: 33.45 – new record 2:28.07 – Harbour Swim Club
• 9-10 medley relay (Myles Packwood, Jude Moseley, Yannick Hillier, Alex Bordage) – old record 2:57.54- new record 2:53.48 – Harbour Swim Club
• 15-16 200 medley relay (Shannon Botelho, Ferdinand Arnold, Philip Hagen, Vaughn Rowse) – old record 2:19.23 – new record 2:08.70 – Sharks Swim Club
• All Comers 200 medley relay (Jesse Washington, Julian Fletcher, Nic Patterson, Roy-Allan Burch) – old record 1:59.60 new record 1:49.62 – Sharks Swim Club
• Madelyn Moore 11-12 50 back – old record 33.40 – new record 33.38 – Sharks Swim Club
• Emma Harvey 9-10 50 fly – old record 34.12- new record 33.30 – Harbour Swim Club
• Ashley Irby 9-10 100 free – old record 1:08.01- new record 1:07.10 – Harbour Swim Club
• Roy-Allan Burch National record 100 free – old record 50.62- new record 50.25 – Harbour Swim Club
• Emma Harvey 9-10 200 back – old record 2:47.78- new record 2:42.24 – Harbour Swim Club
• Roy-Allan Burch open 50 fly – old record 25.62- new record 24.98 – Sharks Swim Club
• Emma Harvey 9-10 50 back – old record 36.21- new record 36.20 – Harbour Swim Club
• Emma Harvey 9-10 200 IM – old record 2:48.85- new record 2:46.87 – Harbour Swim Club
• Genevieve Lau 8&under 200 IM – old record 3:38.99- new record 3:34.27 – Dolphin Swim Team
• Emma Harvey 9-10 100 back – old record 1:19.77- new record 1:18.42 – Harbour Swim Club
• Skylar Trott 8 &under 100 back – old record 1:35.59- new record 1:34.29 – Dolphin Swim Team
• Ashley Irby 9-10 200 free – old record 2:29.01 new record -2:26.14 – Harbour Swim Club
• Emma Harvey 9-10 200 IM 2:46.87- new record 2:46.63 – Harbour Swim Club
• Emma Harvey 9-10 100 back – old record 1:18.42- new record 1:18.17 – Harbour Swim Club
• Jude Moseley 9-10 100 back – old record 1:23.18- new record 1:22.39 – Harbour Swim Club
• Julian Fletcher National record 200 breast – old record 2:21.60-2 new record: 19.96 – Sharks Swim Club
• Madelyn Moore 11-12 50 free – old record 28.91- new record 28.84 – Sharks Swim Club
• Roy-Allan Burch National 50 free – old record 22.81- new record 22.51 – Sharks Swim Club
• Shannon Hassell 13-14 100 back – old record 1:09.97- new record 1:09.57 – Sharks Swim Club
• 9-10 200 free relay (Myles Packwood, Jude Moseley, Yannick Hillier, Alex Bordage)- old record 2:31.51- new record 2:27.07 – Harbour Swim Club
• 11-12 200 free relay (Brittany Siddle, Jessyka Haak, Paige Bruton, Madelyn Moore) old record 2:12.35- new record 2:09.59 – Sharks Swim Club
• 15-16 200 free relay (Vaughn Rowse, Ferdinand Arnold, Shannon Botelho, Philip Hagen) old record 1:56.79- new record 1:51.76 – Sharks Swim Club
• All comers record 200 free relay (Jesse Washington, Julian Fletcher, Nicholas Patterson, Roy-Allan Burch) old record 1:43.10- new record 1:40.49 – Sharks Swim Club

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