Swim Camp 2014, Fuerteventura

Easter 2014 - Pioneer 79 Swim Camp

During Easter, myself and a group of 28 other swimmers from Pioneer 79 Swimming Club travelled to Corralejo, Fuerteventura for an intense week of training.  During the course of the week, we undertook 10 x 2 hour pool sessions, 4 land training sessions and a sea swim.  The training would've been ok if I hadn't had to contend with a terrible bout of prickly heat every time I was exposed to the sun.  The skin on my arms, legs, back and feet were very red, itchy and extremely angry looking.  I was advised to take anti histamines for the allergy along with paracetamol for the pain.  My mum asked for advice at the pharmacy and was advised to 'keep her out of the sun'! Obviously this was an impossibility due to the structure of the weeks training.  Instead, we kept up with the treatment and added some talcum powder to the areas affected in the evening which definitely helped.  

The training, although intense, was very rewarding.  Being able to swim outdoors in a 50m pool is a great feeling, but strange when swimming backstroke due to easily getting disorientated with no roof to use as a guide! The total meterage covered by myself over the 7 days training totalled more than 60,000m. The facilities at the resort were fantastic, everything was on site, the rooms were very spacious and the food exceptional.  The chaperones and head coach were also very impressed and are currently thinking about the next swim camp which will hopefully take place in 2016.

My next competition is due in a couple of weeks time in Manchester, so between now and then I will be concentrating hard on my training along with my race preparation..  Before that comes the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Selection Committee's decision on whether or not I will be selected to represent the Island in Glasgow! (Everything is most definitely crossed!! I will update my blog once I find any information out)

Scottish Nationals Day 4

Scottish Nationals Day 4

We packed up and set off for the pool for our final day of competition.  I was really looking forward to today as I had a much easier day than yesterday! It has been a very long, but enjoyable competition.  I have really enjoyed being part of the IOM team, travelling and stopping with them at the hotel.  The 50m Breaststroke was the 6th event of the morning, I had a bit of a wait, but it was great to watch some of the big names in Scottish Swimming competing in their various events, such as Hannah Miley, Michael Jamieson, Robbie Renwick, they were awesome!  

I had entered the competition with a time of 34.09, however at the Lancashire Counties I had swam slightly faster (33.97) so the entered time was no longer my PB.  I swam my heat, finishing 6th in a time of 34.54, just missing the CGCT by 0.02, but it qualified me 6th fastest for the final.  The IOM team left at lunch time to catch the train as they were travelling home via Liverpool Docks at 7pm, so I was left in Glasgow with my mum.  I sat with Andy (a coach from a Scottish team) that I knew through my head coach at Pioneer 79, so it was ok.  He talked me through the race and pointed out some new ideas for tactics, during the warm up I tried them out and was very pleased with the results.  I found out that my Dad, Nanna, Grandad and Uncle were all watching me live at home from the dining room, so I really wanted them to watch something Good!  Andy gave me some last minute advice as I set off to check in.  Then we were off!! I had a fantastic race and felt really strong as I got close to the finish, I looked up, I was really pleased as my block showed 3 lights, I'd finished 3rd! My time of 34.06 wasn't quite a PB, however, it was very close and most importantly, it was another CGCT!

We set off home from Glasgow as soon as I'd finished my swim down, s it was just after 8, I was very tired, but very pleased with my results over the course of the 4 days of intense competition.  We arrived home around 11.30pm, extremely tired! But hey, I'm up again for school in the morning as we don't finish until Friday for Easter!!

Scottish Nationals Day 3.....

Scottish Nationals Day 3

Today was IoM Team Mate, Brody Hewison's 16th Birthday, we had this team photo taken with his birthday cake!

We returned to Tollcross for the 7.30am warm up, today was going to be a tough one, but I was determined I was going to do my best!  My first event of the day was the 100m Backstroke, my long course PB is 1.07.14, and I finished the race in 1.08.53, slightly slower than my PB, but I improved my placing from 28th to 25th with the swim, unfortunately missing out on the final.  It was then a quick dash from the competition pool, back to check in for my next race, the 200m Breaststroke! I didn't even have time for a swim down!  

I swam a comfortable race, qualifying 6th fastest for the final in a time of 2.43.97, 7 seconds slower than my PB, but I would have another chance in the final later in the day.  Again, as soon as I had finished the 200 Breaststroke heat, it was yet another quick dash to check in for the 50m Butterfly! 

With a PB of 29.71, I was surprised to finish in 30.16 having had  just 10 minutes rest after my 200m Breaststroke!  My time pushed me up the rankings from 37th to 31st overall which I was extremely pleased with!  As soon as I had finished the 50m fly, I ventured round to the swim down pool for a well earned swim down!  Then it was off back to our hotel to rest up for the evenings 200m Breaststroke final!

We arrived back at the pool in plenty of time for the warm up, my final was the 7th event, so I had enough time to compose myself for my race.  My team mate, Laura Kinley (17 years) also qualified for the same final, she qualified 3rd fastest in a time of 2.41.05.  Anyway, we finished the race, I improved on my heat time by over 4 seconds and finished in 2.39.64, climbing up 2 places to 4th in the process.  Although it wasn't a new PB, I was very pleased with my swim as it was within the CGCT of 2.40.66, and also an NQT.

Tomorrow will be a much easier day, as I have just 1 event, the 50m Breaststroke, so fingers crossed I can qualify for another final tomorrow!

Scottish Nationals Day 2

Scottish Nationals - Day 2

After gaining a new personal best in my 100m Butterfly on Thursday, I returned to the pool on Friday to swim in the 100 Breaststroke and 200 Backstroke.  Unfortunately, I was only going to have a very short rest between the two races due to the way they organise the competition, so in the heats I swam the best I could, hoping to gain a place in the B Final.  The first event was the 100 Breaststroke, finishing 5th in my heat and 14th overall in a time of 1.15.28, I qualified 4th fastest for the final which was to take place in the evenings session.  Less than 20 mins later, I was back in the pool for the 200m backstroke.  Finishing 8th in the heat I was disappointed with my time, and I finished 34th overall.  

I returned to the pool refreshed and rearing to go for the 100m Breaststroke final.  Swimming in lane 2 in the final, I maintained my 4th position, finishing in a time of 1.14.54.

Tomorrow I am competing in 3 events, so it'll be a tough morning as there won't be much in a way of rest between races, but I will do my best and hope to swim well.

Scottish Nationals 2014..... Day 1

Scottish Nationals 2014, Glasgow

After meeting the rest of the Isle of Man Team at Lancaster Train Station, we headed straight up to Glasgow on the next train.  It was a long journey but I really enjoyed travelling with the IOM team, it made me feel much more part of it!  After we had eaten out tea, we headed back to our rooms for an early night's sleep, as we were all aware that the next 4 days were going to be tough!

Warm up was at 7.30am with the session getting underway at 8.45 sharp! I was in the first event of the day,the 100m Butterfly.  Due to my entry time being one of the fastest 50, I swam in the mornings session, the other 30 swimmers (50-80) swam their events in the afternoon.  I was in heat 5, swimming in lane 7.  I finished 5th in my heat, in a time slightly slower than my PB, 1.06.35, but I finished 17th overall, which meant I had qualified for the 'B' Final to be held in the evenings session. My next event was the 50m Backstroke, again, I swam slightly slower than my PB, 32.41, placing me 29th overall.  I was quite disappointed with my result in this event, however, it was still a good time.  

This afternoon, as I wasn't swimming, I opted to return to our hotel and relax, go to sleep and then watch tv, in preparation for my final this evening.  The finals started at 5.30, our race, the 'B' Final for the Ladies 100m Butterfly was the first event of the evening.  I couldn't believe what we had to do.... Every swimmer was introduced to the spectators individually (like they do at the Olympics!) when my name was called, I had to walk out onto the poolside from behind two screens and then take up my place behind my block! I was again in lane 7.  (This lane was a good lane for the filming of the race as I am very close to the camera!).  I finished the race 9th which placed me 19th overall, however, even having lost a couple of places in the final, I swam a new personal best time of 1.05.69, so I was very pleased with my result.

I'm back in the pool tomorrow, swimming 100m Breaststroke and 200m Backstroke, I will let you know how I get on!

March 2014

Lancashire County Swimming Championships 2014

During March, the Lancashire County Swimming Championships took place over two weekends, the first weekend was held at Liverpool's Wavertree Sports Centre, the second at Manchester's Commonwealth Pool, the Manchester Aquatics Centre.  This event is always a busy one, with swimmers competing from throughout the County who have successfully achieved the relevant qualifying times.  

I competed in a total of 13 events, however, it was to become the best Lancashire County Championships I had ever swam in to date!

I was competing in the 14 year age group, however, some of my results proved to be good enough to take medals in the Junior (16+ under) and Senior (18+) championships.

200m Breaststroke (AG)-1st,  (J)-3rd, (S)-3rd, 2.39.87 - NQT/CGCT

200m IM (AG)-2nd, (J)-2nd, 2.24.47 - NQT/CGCT

200m Backstroke (AG)-2nd, 2.25.89

400m IM (AG)-2nd, 5.08.16 - NQT

100m Backstroke (AG)-1st, 1.07.87 - NQT

50m Breaststroke (AG)-1st, (J)-2nd, (S)-3rd, 33.97 - CGCT

50m Backstroke (AG)-1st, (J)-2nd, 31.30 - CGCT

100m Breaststroke (AG)-1st, (J)-2nd, (S)-3rd, 1.13.81 - NQT/CGCT

200m Freestyle (AG)-3rd, 2.13.35

50m Butterfly (AG)-2nd, (J)-3rd, 29.71

100m Butterfly (AG)-1st, 1.05.82 - NQT

Many of the times I achieved at this competition were new personal best times which is great news!  This was to be my final competition where I would be able to achieve consideration times for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where I am hoping to be able to compete for the Isle of Man.  After the Lancashire County Championships had finished, my mum had to forward a completed CV including all the events I had achieved CGCT's for along with details of where I had achieved them.  All I can do now is to continue to improve and keep the IOM team manager informed of my results, then it is a matter of keeping everything crossed for me to be selected in early May.

Here is a photo of me and my friends at Pioneer 79 Swimming Club, Outside Manchester Aquatics Centre at the Lancashire County Swimming Championships in March......(my younger brother, Harry is in the middle on the front row!)

February 2014

North West Region English Schools Swimming Association Championships 2014

I entered this competition for my school, entering 6 events in total, I was only accepted for 2 due to being 'too fast' to compete in the rest! So on the day of the competition, I packed my bags and my mum drove me to Bolton One, where the event was being held.  When we got there, they were running late, and the pool was extremely busy due to the huge number of swimmers competing.  Anyway, my two races were in the final session of the day.

I competed in the 100m Butterfly, finishing in a new personal best time of 1.03.44, I took the gold medal.  My other event was my favourite, the 100m Breaststroke.  Having entered a time of 1.11, I finished in 1.12.74, taking the gold medal.  I was very pleased with this result, although it was slightly slower than my entry time, the next swimmer to finish was almost 8 seconds behind so I had swam the latter stages of the race on my own.

My school was extremely pleased with the results of the competition, now I have to wait to find out if I will be selected to represent our region at the finals which are to be held in Bristol at the end of June, so..... Fingers crossed!!

February 2014

Derventio Excel - Sheffield

After a very busy January, it was back to Sheffield where I competed in the Derventio Excel gala for the Isle of Man.  The competition is very well supported from across the country, and again this year was no exception, the event had been highly oversubscribed which resulted in many people being rejected from events.   I was very pleased to find out that I had been accepted for all the events I had entered.  This year, I was at the top of my age group (13/14 years) so I was hoping that the hard work put into my training would help me achieve some good results.

I was again very pleased with my results;

200m Backstroke - 1st - 2.24.23- NQT

100m Backstroke - 1st - 1.08.04

50m Breaststroke - 1st - 34.24 - CGCT

100m Breaststroke - 3rd - 1.15.00 - NQT

50m Butterfly - 3rd - 30.30

200m Breaststroke - 3rd - 2.41.70 - NQT

January 2014

North Lancashire Championships 2014

After a very successful competition in Sheffield at the North Zonal Meet, I returned to Lancashire where I competed for my first claim club, Pioneer 79 Swimming Club, in the 'marathon' of events in female swimming, the 800m Freestyle!  For those of you who know me, you will be aware that Freestyle is my most 'dreaded' stroke and I feel my weakest.  However, I am happy to do this event once a year as I feel it shows my progress over the 12 months.  This year, I was pleasantly surprised as I finished 2nd in my age group in a 26 second personal best time from last year, in 9.23.34!

January 2014

January was a very busy month for me, my first competition after the New Year was the North Zonal Meet which was held in Sheffield.  Competing for the Isle Of Man, I was very happy with my results.  

100m Breaststroke - 1st (1.13.87) NQT/CGCT

200m IM - 1st (2.24.34) NQT/CGCT

50m Breaststroke - 1st (34.09) CGCT

50m Backstroke - 1st (31.56)

200m Backstroke - 2nd (2.24.39) NQT

200m Breaststroke - 2nd (2.37.15) NQT/CGCT

I have now achieved 6 National Age Group Qualifying times for 2014, along with 4 Commonwealth Games Consideration times for Glasgow! With only 3 months to go before the closing date for consideration times, I hope I am able to keep improving and achieving them to build a strong case.