Dunedin Challenge, Bridge of Don September Splash, Cults Otter Bibby Offshore Challenge - 3-4 September 2011

Swimmers from South Mainland Amateur Swimming Club competed in three competitions last weekend in two different locations. Fifteen year olds Kirsty Laurenson, Sarah Keay, Karl Eldridge and Donnie Price travelled to Glenrothes to compete in the Dunedin Challenge, a competition that provided a broad range of races.

Donnie had opted for 10 events and had excellent swims producing 9 personal best times (pbs) in total and gained 7 gold and 3 silver medals, making him the outstanding swimmer in the 15 and over age group. The times Donnie was most pleased with were his 100m and 200m breaststroke; a 1.12.68 and a 2.34.74 and a terrific 5 seconds improvement in his 200m backstroke with a 2.17.27.

Karl was kept very busy swimming 13 races overall including 50m sprints in addition to the 100s and 200s. He had several good swims but his most successful were a super 4 second pb in the 100m backstroke with a time of 1.14.95 and a 2.36.61 in the 200m backstroke. In the 100m butterfly he once again produced a pb with a 1.19.28.  Kirsty also raced a mix of all the distances. Close to entry times in her events, she managed to produce pb times in the 100m breaststroke when she  took off 2 seconds for a 1.34.00 and in the 50m freestyle a half second improvement resulted in a 31.10. Her highest place was 6^th in the 50m backstroke just a fraction of a second behind team mate Sarah who finished 5^th on her pb with a time of 37.88. Sarah also came 5th in the 50m breaststroke, again very close to her entry time.

Meanwhile in Aberdeen, 8 younger swimmers swam at the Bridge of Don September Splash and the Cults Otters Bibby Offshore Challenge. Over the two days there was a mixture of highs and lows, disappointments and successes, but each and every swimmer achieved at least one good personal best time and three of the team managed to win medals.

The highlight for Darin Eldridge, 14, was winning the 100m breaststroke at the September Splash in a very good pb time of 1.27.68. He was closely followed by 13 year old James Morris whose superb 6 second improvement with a 1.29.86 earned him a well deserved silver place. Throughout the weekend, James consistently showed improvement, making pbs in 5 out of 6 events.  Likewise, Philip Hilditch, 14, achieved pbs in all but one race at the Splash with a 3 second pb for a 1.28.21 in the 100m backstroke, and 4 seconds in breaststroke with a 1.34.36. Once more it was in the breaststroke where there was the biggest improvement when Scott Riise, 13, also improved his time for a 1.38.89. In addition, Scott gained pbs in the 100m IM and 100m freestyle. Last, but not least of the boys, Eddie Price, 12, swam all 6 events at the Cults Otter gala and was South Mainland’s only medallist for the day. He achieved pbs in breaststroke with a 1.28.58 and in the 200m IM with a 2.43.51 and in both came 2^nd. Eddie also took silver place in the 100m freestyle and the 400m freestyle, making him overall runner up in his age group.

After putting in a good performance in the 100m IM, Cara Steven, 12, showed a huge improvement in her 100m butterfly. The following day she successfully smashed her entry time for her 100m breaststroke and with a 5 second pb time of 1.32.41 finished 6^th. This also ranked her overall 10^th in the 11/12 year age group. Curstaidh Mackay, 12, produced good swims and her highest place was a 4^th in the 100m butterfly at the Splash. At Cults the following day after a well paced 400m freestyle finishing on her entry time she went on to gain her best time of the weekend with a pb time of 3.06.59 in the 200m IM.

Sophie Morris, 11, had 4 races at the Cults gala and produced two pbs.  In the 100m butterfly, she took a second off her entry time with a 1.28.36, and in the closing event of the afternoon swam an excellent 1.11.73 in the 100m freestyle gaining 7^th place.

South Mainland ASC would like to thank NorthLink Ferries, Mainlands, and Freefield Pharmacy for their support.

North District Open Championships - 4-5 June 2011

Representing South Mainland ASC, brothers Donnie and Eddie Price competed at the North District Open Championships at Westhill last weekend. 14 year old Donnie swam 12 events and gained several personal bests over the two days. His first PB came with a 4.20.31 in the Men’s 400m freestyle, a time just inside the qualifying mark for the National Youth Squad. It was also good enough to place him in reserve position for the final. Due to one swimmer withdrawing he then raced the final where, although unable to improve his time, he finished in 5^th place, his best achievement of the competition. Donnie’s next highest place was in the 200m breaststroke, where equalling his entry time gave him eighth place. PBs were made in the 200m backstroke, one of the events that he will be  swimming at the Island Games and in the remainder of the freestyle events; 50m, 100m and  200m.

Donnie had opted not to swim the two longer freestyle events at the competition, but brother Eddie, had entered the 800m and 1500m freestyle. The 12 year old, as the youngest and smallest swimmer in Saturday’s 800m freestyle, produced a very well paced swim, so was very disappointed to finish a second outside his best time. However, Eddie perked up in learning that as reserve he would get the chance to race the 1500m the following day. With his target of breaking 19 minutes, determined Eddie had a superb race, keeping up with a couple of older lads then overtaking one of them. After maintaining a good steady pace he finished strongly and with a final sprint achieved his goal by the narrowest of margins touching in 18.59.84.