The 2019 British Summer Championships, which is the highest level domestic competition for British swimmers, was held over 6 days at Tollcross ISC in Glasgow from the 23-28th July. Guernsey Swimming Club swimmers Charlie-Joe Hallett and Laura Le Cras received invitations to attend this prestige meet where swimmers are invited based on the national rankings having competed in level 1 and 2 long course events during the qualifying period from March to May.
Charlie-Joe competed in the 50m and 100m breaststroke events with strong performances in the heats, he made both finals. With a strong performance in the heats Charlie-Joe qualified for the finals in a time of 29.58 seeded 7th, swimming in lane 1 in the final with a quick reaction time off the block, Charlie-Joe got off to a great start at the 25m mark. All ten swimmers were in a row and it was anyone’s race going down to the touch finishing in 29.33 moving up a place to 6th with all 10 swimmers finishing less than a second apart from 1st to 10th setting a new island record in the process. Charlie-Joe qualified for the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1:05.31 improving his time in a new personal best to finish 10th in 1:05.17 equalling the current Island record.
With all his hard work over the last year Charlie-Joe has moved up in the British rankings to 6th and 10th for the above events. With one more major competition, the English Nationals being held in Sheffield next week where he has 4 swims, the 200m & 400m individual medley, 50m backstroke and the 200m breaststroke before taking a well-earned break.
Team mate Laura Le Cras also earned an invitation to attend to compete in the 50m breaststroke with another strong performance in this close elite event, Laura finished just off her personal best time in 34.56 to finish 17th in a strong field. Although Laura was also invited to attend the English Nationals having competed at Island Games and the British Nationals she has decided not to attend but she is still ranked in the top 20 for her age group.
A fantastic achievement for both Charlie-Joe and Laura. Well done swimmers!
