Guernsey Swimming Club swimmers produced some excellent swimming at the 2022 South East Regional Swimming Championships for the 14 & under which is being held over two weekends. 83 clubs from all over the South East were in attendance for the 1st weekend. 4 of the 5 GSC junior swimmers travelled over to the K2 50 meter pool in Crawley last weekend to compete in this very competitive high level long course meet against some of the best swimmers in England in their relevant age groups.
Tallulah-Mae Rautenbach qualified for 5 swims this weekend and a further 4 swims in two weeks time ranging from the 50m sprints to the endurance 1500m. She had an early start to the weekend for the 800m freestyle setting a new personal best LC time. She had an outstanding swim in the 50m freestyle heats qualifying for the final in a time of 30.03 she then improved her time aging to finish in silver position going under the 30 second barrier in a time of 29.55 moving her up into the British ranking to 9th place for her respective age group. Tallulah also had a great swim in the 100m backstroke heats finishing in 1:15.60 to gain a place in the final again she swam hard with a great finish improving her time to finish in Bronze position in 1:14.40 and 14 in the British rankings. Tallulah also competed in the 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly all of her swims were LC PB’s.
Emma Bourgaize qualified for 6 swims, 3 in this session and 3 in the next session, competing for the first time in a 50m pool undaunted by the prospect she also had an outstanding swim in the 50m freestyle qualifying for the final in a time of 29.16 then improving her time further to 28.87 and moving her up in the British rankings to 12th place and possibility to compete in the English Nationals being held in Sheffield the first week of August. Emma also made the 50m breaststroke final improving her heat time of 37.15 to 37.05 in a English National qualifying time. In the 100m butterfly heats Emma touched in 6th place on the turn came back very hard and fast taking the touch to finish in 1st place in her heats just missing out of the final.
Having qualified for two swims 1 last weekend and 1 in the next session Tara Kennedy also competing for the first time in a 50m pool had a great swim in this very high quality competitive meet finishing in a time of 1:16.45.
Samuel Cann joined the girls on the Sunday where he also had achieved two really outstanding swims in the 50 butterfly finishing in a new personal best time of 35.14 swimming hard all the way to the finish. In the 100m breaststroke Samuel finished in 12th place over all in his respective age group again with a great swim finishing in a time of 1:32.66, Samuel also has qualified for a further 3 swim in 2 weeks time.
It is really quite an achievement to be accepted to swim in the Regional Championships with hundreds of swimmers being turned away even though they had achieved consideration times and very costly for the Guernsey swimmers having to travel over and stay in UK and then repeat it again in two weeks time. The 15 and over swimmers South East Regional Swimming Championships are being held over 4 days this coming bank holiday weekend.
