Modernian swimmer makes Olympic Trials

Nicola Pasquire. 13, swam an incredible 400 freestyle at this weekends City of Derby meet to qualify for the British Gas swimming championships & Olympic trials to be held the London Aquatic Centre on the Olympic site in March. Nicola is currently the only able-bodied swimmer in Bedfordshire to have qualified for the Olympic trials & will be one of the youngest swimmers in the competition. Nicola has been a Modernian for several years & is also a pupil at Bedford Girls School.

Modernian swimmer accepted for coaching apprenticeship

Charlotte Ovenden,17, has just been accepted onto the ASA National Young Coaches academy programme. This is a highly prized programme as only 20 young coaches are accepted every two years. Charlotte will be mentored by some of the top UK coaches, will attend Talent Camps, be attached to an ASA Beacon programme and in the first instance attend the Youth Sport Trust National Young Coaches Academy at Loughborough University. She can also currently be seen on promotional material across the town as part of the Believe in Bedford campaign run by Sport Bedford. As well as swimming for the Modernian Swimming Club she also currently coaches the younger swimmers within the competitive squads.

February Half Term Crash Course

Mon 13th – Fri 17^th February inclusive – 5.45pm or 6.15pm     £5 for 5 lessons  

This years ER winter championships saw some impressive performances from a number of Modernian swimmers moving us up one place in the medal table from last year to ninth with eight medals. We managed to gain one gold, four silver and three bronze medals making us the highest ranked Bedfordshire club in the region. The medals were won by:

·         Hayley Alcock 1 gold - 200m breaststroke, 2 bronze - 50m and 100m breaststroke

·         Nicola Pasquire 1 silver – 400 freestyle, 1 bronze – 800m freestyle

·         Rhiannon McCaffray 2 silver – 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke

·         Oliver Maltby 1 silver – 50m backstroke

This year we had more qualifiers than before and we made more final swims than before. In the men's backstroke Sam Briggs, Connor Delaney and Thomas Langford all made the finals with Thomas and Connor swimming good Pb’s. In the women's breaststroke Charlotte Ovenden, Hayley Alcock and Rhiannon McCaffray all made the finals. A number of swimmers (Sam, Charlotte, Hayley and Rhiannon) made finals in at least two strokes over a range of distances. The swim of the meet went to Oliver Maltby in the men's 4x100m relay where he swam a magnificent 57.03 in the first leg, his first time under the golden minute barrier. Other notable swims were Connor Delaney 55.21 100m freestyle, Nicola Pasquire 4.30.43 400m freestyle and 9.18.61 800m freestyle, Rhiannon McCaffray 2.45.30 200m breaststroke, Oliver Maltby 28.26 50m fly.

Well done to all who took part and keep up the hard work!!!
 

Anyone for Hats?

Swimshop have kindly sponsored a batch of club swim hats and they are available to purchase any evening at BMS either from the refreshment ladies or direct from the Teaching Scheme Administrators on poolside.

More Records Fall

This weekends National Inter County Team Championships, saw Hayley Alcock smash more county records in the Breaststroke event.
Having already taken the Short Course 200m Record and the Long Course 100m record last season, in both the junior and senior categories, this weekend saw her take the short course junior 50m and 100m records as well as the senior short course 100m record all in the same swim.
Her time of 1:14.89 with a first 50m split of 34.99 takes another Modernian swimmer's record, Charlotte Ovenden, in the junior category and the longest standing Short Course Record ( 22 years) from Alison Day, also a Modernian.

Other swimmers also competing for the county at this gala were Charlotte Ovenden, who also swam a fantastic 100m Breaststroke as well as swimming the 100m butterfly for a swimmer who was ill. Oliver Maltby swam the 100m Butterfly as well, and Peter Webster, Thomas Langford, and Nicola Pasquire, all swam 100m Backstroke.