FOUR Skipton swimmers rounded off an incredibly successful year of racing at the Swim England National Winter Championships, with Rohan Smith bringing home a sensational silver medal.
Skipton Swimming Club was represented yet again at the highest level in this three-day event which took place at Ponds Forge International Pool in Sheffield.
Teammates back home were able to show their support in real-time as they followed all the action on the Swim England Live Stream.
Day one kicked off with the Men’s Open 400m Individual Medley event and Skipton’s Jack Jenkinson, who is only 16 and a student at Ermysted’s Grammar School, placed 20th overall in the heats with a time of 4.31.53.
Rohan Smith (18) also of Ermysted’s Grammar School was next up, swimming in the 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke events.
Success came as he secured a sensational silver medal in the Men’s Junior (age 18 and under) 50m breaststroke final, with an incredible personal best time of 28.02 seconds.
Next came schoolmate Sam Smith who, at just 15 years-old, was the youngest of the Skipton qualifiers. He swam brilliantly in the 100m butterfly securing a time of 59.12 and again in the 100m Individual Medley with a time of 1.01.39.
Ned Sharp (19) wrapped up a successful first day of the championships for Skipton, swimming in the Men’s Open 100m butterfly with a time of 55.60.
Day two saw Rohan swim again, this time in the Men’s Junior (age 18 and under) 100m breaststroke where he was placed third in the Junior Final with a time of 1.03.57. He also swam in the 100m freestyle event, securing a time of 51.40, with teammate Jack finishing just behind him in 51.60 seconds.
Ned wrapped up day 2 with another great swim in the Men’s Open 200m butterfly with a time of 2.05.85.
The third and final day of the competition saw Jack swim in the 400m and 200m freestyle events in 4.03.48 and 1.54.08 respectively. Sam and Ned swam in the 50m butterfly in 26.09 and 24.75 respectively. Rohan rounded off the final day in the Men’s Junior (age 18 and under) 200m breaststroke event, placing 16th overall, with a time of 2.20.91.
Head coach, Ian Scrivin, said: “I am immensely proud of our swimmers, who all put in a fantastic performance at the National Championships. They are a group of talented, committed young athletes and they deserve every success at the highest level.
"I look forward to continuing to support them in 2023, in what is sure to be another exciting season for the club and its members."
Jack Jenkinson's success at the Winter Championships followed on from his impressive qualifying races, where he swam for the first time in the open age category and achieved eight personal best times.
Sam Smith (15), also a student at Ermysted’s, swam in six events and was crowned County Champion in the 100m free and 100m butterfly. He went on to achieve two silver medals in the 50m free and 50m butterfly events and a bronze and 5th place in the 400m and 200m Individual Medley respectively.
For more information about Skipton Swimming Club, please visit www.skiptonsc.co.uk
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