Medals more than treble in one year for excel
By Julie Gibson - Derventio eXcel
Derventio eXcel have more than trebled their medal tally from the 2003 ASA Midland District Age Group Championships to this year’s event held in Coventry last weekend.
A staggering 24 medals were won with seven golds, nine silvers and eight bronze. This is in comparison with Derbyshire’s tally last year of seven medals including three golds, three silvers and one bronze.
The star of the second weekend was 10 year old Ann Morris, who exceeded all expectations by taking two golds in the 100 metres freestyle and breast stroke. She also added a bronze in the 200 metres breast stroke.
Jamie Broom added to his double gold medal haul in stage one of the competition, by taking a further gold in the 14 years 200 metres freestyle, silver in the 100 metres back stroke and butterfly and bronze in the 200 metres back stroke.
Sarah Gibson, also a gold medallist in stage one added a silver to her medal haul in the 11 years 200 metres butterfly, whilst in the same age group Katy Amatt took a surprising silver and bronze in the 100 and 200 metres breast stroke.
Oliver Froud, another gold medallist in stage one, took two silvers in the 13 years 100 metres backstroke and 200 metres freestyle.
A further surprise medallist was Livvi Sefton, who took bronze in the 12 years 200 metres butterfly and also qualified for the National Age Groups to be held in Sheffield next month.
Mark Rose, Head Coach of Derventio eXcel said:
We enjoyed a staggering weekend. It was pleasing to see 86% of swims were personal bests. Last year this area had six swimmers swimming in the National Age Groups in a total of 11 events. This year we have a team of 16 who will be swimming in 50 events. This is an impressive improvement particularly as the swimmers are the same. They are training smarter, harder and longer and this is what we will continue to do.
Jamie Broom continues to impress and he will be seeking medals next month. But the number of swimmers now potentially able to take medals is growing. It is an exciting prospect.”
Julie Gibson, Chair of Derventio eXcel said:
We must emphasise the importance of these results; the improvement from last year is amazing. This is due to our partners offering us the resources we need and having the courage to venture into the new Derventio eXcel structure. Our feeder clubs continue to support us and together we are starting to benefit from this partnership approach. We have along way to go though. In a few years we will need a medal haul like this at national level:
Derventio eXcel is a partnership between the feeder swimming clubs in the area, Derby City Council, South Derbyshire District Council, Amber Valley Borough Council, British Swimming, the Derbyshire Peak Park Sport and Recreation Forum, the University of Derby and Derby College.