The 2008 Regional BAGCAT Swimming Championships came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday afternoon at the UEA Sportspark in Norwich. The swimmers had been in action over two weekends to see who would win the overall BAGCAT titles for this year.

 

The 10 year old boy’s title went to Philip Dowding-Young of teamipswich SC on 1870 points.  In second place on 1820 points was Jake Tyson (teamipswich SC) and in third place was Bobbie McCarthy (Thurrock SC) on 1694 points.  On the second weekend, Dowding-Jones had won the 200m Backstroke and 400m IM races, with Tyson winning the 100m and 200m Butterfly events and Benjamin Purcell (Hatfield SC) winning the 100m and 200m Breaststroke.

 

The 10 year old girl’s BAGCAT Champion is Alice Hewson of Berkhamstead Barracudas SC.  Hewson scored 2114 points across the four categories.  Rachael Moore of Thurrock SC was in second place with 1930 points and close behind with 1927 points was Gemma Swindell from Hatfield SC.  In the weekend’s events, Hewson won the 200m IM and 100m Backstroke, Moore won the 400m Freestyle, Swindell won the 200m Freestyle and Jessica Jackson (Stevenage SC) won the 100m Freestyle.

 

The 11 year old boy’s category was won by Barton Townley of Runnymede SC.  Townley scored 1877 points, whilst Robbie Lightowler (City of St Albans SC) was in second with 1735 points.  Frederick Woodcock (Hemel Hempstead SC) was third with 1726 points.  In the events, Townley won the 200m Backstroke and 100m Butterfly and there were victories for Augustus Veasey (Chelmsford SC) in the 200m Breaststroke, Murphy Talbot (Runnymede SC) in the 400m IM, George Stannard (St Felix School) in the 100m Breaststroke and Joe Brown (Thurrock SC) in the 200m Butterfly.

 

In the 11 year old girl’s competition, Amy Gore (Thurrock SC) beat her club mate Katherine Stephens, scoring 2687 points to Stephens’ 2517.  Amazingly, two girls tied for third place in this age group with the same point’s total of 2493 – Bethany Freeman (City of Peterborough SC) and Molly Norman, also City of Peterborough. Over the weekend, Norman won the 100m 200m and 400m Freestyle titles with Gore winning the 200m IM, Freeman winning the 100m Backstroke and Rebecca Hayes (Thurrock SC) winning the 1500m Freestyle.

 

The 12 year old boy’s competition was dominated by Caleb Hughes, who won every race he entered – a total of seven victories over the final weekend to add to his victories last weekend.  Unsurprisingly, he won the overall title with 2646 points.  In second place was Yaron Ash of Hertsmere Flyers SC on 2149 points and in third place was Matthew Brigham (City of Peterborough SC) on 2097 points. 

 

In the 12 year old girl’s competition, Charlotte Hicks of St Felix School won the overall title with 2937 points.  Zara Bailey (City of Peterborough SC) was second on 2766 points and Poppy Ingleson (UEA City of Norwich SC) was third with 2759 points.  Hicks win the 1500m Freestyle, Ingleson won the 200m and 400m Freestyle, Bailey won the 200m IM, Rose Cross (teamipswich SC) won the 100m Backstroke and Shauna Lee (Mid Beds Swim Squad) won the 100m Freestyle.

 

The 13 year old boy’s overall title was won by Miles Garner of UEA City of Norwich SC) on 2792 points.  In second place was Luke Bailey (St Felix School) with 2624 points and in third place was Liam Knight (City of Peterborough SC) on 2559 points.  In the events, Garner won the 200m Breaststroke, 100m and 200m Butterfly, Bailey won the 1500m Freestyle and 200m Backstroke and Knight won the 400m IM.  The 100m Breaststroke was won by Luke Target of Hatfield SC. 

 

The 13 year old girl’s BAGCAT title was won by Ellis Jackson of St Felix School with 3201 points.  Heather Rodwell of teamipswich SC was the only other swimmer in the competition with a point’s total of over 3000 points, as she scored 3033.  In third place in the age group was Mimi Barr (UEA City of Norwich SC) on 2827 points.  Jackson and Rodwell won all the event titles between them, Jackson winning the 400m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle, 200m IM and 100m Backstroke.  Rodwell won the 100m and 1500m Freestyle.

 

The 14 year old boy’s BAGCAT Champion for 2008 is Aaron Lynch of teamipswich SC, but it was a close battle with David Kelleway (Bishop’s Stortford SC) in second place.  Lynch scored 2738 points to Kelleway’s 2725.  In third place was Alexander Baker (Hatfield SC) on 2665 points.  In the weekend’s events, Lynch won the 100m and 200m Breaststroke, Kelleway the 200m Backstroke and 100m Butterfly with Alex Raine (Mid Beds Swim Squad) winning the 1500m Freestyle and Charlie Hayes (Thurrock SC) winning the 400m IM and 200m Butterfly.

 

teamipswich SC won the girl’s 11-13 years 4 x 100m Medley relay, and the boy’s 11-14 years 4 x 100m Medley relay.  The UEA City of Norwich team won the girl’s 11 -13 years 4 x 200m Freestyle relay.