'Changed man' Lowndes racing better than ever

BEN LOWNDES held off strong challenges from Tom Hollingsworth to claim three championship records at the Lloyds TSB 100m Open and Junior Island Championships at Beau Sejour. Lowndes set the new marks firstly in the individual medley and then in the butterfly.

Hollingsworth, who also finished inside the old island records in both events, pushed him all the way in two fantastic races.

The pair swam head-to-head virtually throughout, but it was the upper body strength of Lowndes that led him to the touch in the individual medley in a time of 1-00.41 and then in the fly in 58.00.

Lowndes, who has upped his preparations to eight or nine sessions per week as he targets glory at next summer's NatWest Island Games and the Common-wealths in the spring of 2006, knew he could take nothing for granted against his 16-year-old rival from Barracudas.

'I could see him on the turns,' said Lowndes, who is back to his best after a disappointing 2003 Island Games.

His GSC coach, Jo Winberg, said the 18-year-old is swimming 'the best he's ever swum'.

'He is a changed man and he's great to have around again.

'It's good for swimming all-round,' she added.

The medley showdown with Hollingsworth was particularly close.

The Barracudas star is a backstroke specialist and enjoyed a slight lead at halfway.

But Lowndes came back on the breaststroke and freestyle legs to get the verdict.

With the bit firmly between his teeth, Lowndes also took the freestyle title in a new championship record of 53.28 as well as topping the rostrum in the breaststroke.

Hollingsworth was, though, able to hold on to his top-seed billing as he won the backstroke event in 59.95.

In the junior boys section no one could touch Barracudas' Matthew Allen who had a clean sweep, winning all five events.

The strength and size of the 13-year-old no doubt played a part in his convincing wins.

In the backstroke he finished some seven seconds ahead of his nearest rival, eight ahead in the IM and no less than 11sec. ahead in the butterfly where he just missed the junior championship record to touch in 1-08.88.

The absence of Gail Strobridge left the other open girls a chance to shine and the medals were evenly shared.

Sophie Castle took the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle titles, recording 1-11.18 and 1-02.77 respectively.

Rachael Le Page swam a technically fine IM to take that gold, leaving Robyn Le Friec the butterfly and Christine Hume the breaststroke.

The junior girls, hungry for medals, saw Katie Salmon touch first in three events - freestyle, breaststroke and IM - while Kelsey Russell took the backstroke and the fast-improving Elizabeth Charlton the butterfly.

In this section, Rosie Le Friec, who has another year in this age group, did well to claim three silvers.

Other excellent junior performances came from Edward Dickinson who followed Allen to the rostrum on four occasions, placing second in the backstroke, breaststroke and IM and third in freestyle.