Early starts not a worry

EARLY morning training does not worry Thomas Hollingsworth. The 16-year-old Elizabeth College pupil attended 263 Beau Sejour Barracudas sessions last year, a mark of his commitment to the sport which earned him the Jonathon Martel Award for dedication at the club's annual presentations.

Hollingsworth also attends after-school sessions at the centre.

'I'm good in the mornings,' he said. 'I just get out of bed and I'm away.'

The teenager is aiming for Island Games selection in butterfly, backstroke and individual medley events.

He also enjoyed a notable 2004. 'I got to a national final, which I was pretty happy about, and set two island records.'

Barracudas coach Alison Frankland said that Hollingsworth's performances at island, county and national level had been outstanding.

'Performances that can be achieved only by hard work and a huge commitment to training,' she said.

He trained more than any other male swimmer last year and was described by his coach as the ideal candidate for the award.

He was also singled out by John Atkinson, working under British swimming chief Bill Sweetenham, as a potential candidate for European Junior Championships selection later this year.

But his regime was not the toughest. The club's best trainer of 2004 was Zoe Elliott, who attended 275 sessions. For her efforts and determination to succeed, she was awarded the Endeavour Trophy.

The club's top performers also featured heavily in the awards.

Ian Powell gained a medal at the national championships, made a final in the Olympic trials and became the first Barracuda to gain a national title.

He was awarded the Bailiff's Trophy for the most outstanding performance by a male swimmer.

Gail Strobridge received the Patron's Cup for the most outstanding female performance for her overall year's work.

She won 11 titles at the Channel Islands Championships, a further seven at the Hampshire County Championships and all 15 female titles available in the Island Championships.

She also went under a minute for the 100m freestyle long course, broke Cate Jackson's 20-year short course 100m record, won a medal in the student nationals and broke two British records at the National Masters in Sheffield.