County competition gives Christine a kick-start

CHRISTINE HUME has closed to within three seconds of a Commonwealth Games qualifying time in the 200m breaststroke. The Guernsey Swimming Club member took the county title over that distance at the Hampshire County Swimming Championships in Southampton.

Her personal best of 2:40.44 was achieved in the final, having already set a personal best in the heat.

'Christine took a second off her best in the heat and the final, and her 100m split in the final was just outside her best for the 100m,' said coach Jo Winberg. 'She did very well.'

Hume swam in 11 events and also took bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

Ben Lowndes made the final of all eight events he took part in, giving him 16 swims over two days.

Slightly shaken after being involved in a hit-and-run car crash two nights before, Lowndes swam all his events outside PB times, but managed to claim the senior title of the 200m individual medley, silver in the 100m freestyle and butterfly and 200m butterfly and a bronze in the 200m freestyle.

He did achieve some Island Games qualifying times, however.

Other swimmers to make finals were Sophie Castle, in the 50m freestyle and 100m IM, and Helen Mahy in the 50m and 100m backstroke, in which she recorded PBs both times.

Sarah Hume swam in six events and recorded four PBs.

Fay Sheppard, Alison Cann and Jo Laine made up the GSC team, with Sheppard and Laine recording two PBs each.

'The Hampshire championships are very important for all our swimmers, particularly for gaining qualifying times,' said Winberg. 'This year is all about the Island Games and there's also the Commonwealth Games next year.'

* Next weekend Lowndes and Tom Hamon will compete at an event in Reading, while young Matt Butt competes at a meet in Leatherhead, at which he will be seeking national qualifying times.