Hollingsworth leads way as records fall

THERE was, sadly, not a Nigerian in sight, but not to worry. The important matter was that no fewer than 19 records fell in the 16th NRG Open Swim Meet staged by the Beau Sejour Barracudas Swimming Club.

In the region of 200 swimmers representing eight clubs took part, providing some fast and furious action.

In top form was Thomas Hollingsworth of the host club, setting new records in five events and a new island record in the 50m butterfly where he recorded 26.35.

His times in the 50m backstroke and the 100m butterfly were also within the qualifying time set for Commonwealth Games selection.

He placed in the top three in 12 events, achieving national youth times in seven. His 50m and 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke and 200m IM were all new championship records.

For his outstanding achievements, Hollingsworth received best male award in his age group.

Competing at the bottom of the 15/16 age group, Barracudas' Jeremy Osborne set a new record in the 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle with national youth times in the 50, 100 and 200m freestyle.

On a par with the senior men in the 100m freestyle, he is certainly a force to be reckoned with in this event, recording 53.65. He accumulated a points score of 54 including six gold medals to win best boy award in his age group.

Taking gold in the 15/16 age group and a new record was Robyn Le Friec.

She recorded 30.96 in an exciting race to take the touch from Gail Strobridge by just 3/100ths of a second. Le Friec also took first place in her age group in the 100m butterfly.

Ben Lowndes of the Guernsey Swimming Club took the record in the 200m butterfly in a time of 2-05.69 which was also inside the Commonwealth Games qualifying time set by the Guernsey Amateur Swimming Association.

Lowndes' other victory coming in the 100m freestyle where he touched in 53.41 following a frantic chase with Ian Hubert who finished just 5/100ths of a second behind.

Continuing to swim well in the distance events, Jonathon Le Noury set a new record in the 1,500m freestyle where he led from the start, finishing 10 seconds ahead of Jersey's Dan Halksworth.

Le Noury also took the honours in the 200m and 400m freestyle.

Still on the road to recovery following a series of chest infections and the pressures of her university studies, Strobridge was able to use the weekend to gauge her levels of fitness and in so doing secured nine gold medals and one silver.

She also received the best female award 17+ with a score of 60.

In the younger age groups, stars of the future shone with the Barracudas' Victoria Parfit showing potential in all strokes and distances, sailing to victory in 11 events and setting a new record in 50m backstroke of 34.75 in the 12 and under age group.

Her points tally of 80, the highest of the meet, gave her best girl awarding the 12 and under section.

In the same age group, GSC's Matthew Butt set records in the 50m and 100m butterfly as well as taking gold in 50m backstroke, 200m fly, 100m breaststroke and 200m IM, again demonstrating his versatility over several events.

Hannah Lamb set a new record in the 13/14 50m butterfly in 31.47.

Visiting teams also achieved success with an all-comers' pool record - the fastest time ever in the Beau Sejour pool over 100m breaststroke, being recorded by Chris Jones of City of Southampton.

His time of 1-05.04 beat the previous mark of 1-06.16. He also set new gala records in the 50m and 200m breaststroke.

Jersey visitors Dan Halksworth and Amy Pallot of Tigers each set a new mark in 400m IM and 200m fly respectively.

Those winning several gold medals in their age groups included Barracudas' Joshua Lewis and Mathew Allen who both recorded national age group times in the 400m freestyle, Alexander Beaton who had a national time in 100m butterfly, Hannah Lamb and Edward Dickinson.

Guernsey's Sophie Castle took gold in the 50m and 100m backstroke in the 17+ age group, while Hannah Neilson of City of Lincoln Pentaqua dominated the girls 15/16 age group backstroke events, winning four golds.

At the end of the meet, best boy and best girl awards, based on their overall points score, were presented by Philip Duquemin, managing director of NRG International.