Youngsters rip up the records

THREE new championship records were broken in the 200m backstroke event of the NRG Series staged by the Beau Sejour Barracudas Swimming Club. The first to go was in the nine-year-old group where Kristina Neves obliterated the one set by Hannah Druckes back in 1996 by an outstanding 27 seconds to record 3-07.59. This was also 18.31sec. inside her previous best effort.

In the 10-year age group, Cody Butcher took Gail Strobridge's best to record 3-02.29 - six seconds inside the old mark. In a cleverly paced swim, Butcher also improved on her personal best time by two seconds to take the title from second-placed Lotte Parfit.

Another of Strobridge's records fell in the 12/13 age group where Victoria Parfit clocked 2-38.86, knocking four seconds off the record, despite being just outside her own personal best.

The fastest times of the day were produced by Thomas Holling-sworth and Gail Strobridge who retur-ned times of 2-10.14 and 2-33.38 respectively.

The swimmer making the greatest improvement in this event was 11-year-old Jodie Rawles, reducing her time by 73.72 seconds.

She placed second in her age group behind Rosie Grimes, who was first in 3-19.39, also eight seconds inside her previous best.

Toby Belton, competing in this event or the first time, placed first in the nine-year-olds age group while Oliver Nightingale placed first in the boys' 10 years section.

David Hall, Joshua Lewis, Jeremy Osborne and Robyn Le Friec were the victors in the remaining age groups.

Details to follow