Outstanding Parfit breaks Watts' 17-year-old record

A NOTABLE championship record was broken by 13-year-old Victoria Parfit when she clocked 2-51.07 in the 200m breaststroke event of the NRG Series staged by the Beau Sejour Barracudas Swimming Club. It previously stood at 2-52.75 and was set by Helen Watts back in 1989.

Setting off as top seed, Parfit maintained her pace throughout to register the fastest time of the day for the women, producing a class swim.

Jeremy Osborne was the fastest of the men with a time of 2-39.43.

In the youngest age group, nine-year-olds Harry Parfit and Chloe Tostevin took the honours as they continue to dominate their age group in the series, recording 3-59.79 and 4-05.92 respectively.

Toby Belton and Katherine Jensen took gold in the 10-year-olds group, with Belton improving on his time by more than 18 seconds to register

3-46.48.

In this same age group, the greatest improvement in time, by more than 58 seconds, was recorded by young Sebina Steininger who placed fourth.

Lotte Parfit just missed Gail Strobridge's record in the 11-year category when she swam a lifetime best by more than 10 seconds to clock 3-14.15, the record standing at 3-13.62.

George Moss also swam a personal best by 5.2 seconds to take gold in 3-29.13.

Joshua Lewis and Matthew Allen took the 12-13 and 14-15-year-olds titles respectively, with Allen touching in a new personal best time of 2-51.70.

In the 14-15 age group for the girls, Rosie Le Friec held off Gemma Nicolle to record a personal best of 3-05.61, with Rachael Le Page touching for the senior girls in 2-56.56.