PBs galore at fast and furious meet

A HOST of personal-best times were recorded as the first events of the 2007 NRG Series got under way. The 50m sprints over the four strokes always make for some fast and furious swimming, with several taking the honours in all four events.

In the youngest age group, nine-year-old Courtney Butcher did just that in her very first championship, moving up from the pre-squad into the full Barracuda squads.

Her time of 22.60sec. in the 25m butterfly put her nearly three seconds ahead of her nearest rival.

The other three events were a little closer, with Butcher just getting the touch in the backstroke from Annalise Munro and again in the freestyle where Munro and Megan Davies finished on the same time of 42.08, just behind Butcher on 41.34.

It was again Davies who had to be content with second place in the breaststroke.

Ten-year-old Chloe Tostevin also secured four wins, all in personal-best times, as did Katherine Jensen and Miles Munro in the 11-year group.

The Parfit family had a successful time with Lotte and Victoria each winning all four in the 12-13 and 14-15 years age groups respectively. The latter's times in the backstroke and freestyle were also the fastest of the day overall.

Younger brother Harry, 10, won the butterfly and backstroke, just missing out on the freestyle to a speedy swim of 38.43 by William Mansell.

The breaststroke in this age group was won by Freddy Moss in a personal-best time of 50.70.

Nine-year-old Thomas Nightingale had some excellent swims taking the titles in the freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke, just leaving the 25 butterfly to a very determined Oliver Mansell.

The 12-13 age group for the boys saw David Hall in top form, sprinting to victory in freestyle, butterfly and backstroke, with Luke Belton winning his favourite event, the 50m breaststroke, in a time of 39.67 - a lifetime best.

Jacob Cherry (14-15 years) also took three events, leaving just the 50m backstroke to Leo Chamberlain.

Fastest times of the day overall in the men's 16-and-over age group went to Jeremy Osborne in the freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly, with Jonathon Le Noury securing the backstroke win.

The senior women's wins were equally divided in the 16 and over with Robyn Le Friec taking the butterfly, Joanna Laine the freestyle, Gemma Nicolle the backstroke and Rachael Le Page the breaststroke.