Welsh dragons' fire not extinguished in the pool

THIS year's NRG International Open Meet hosted by the Beau Sejour Barracudas Swimming Club was a resounding success with no fewer than 18 meet records being broken. It was undoubtedly the Welsh district team of Nofio Cymru made up of representatives of 19 clubs who took the event by storm, providing excellent competition and setting no fewer than 14 of the records, the majority coming from their strong squad of girls in the 12-15 age group. 'We're from Wales - mighty mighty Wales,' rang the chant.

Included in their party were Welsh national age-group champions Rebecca Roden (200m breaststroke), Naomi Croot (1,500m) and Elizabeth Smith (100m freestyle).

Croot broke records in 800m freestyle and 200m butterfly and Roden set a new mark in the 50m breaststroke of 36.31.

Rebecca Knight, Sian Harkin, Ayesha Matthews, Hannah Kane-Roberts, Hayley Roberts and Charlotte Bryan were the other fiery Welsh dragons to set records for the girls with Ellis Davis and Mark Ennis doing likewise in the boys' section on behalf of the Welsh contingent.

Local success was forthcoming too, with Island Games swimmers Jonathon Le Noury and Jeremy Osborne both producing new meet records.

Le Noury, who will be defending his titles in 200m, 400m and 1,500m freestyle in Rhodes, produced a season's best in the 1,500m to take the record as well as placing first in the 200m and 400m freestyle and the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke.

'It was really good and I was quite chuffed,' Le Noury said about his six wins.

'It's the closest I've been to all my times this season. In the 1,500m I got my best for the season, which was pretty good because obviously we're in hard training at the moment.

'There were some really good swims not just from myself but from all the Island Games swimmers. We weren't expecting much as we're all in hard training but it all came together.'

Osborne, in typical style, clawed back the lead in the 100m freestyle to take the record in 52.91 from Ben Lowndes and also win the 50m breaststroke.

Lowndes, however, stormed to victory in the 50m freestyle as well as 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m IM and 100m and 200m breaststroke - a big programme that led to him being named best male overall in the 17-plus age group.

The only other local record breaker was GSC's James Hewlett who won the 12-and-under 50m backstroke in a time of 34.76. He also took gold in the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle.

In the same age group Barracudas' Joe Ogier took the honours in the 50m fly, breast and free as well as the 100m breaststroke.

His points tally of 76 earned him the best-boy award in that category.

The final record fell to Iona Richards of Jersey in the 15-16-years 100m freestyle.

Island Games team members are focusing on Rhodes 2007 and used this event for race practice.

It gave the coaches an opportunity to see how the swimmers are performing in preparation for the all-important Games.

Swimmers aimed to get as close to their personal bests as possible despite still being in heavy training and barely tapering, so PBs were a bonus.

Well on target for Rhodes was Robyn Le Friec in the 17-and-over age group as she placed first in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly and 100m and 200m freestyle, leaving the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke to teammate Joanna Laine and the 200m IM and 50m breaststroke to Rachael Le Page. Le Friec received the best-girl award, 17 and over.

Island Games newcomer Alexander Beaton looked impressive as he placed first in five events in the 15/16 age group, with good work off the walls he produced some very encouraging times, as well as receiving best boy 16 years. The equivalent award for the girls went to Gemma Nicolle, while best boy at 15 was James Jurkiewicz.

In the 13-14 age group and swimming a heavy programme, Matt Butt gained the best-boy award, placing first also in four events in his age group.

As some of the younger swimmers prepare for the South-East Regional Championships next week, there were some excellent performances from the age groupers.

Barracuda Miles Munro recorded the highest points score overall - 88 - to receive the best-boy award in the 10-years group, with Kristina Neves taking the equivalent girls' one on 77 points.

Harry Parfit was best boy, nine years, with sister Lotte scoring 77 to become best girl in the 11 age group.

Luke Winberg amassed 71 points to become best boy in the same category - his outstanding performance coming in the 100m butterfly where he recorded 1-18.59.

Other local gold-winning performances came from Christine and Stewart Hume, Matt Girard, Luke Belton and Jacob Cherry.