Lowndes' 2007 clean sweep

HEATHER CHAPMAN and Ben Lowndes won the titles at the annual States Cup. The unique Guernsey Swimming Club event is over eight lengths starting with one length breaststroke followed by a length breaststroke kick on the back with arms folded.

These two lengths are then repeated before the swimmer completes four lengths of freestyle.

In the women's event, breaststroke specialist Nicole Hewlett led at the halfway stage, but a strong 100m freestyle from Chapman saw her finish in 2-58.76 and Hewlett in 2-59.30. Kristina Neves claimed the bronze medal.

In the men's event, Lowndes was outside the record set in 1980 by Andrew Robilliard. He was just over two seconds ahead of second-placed Martin Chapman, with Matt Butt winning the bronze.

In the 1,500m freestyle championships, only 12 swimmers completed over the 60-length race.

Neves erased Sam Herridge's record of 19-29.42 set in 1990. The new time of 18-45.33 in the 13-and-unders was even more remarkable as Neves still has a further two years in this age group.

Hewlett claimed the silver in the same age group while in the 14-and-over Chapman won with a time fractionally outside her personal best.

In the 13-and-under boys, James Hewlett was a clear winner in a time of 19-13.24. A fast-improving Kevin Penney won the silver and Pierce Gregory the bronze.

In the 14-and-over, Lowndes and Butt swam at an equal pace for the first 1,100m. No more than one second separated them and they turned together throughout.

Lowndes increased the pace with 400m to go and touched first in 17-40.07. Butt was second in 17-44.85 and Martin Chapman claimed the bronze in 18-35.64.

Seven out of the nine competitors achieved a Hampshire qualifying time over the distance.

The 800m freestyle championships saw more swimmers competing.

In the 13-and-under girls Neves beat her own record, which she had set 12 months previously. Again she has another two years to set even higher standards.

There were 10 competitors in the 13-and-under girls with seven of these swimmers going out over the 32-length race for the first time.

Nicole Hewlett won the silver and Alex Butt the bronze. The first three swimmers all achieved a Hampshire qualifying time.

In the 14-and-over girls, Chapman won gold in a Hampshire qualifying time with Amelia Ingrouille taking silver and Elisha Benstead bronze.

In the 13-and-under boys, there were 11 entries with five swimming this event for the first time.

Distance freestyle specialist James Hewlett won the gold with Luke Winberg silver and Pierce Gregory bronze.

Lowndes completed a clean sweep of GSC championship trophies for 2007 by winning the 14-and-over title. He was 20 seconds ahead of second-placed Butt, who in turn was 11 seconds ahead of master swimmer Paul Mason.

The first event in the 2008 calendar will see both GSC and Beau Sejour Barracudas swimmers travelling to Jersey for the Channel Island Championships this month.