Hallett tops the podium with an island record
CHARLIE-JOE HALLETT laid claim to being best in the South West last weekend.
The 19-year-old landed the senior regional short-course title for the 50m breaststroke with an outstanding 27.72sec. swim, shattering both the Guernsey and championship records and coming within touching distance of the Commonwealth Games ‘A’ standard, which is 27.60.
Both his own Guernsey record and the existing championship best performance had stood a shade over the 28sec. mark.
That breakthrough swim headlined a busy weekend for the UK-based Hallett brothers – with younger sibling Ronny also competing – at the South West Short Course Winter Championships at Millfield School in Somerset.
The elder brother backed this up with breaststroke bronze medals over both 100m and 200m, in the former posting 1-01.89 for a Commonwealths ‘B’ standard.
He added a surprise bronze in the 100m butterfly with a big personal best of 55.97.
As Charlie-Joe continues to develop his swimming with the renowned Plymouth Leander club, proud father Barry Hallett believes it is still ‘early days’.
‘He had not shaved and he had not tapered or anything – an absolutely amazing result really,’ Barry said.
‘The next one they are looking at will be the Winter Nationals at Ponds Forge [3-5 December] and that’s the next stepping stone.
‘They are building him up to it.
‘He has got really good coaching now from the people around him, which is really, really good. That’s his aim – and he is trying to get a couple more Commonwealths times.’
Ronny impressed most in the shorter breaststroke events, where he qualified for two ‘A’ finals and placed sixth in both.
The Mount Kelly student, just 17, showed particularly well over 50m as he claimed a great PB of 29.29.
He also beat his seed times over 200m breast (1-04.17) and 100m individual medley (1-00.27).
Barry confirmed that Ronny is also challenging for a Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games spot and feels he is ‘up there’ with his qualification rivals, despite being some way yet from the required times.
‘He really, really wants that place – I can say that for sure,’ Barry added.
