Disability Results

4/5 September 2010 - Sunderland Aquatic Centre

The final day of competition saw some nail biting finishes as defending champions England Central retain their title for the third year in a row with 258 points in the team competition. Strong performances from the team, including a decisive Boys’ 400m Medley relay, saw them finish six points clear of hosts England North.

Team Captain Adam Rowe commented: “We came here wanting to win and we knew it would be tough so it’s great to be champions again. All of us get on really well together and there is a great team spirit amongst us. The last race was dramatic and we weren’t sure if we were going to win but it’s been a good weekend for everyone and we’re going home happy!”

But it wasn’t just England Central who experienced success: England South’s Joseph Patching won his second Individual Medley gold for his team as he swam over 200m in a time of 2:10.55.

The 16-year-old swimmer took to the blocks confidently and led the race from the start eventually touching in 2:10.55, nearly two seconds ahead of second place. Silver went to Thomas Barton (England North) with bronze going to Euan Inglis (Scotland Northwest).

“I’m very happy with my results here,” said Patching. “I gave it my all and to get two gold in two days here is great. I’ve come into this meet well rested, I haven’t been training hard since the Youth Champs and this is a nice way to get back into it. My season goes on from here so hopefully I’ll be able to build from this.”

Amelia Maughan secured her second individual gold and Games record in the Girls’ 100m Freestyle. The England South swimmer touched in a time of 57.88 ahead of Stephanie Blakeburn (England North) and Hayley Williams (England Central).

“Everyone’s support has really helped me to swim well this weekend,” said Maughan. “I’ve moved to Bath to train and it’s going great. It’s a fantastic club and I really love it.”

Some of Britain’s best young swimmers took to the blocks as action got underway at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

Video (1m 03s flashplayer required) - oaths at the Opening Ceremony.

Swimming sensation Amelia Maughan, swimming for England South, claimed a new Games record in the Girls’ 50m Freestyle with a time of 26.38.

A faulty start meant that the swimmers had to take to the blocks for a second time but the disruption did nothing to deter the experienced Maughan who swam to a clear victory over the rest of the field.

Hayley Williams, swimming for England Central, claimed silver in 27.48 with bronze going to Scotland North West’s Riona Plowman in a time of 27.85.

“I’m over the moon with that,” said an excited Maughan. “I haven’t really been training and I was on holiday the week before so to come here and set a new PB and get the Games record was amazing.”

Speaking of the start she added: “It’s the first time I’ve ever had a start like that: I didn’t know what was happening! I’m really pleased I was able to stay focussed. I could feel the lactate building up in my legs but I was still hyped up and ready for the race.”

Millfield’s Matthew Shead claimed silver in the Sunderland Aquatic Centre in a time of 28.75 as Daniel Sliwinski (Gallica) proved too fast for the rest of the field and comfortably won the Men’s 50m Breaststroke final to add to the gold medal he won in the 100m Breaststroke on Monday. 20-year-old Sliwinski, who has only been back in the water for four weeks after breaking his wrist in May, touched in a new personal best time of 27.97.

“My aim here was to try to go under 28 seconds and considering my injury in May I'm delighted with that,” said Sliwinski. “The 50m is my fun event and I'll turn my attention to tomorrow's 200m now where I could make it three gold from the three breaststroke events. I didn't have the best start but recovered well and finished strongly but The time was a good personal best and more importantly it shows I'm back in shape after my injury and it gives me confidence for Delhi.“

Ross Clark (Dundee) took bronze in 29.47.

View video highlights from Day 3

The Women’s 50m Freestyle final saw a tight finish with little to separate the field with 15m to go. Ealing’s Georgia Heyn equalled her personal best of 26.05 to take gold as Jessica Lloyd (City of Manchester) claimed silver in a personal best of 26.33. Bronze went to Emma Wilkins (Plymouth Leander) in a time of 26.38.

The British Disability Swimming Team, powered by British Gas, concluded their IPC Swimming World Championship campaign with a total of 16 gold medals after Daniel Pepper added to the impressive medal tally on the final evening.

The women’s S9 100m Backstroke saw Stephanie Millward take on the impressive Natalie Du Toit and battle for a medal. Millward turned in first place but Du Toit had too much in the tank for Millward as she overtook her and the Brit took silver in 1:10.31.

“It is a disappointment for me to win the silver,” Millward said. “I thought I would have been able to get that and I thought that I would have had enough in me to succeed in this final. It did break my heart to get silver. I train so hard and I thought I had it but it wasn’t to be.”

The women’s 34 point 4x100m Medley relay - Stephanie Millward, Harriet Lee, Claire Cashmore and Eleanor Simmonds - won silver just behind the American team. The swimmers looked strong and in a good position throughout the race but the American team surprised the race as an outside smoker and they stole victory with a time of 5:00.68. The Brits won the silver in a time of 5:00.93.

There has been a number of strong performances throughout the week including Eleanor Simmonds winning four gold medals, Sascha Kindred continuing his unbeaten run in the 200m Individual Medley and Pepper adding gold to the title he won in the 100m Breaststroke.

Plymouth Leander’s Anthony James had already made the qualification time in the Men’s 100m Butterfly but a victory in the event on day two of the British Gas ASA National Championships at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre saw him lower his time. Touching in 52.66 the 20-year-old took gold with James Doolan (City of Salford) taking silver in 53.69 with ,local boy Ian Hulme taking third in 53.72.

View video highlights from Day 2

The Men’s 200m Freestyle was dominated by Plymouth Leander’s Steven Beckerleg who took a commanding lead from the start. Less than 0.3 seconds separated first and third places as 20-year-old Beckerleg touched in a personal best time of 1:50.25 to take gold with Joe Roebuck (Loughborough University) in silver with 1:50.47 and Joshua Walsh taking bronze in 1:50.53.

“It was a tough race,” said Beckerleg. “My plan was to control the first 25 as I tend to go off too fast. I got a PB but it wasn't the time I was aiming for, it was a Commonwealth Games spot. I'll just have to wait and see!”

City of Manchester’s Emma Saunders extended her fantastic season as she swam to the national title in the Women’s 100m Freestyle. The 16-year-old took four medals earlier this year at the European Junior Championships and came to Sunderland looking for a spot on the Commonwealth Team. A slow start saw Saunders turn in fifth position, but a strong back end saw her power through to take the title in a time of 56.12.

Silver went to Rebecca Turner (City of Sheffield) in 56.32 with bronze going to Emma Wilkins (Plymouth Leander) in 56.65.

The Women’s 50m Butterfly saw Lucy Worrall (Stockport) swim to gold in 27.66, Louise Pate (Edinburgh University) took silver touching in 27.99 and Sian Harkin (Plymouth Leander) took third in 28.03.

Louise Watkin, Eleanor Simmonds and Dave Roberts claimed a place on the top of the podium as the British Disability Swimming Team, powered by British Gas, moved their gold medal tally up to 15 on the penultimate day of competition at the IPC Swimming World Championships.

The first race that featured British athletes was the S9 50m Freestyle and with Louise Watkin ranked first for the final the hopes for a good start to the night was raised. Watkin lined up in the final next to Natalie Du Toit, who had beaten her twice this week, and the British record holder was fired up for success. The Brit got a good start and looked on course for victory from the 25m mark.

Day one of the British Gas ASA National Championships (50m) 2010 got underway at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre as athletes vied for the remaining Team England spots to secure their place to the Commonwealth Games.

View video highlights from Day 1

Anne Bochmann (City of Leeds) put herself in contention for a ticket to Dehli when she hit the selection qualifying time in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley touching in 2:13.80 to take national honours and the gold medal. The 16-year-old was lying in second position as she turned into the final 100m, but her strength over the breaststroke and freestyle legs saw her take the lead and claim gold. Kate Hutchison took silver in 2:15.33 with Keri-Anne Payne taking bronze in 2:15.38.

The British Disability Swimming Team, powered by British Gas, continued to make their mark on the top level of the sport as they secured another nine medals in Eindhoven at the IPC Swimming World Championships.

The third day of competition had seen the British Team, powered by British Gas, impress with seven gold medals and the British athletes followed that up with four more golds in the pool on Day 4.

Jonathan Fox got off to an explosive start in the men’s S7 100m Backstroke on his way to his first World Championship gold medal. Fox took advantage of his strong start to move into the lead at an early stage and with his turn he moved further into the lead and won with a new world record time of 1:11.94.

“World Champion sounds really good to me,” Fox said. “I wanted that world record so much and I just went into the race hungry for it. I went into this meet wanting success and I am happy with how my racing has gone.”

The British Disability Swimming Team, powered by British Gas, enjoyed a successful evening at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swim Stadium in Eindhoven as they won a total of seven gold medals on the third day of competition at the IPC Swimming World Championships. There were a total of 12 medals won by the team, powered by British Gas, that already have 16 in the bag and they went into day three with confidence.

Stephanie Millward and Louise Watkin finished in second and third place respectively in the women’s S9 100m Freestyle. The British pair finished behind Natalie Du Toit. Millward touched in 1:03.85 and Watkin stopped the clock in 1:04.05. Claire Cashmore finished in fourth place in 1:05.49.

Ben Procter took fifth place in the S14 100m Backstroke with a time of 1:07.35. Natalie Massey and Chloe Selman took to the water in the S14 100m Backstroke and finished in fifth and sixth respectively. Massey touched in 1:13.25 and Selman took a time of 1:14.57.

One of the closest races of the night was the SB9 100m Breaststroke and with two British swimmers in the race ranked first and second it was predicted to be exciting. Harriet Lee, who is making her World Championship debut, went into the final ranked in first place and didn’t disappoint in the final and with an explosive start she went into the lead early on. She was pushed through the final 50m by Louise Watkin but Lee took her first gold medal with a new British record time of 1:19.86. Watkin finished just behind to win her third silver of the competition in a time of 1:20.96

The British Disability Swimming Team, powered by British Gas, enjoyed more medal success on the second day of competition at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Eindhoven. The Brits won ten medals on the first day of competition and added six to their tally with a number of promising performances in the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swim Stadium.

Louise Watkin lowered her personal best on her way to silver in the women’s SM9 200m Individual Medley. She took on Paralympic Champion Natalie Du Toit (South Africa) in the final and swam a strong race to take the medal in a time of 2:37.71.

Video of the Women's 200m Individual Medley SM9 event (4m 06s flashplayer required)

“I am slightly disappointed with my Butterfly leg because it didn’t go as well as this morning,” Watkin said. “But I still got a PB in that race and I feel good with that and my medal.”

Du Toit won gold in 2:32.11 and bronze was won by Ellie Cole (Australia) in 2:42.13.

In the women’s SB6 100m Breaststroke Brit Charlotte Henshaw had lowered the world record in the heats and looked in a good position for the final. The race began and saw American Mallory Weggemann move into the lead straight away and Liz Johnson closed in on her over the first 25m. At the 50m mark Weggemann turned first with Henshaw close behind her. Johnson stayed on their shoulders as the race entered the final 50m and she moved closer to the American but Weggemann had a good back end speed and extended her lead.