Last weekend Fins swimmers continued their good start to 2026. The occasion was once again the Scottish East District Age Group Championships, this time Round 2. This was the first long course event of 2026 and was held at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.
Fins had 12 swimmers who contested 50 swims over the 2 days and recorded a total of 40 PBs. Overall, Fins’ swimmers won 3 District championship age group titles, 10 silver medals, one bronze medal and 15 other finishes in the top 10.
Because it was a long course event there was quite a bit of movement in the Fins’ all=time top 50 rankings
Once again Fins’ top swimmer was 14 years old Lilian Blair, who won two championship titles – the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly to add to the three titles she won in round 1.
Lilian also won 5 silver medals, and they were for 200m breaststroke, 200m freestyle, 200m Butterfly, and 50m and 200m backstroke.
In terms of the top 50 rankings Lilian moves from 12th to 5th in the 50m butterfly; 11th to 5th in the 200m breaststroke; 11th to 6th in the 50m freestyle; 10th to 9th in the 200m butterfly; 17th to 10th in the 50m backstroke; and 16th to 13th in the 200m backstroke.
Fins also added a second swimmer to win a championship title and that is Millie Whytock who won the 50m backstroke. Millie’s time of 33.07 seconds is the fastest 50m backstroke, long course time, by a 13 year old, in Scotland, over the past 12 months.
In the top 50 rankings Millie moves from 13th to 3rd in the 50m backstroke, which is a fantastic achievement for a 13year old, 14th to 6th
in the 50m butterfly; 15th to 8th in the 50 freestyle; and 18th to 12th in the 200m freestyle.
In addition, Millie also won silver in the 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, and 200m backstroke, and 200m freestyle, a bronze medal in the 200m butterfly, and was 5th in the 200m breaststroke.
Lilian also had a very good swim in the 50m freestyle recording the second fasted long course time, by a Scottish swimmer, just 0.24 seconds off the top spot. The fastest time was recorded by an Anglo Scot, Maddie Markell, from Guilford City Swimming Club, back on 22 March 2025. Current rankings are only valid for one year so if no one betters Lilians time by 22 March this year Lilian will go to the top of the current rankings.
The remaining silver medal was won by Elliot Blair, 11/12 male, in the 200m backstroke. Elliot also finished 4th in the 200m butterfly, 5th in both the 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle, 7th in both the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle; 11th in the 200m breaststroke; and 18th in the 50m breaststroke.
Elliot was the only entry to the rankings and that was in 17th place in the 200m breaststroke. He also moved from 19th to 17th in the 200m backstroke; and 24th to 23rd in the 200m freestyle.
The swimmers who finished in the top 10 were:
Harvey Whytock, 16 years male, who just missed out on a medal finishing 4th in the 200m butterfly. And was15th in the 50m butterfly;
Harvey moves from 18th to 10th in the top 50 rankings
Irys Blair, 15 years female, who was 5th in the 200m backstroke and 7th in the 50m backstroke,11th in the 50m freestyle and 21st in the 50m butterfly.
Irys moves from 8th to 4th in the 50m Backstroke; 9th to 5th in the 200m backstroke; and16th to 13th in the 50m freestyle.
Eva Watson, 14 years female, who finished 5th in the 200m freestyle.
Eva moves from 15th to 8th in the 200m freestyle.
Cole Gray, 14 years male, who was 6th in the 200m butterfly, 7th in the 200m backstroke,10th in the 50m backstroke, 13th in the 200m breaststroke and 200m freestyle, 20th in the 50m freestyle, and 21st in the 50m butterfly, and 50m breaststroke.
Cole moved from 13th to 12th in the 200m butterfly; 15th to 14th in the 200m breaststroke; and 21st to 20th in the 50m breaststroke
Ethan Pate, 15 years male, who finished 6th in the 200m butterfly;12th in the 200m freestyle; 18th in the 50m breaststroke; 20th in the 50m butterfly, 22nd in the 200m backstroke; and 26th in the 50m backstroke.
Ethan moves from 12th to 10rg in the 200m freestyle; 8th to 7th in the 50m breaststroke; 19th to 17th in the 50m freestyle; and 19th to 18th in the 50m butterfly
Caleb Gray, 15 years male, who was 10th in the 200m butterfly; 16th in the 200m freestyle; 27th in the 50m backstroke; 29th in the 50m breaststroke; and 32nd in the 50m freestyle.
Caleb moves from 15th to 13th in the 200m freestyle; and 24th to 20th in the 50m freestyle
Kristin Mackay, 17 and over female, was 11th in the 200m freestyle and moves from 15th to 4th in the 200m freestyle.
Sadie Paton, 14 years female, was 18th in the 50m breaststroke.
I have not included events for the top 50 all-time Fins’ rankings, where no change has taken place. However this does not mean that the swimmer has failed to record a PB.
The swimmers have certainly made a good start to the year.
Ken White,
Club Press Officer