Fins had a very good first half of 2019, but the start they have made to the second half is outstanding.
Last Sunday, In Open Water swimming, 17 year old Nicole Reynolds won the Senior Women’s Discovery Mile swim, in a new record time. The swim was organised by ye Ancient Amphibians Bathing Association and held in the river Tay, starting just below the Bridgeview Station Restaurant and finishing on the slipway behind Discovery Point.
Nicole was awarded the Barbara Johnston Salver and a gold medal.
On Saturday and Sunday, in the pool, eleven Fins’ swimmers competed in the Dunedin Challenge Meet, held at the Xcite Pool in Bathgate. Although less than a week at training, following the summer break, some of the performances were excellent.
There was a large entry and in addition to the majority of the swimmers, who came from Fife and the Lothians, there were also swimmers from Motherwell/Wishaw, Aberdeen and Dyce
The swimmers competed in a total of 65 swims, over the two days, and 41 of those swims resulted in a medal, 30 of which were gold, plus 8 silver and 3 bronze, and only two swims failed to make a top 10 placing. 
Three of the swims resulted in the individual swimmers being ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Scotland, subject to ratification. 
Erin Taylor will be ranked 1st in the 14 years 200m Breaststroke, following a 2.56 second PB. Her time of 2 minutes 41.41 seconds moves her ahead of Saskia Wade, City of Glasgow, by 0.14 seconds. A 6.67 second PB in the 200m Individual Medley moved Erin up from 10th place in the rakings to 2nd. Her time of 2 minutes 26.01 seconds places her just 0.07 seconds behind Saskia Wade.
The second swimmer to feature in the Scottish rankings was 10 year old Kristin Mackay who, because she is 11 at the end of the year, is included in the 11 years old rankings and her time of 1 minute 19.52 seconds, a PB of 1.10 seconds, places her 3rd in the rankings.
Five Meet Records were broken, by three swimmers. Erin set new figures for the 13/14 girls 200m Breaststroke, and both the 100m and 200m Individual Medley.
Kyle Pate set a new time for the 15 and over boys’ 100m Individual Medley, and the oldest record, dating back to 2008, was broken by Kristin in the 8 to 10 years 100m Butterfly.
The top swimmer award applies to all age groups both male an
d female and Erin and Kristin who won 9 golds each from 9 swims were tied on 54 points, based on 6 points for a win, but Esme Lee won the top swimmer award for her 6 golds and 4 silvers (at 5 points each), giving her a total of 56 points.
Kristin, Esme, Erin and Theo Goodfellow won special awards for the fastest sprints in their respective age groups.
The full Fins’ results are –
Kristin Mackay – 9 gold medals for 50m and 100m Breaststroke; 50m and 100m Backstroke; 50m and 100m Freestyle, 50m and 100m Butterfly; and 100m Individual Medley.
Erin Taylor – 9 gold medals for 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke, 50m and 100m Freestyle; 50m and 200m Butterfly; and 100m and 200m Individual Medley.
Esme Lee, 11/12 girls, 6 gold medals for 50m and 100m Backstroke; 100m and 200m Individual Medley; 50m Butterfly; and 200m Freestyle, plus four silver medals for 50m and 100m Breaststroke; and 50m and 100m Freestyle.
Theo Goodfellow, 15/O boys, 3 gold medals for 50m, 100m, and 200m Breaststroke; a Bronze for the 100m Individual Medley, and 4th in both the 50m and 100m Freestyle.
Kyle Pate – 2 gold medals from two swims in the 100m and 200m Individual Medley.
Euan Pate, 15/O boys, Gold – 100m Butterfly; Silver – 200m Individual Medley; 4th – 100m Breaststroke; 7th in both the 50m Butterfly and 100m Individual Medley; and 8th – 50m Backstroke.
Blair Wardlaw, 15/O boys, Gold – 200m Backstroke; Silver 100m Backstroke; and 4th – 200n Freestyle.
Mark Scott, 13/14 boys, Silver in both the 200m Freestyle and 200m Butterfly; 4th – 50m Backstroke, 100m Breaststroke, and 100m Individual Medley; and 6th – 50m Breaststroke.
Kimberley McCabe, 15/O girls, Bronze – 200m Breaststroke; 4th – 200m Individual Medley; 5th – 50m Breaststroke; and 6th in both the 100m Breaststroke and 100m Individual Medley.
Ben Lewis, 15/O boys, Bronze – 200m Individual Medley; and 5th – 50m Butterfly, and 50m and 100m Freestyle.
Bethany Michie, 15/O girls, 8th in both the 50m and 100m Breaststroke.
If any parents/guardians wish their children to join Fins, they should e-mail finscsc@btinternet.com to arrange an assessment. The minimum age for joining is 5 years and attending primary school.