East Lothian Swim Team Meet – 25/26 January 2025

Thirteen Fins’ swimmers competed in a total of 69 individual swims at the Mercat Gait Sports Centre, in Prestonpans recording 39.PBs, or 57% improvement rate.

This may appear low but there was a high participation rate for most swimmers and a lot of positives to take from the meet, which included seven changes to Fins’ top 50 rankings plus two PBs where no change took place.

In terms of the rankings the top performance came from Irys Blair who reduced her PB in the 50m backstroke by 0.11 seconds, maintaining her 20^th place in the rankings.

Highest entry to the rankings was achieved by Lilian Blair who enters the 50m butterfly in 24^th position with a 2.72 second PB.

The largest PB by a Fins’ swimmer came in the very first event of the meet, and was again achieved by Lilian, when she reduced her previous best time for the 400m individual medley by 49.74 seconds, and as a result enters the rankings in 35^th place.

The 59 swims resulted in 7 gold medals, 9 silver and 9 bronze plus a further 29 swims gaining a top 10 finish.

In terms of wins top swimmer was Millie Whytock,10/11 female, who won gold in the 50m and 200m backstroke, and the 100m butterfly recording the 4^th largest PB in the 100m butterfly of 9.77 seconds. Millie also won silver in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 400m individual medley and enters the Fins’ top 50 rankings in the 400m individual medley in 42^nd position, displacing Fiona McLaren, who set her time at Kirkcaldy in April 1995.For new entry time see below.

In addition, Millie also finished 4^th in the 100m breaststroke.

Elliot Blair, 10/11 male, won two gold medals in the 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle, two silver medals in the 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly, and three bronze medals in the 50m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley, and in the 200m individual medley recorded the 3^rd largest PB of 15.89 seconds. Elliot was also 5^th in the 50m freestyle and 6^th in the 100m breaststroke.

Lilian Blair, 12/13 female, won a gold, two silver and two bronze medals. As noted above Lilian entered the rankings in 24^th place in the 50m butterfly and out goes A. Gardiner, who set her time at Dunedin Meet in September 2008. The time now required to enter the rankings is 34.48 seconds. Lilian’s silver medals were in the 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly and a 6.51 second PB in the 200m butterfly moves her from 50^th to 47^th in the rankings.

The two bronze medals came in the 400 individual medley, already mentioned above, and the swimmer who drops out on this occasion was Lesley Wallace who set her time at Glenrothes in February 1995. The time now required to enter the 400m individual medley rankings now stands at 6 minutes 23.79 seconds, as two swimmers drop out. Lillian’s other bronze was in the 200m individual medley.

Lilian was also 7^th in both the 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke. In the 100m backstroke Lilian enters the rankings in 49^th place, with Louise King dropping out having set her time at Kirkcaldy in April 1997, and the entry time is now 1 minute 16.84 seconds.

Caleb Gray, 12/13 male, won a full set of medals with gold in the 400m freestyle, silver in the 400m individual medley and bronze in the 200m butterfly. In his 400m individual medley, Caleb recorded the 5^th largest PB of 9.16 seconds and enters the rankings in 50^th place, replacing a long serving club member, Alan Gibb, who set his time at Glenrothes in November 1995. The entry time now stands at 5 minutes 34.73 seconds. In his 200m butterfly Caleb had a 3.00 second PB which moves him one place up the rankings from 39^th to 38^th. In Calebs other swims he finished 5^th in both the 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle, 6^th in 100m butterfly and 200m backstroke, 7^th in the 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley, 8^th in the 100m breaststroke, and 16^th in the 100m freestyle.

Ethan Pate, 12/13 male, won silver in the 400m freestyle, and bronze in the 200m freestyle, 6^th in the 100m freestyle, and 7^th in the 50m butterfly.

Kristin Mackay, 16 to 18 female won silver in the 200m freestyle.

Eva Watson, 12/13 female, won bronze in the 200m butterfly, with a 0.74 second PB but remains in 48^th place in the rankings. Eva’s other swims were – 8^th – 200m freestyle; 9^th – 50m butterfly, 12^th – 100m butterfly; 14^th in both the 200m backstroke and 100m freestyle; 15^th – 200m breaststroke; 24^th – 100m breaststroke, and 28^th – 100m backstroke.

Fins’ final medal, a bronze, was won by Adam Selbie, 14/15 male, in the 100m freestyle.

The remaining swims were –

Irys Blair, 14/15 female, 4^th in the 50m breaststroke, 50m backstroke, and 200m individual medley; 5^th in both the 50m and 200m freestyle; 7^th – 200m breaststroke; 8^th in both the 50m and 100m butterfly; and 12^th – 100m freestyle.

Cole Gray, 12/13 male, 6^th – 50m backstroke; 10^th in both the 100m butterfly and 200m breaststroke; 11^th – 50m freestyle; and 12^th – 100m breaststroke.

Charlie Jack, 10/11 male, 9^th – 50m backstroke; 10^th in both the 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle.

Sadie Paton, 12/13 female, 22^nd – 50m backstroke.

Summer Ramshaw, 12/13 female, 27^th – 50m breaststroke; 48^th – 100m freestyle.

It is very encouraging to see more of the current squads making it to the fins’ all-time top 50 rankings, especially the younger swimmers. The more swimmers who make it the more difficult it becomes.

Ken White

Club Press Officer