Fins’ swimmers continued their good start to 2019, and long course events, when 14 swimmers qualified to compete in the Scottish East District Championships, held at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh, last weekend.
The swimmers competed in a total of 40 swims and returned with one gold, one silver, and 5 bronze medals plus a further 18 top 10 placings.
Fins top swimmer was, once again, Erin Taylor, 14 years girls, who added another Championship title to add to her 200m Butterfly title she won in January. This time it came in the 100m Breaststroke in a time of 1 minute 17.69 seconds, recording a 4.69 second PB, and a 2.5 second winning margin. Erin also won a sliver in the 200m Individual Medley, a bronze in the 100m Butterfly and finished 10th in the 100m Freestyle.
Caitlyn Dodds, 17 and over girls, won two bronze medals in the 200m Individual Medley and 100m Backstroke, quite an achievement when you are not 17 until the end of December and competing against swimmers in their 20’s. Caitlyn also gained a 6th place in the 100m Freestyle and 8th in the 100m Butterfly.
There is also no doubt who was the most improved swimmer for Fins’ – Mark Scott, 13 years boys, who won a bronze medal in the 100m Breaststroke, with a 12.12 second PB, his first District Medal. Mark also just missed out on a further two medals where, despite a 24.42 second PB he finished 4th in the 100m Butterfly, and a more modest PB of 5.14 seconds in the 100m Freestyle gained him a 4th place. He also finished in 5th place in the 200m Individual Medley.
Fins’ final medal was won by Catherine Comrie, 17 and over girls, who won bronze in the 100m Breaststroke. Catherine also had a further two top 10 placings finishing 6th in the 100m Backstroke and 7th in the 200m Individual Medley.
Five other swimmers gained a top 10 placing and these were:
Esme Lee, 13 years girls, 5th in both the 200m Individual Medley and 100m Backstroke; and 10th in both the 100m Butterfly and 100m Breaststroke. Esme had the 3rd best improvement, reducing her 100m Butterfly time by 6.15 seconds.
Steven Hardie, 11/12 boys, in his first District Championships, finished 5th in the 100m Breaststroke.
Erin O’Connor, 16 years girls, 6th – 100m Breaststroke; 10th 100m Backstroke
Theo Goodfellow, 17 and over boys, 7th – 100m Breaststroke.
Arran Stowe, 17 and over boys, 9th – 200m Individual Medley.
The remaining five swimmers who qualified were Ben Lewis (15); Holly Armit (13); Eireann Comrie (16); Euan Pate (17/O); and Kristin Mackay (11/12) also in her first District Championships.