Fins’ swimmers have been in action over the past two Sundays, with both meets being held at the Michael Woods Centre, Glenrothes.

Two weeks ago, fifteen swimmers were representing their respective schools in the Fife Schools’ Swimming Championships, with twelve representing secondary schools and three, primary schools.

Last Sunday seven, mainly inexperienced swimmers, took part in the Carnegie Winter Graded Meet.

At secondary schools’ six swimmers managed to gain 10 Fife Schools’ Titles plus a further three added to the medal tally of 9 silver and 3 bronze. Swimmers were restricted to three swims and at the top level both Erin Taylor and Theo Goodfellow had small, but significant, PBs in two events each, while at the up and coming swimmer level the only Fins’ swimmer not to gain a top 10 finish achieved the two largest improvements. Heidi Mellon, who had two swims, reduced her 100m Freestyle by 7.42 seconds, and her 100m Backstroke by 6.81 seconds. Jennifer Gordon, who had just one swim, made the most of it by reducing her 100m Freestyle by 4.48 seconds.

Fins’ results are –

Top swimmer, winning all three of her events, was Esme Lee (Balwearie HS) 12/13 girls, in the 100 and 200m Backstroke, and 200m Individual Medley.

Erin Taylor (Balwearie HS), 14/15 girls, gold – 200m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley, silver – 100m Breaststroke.

Theo Goodfellow (Fife College), 16/O boys, gold – 100m and 200m Breaststroke, silver – 100m Butterfly.

Mark Scott (Balwearie HS), 12/13 boys, gold – 200m Individual Medley; silver in both the 100m and 200m Breaststroke

Neža Dolenc Luznar (Balwearie HS), 14/15 girls, gold – 200m Freestyle; silver – 100m Butterfly; bronze – 100m Freestyle

Kimberley McCabe (Viewforth HS), 16/O girls, gold – 400m Freestyle; silver – 200m Breaststroke; 5th – 100m Backstroke.

Blair Wardlaw (Balwearie HS), 14/15 boys, silver – 100m and 200m Backstroke; bronze – 200m Freestyle.

Eireann Comrie (Inverkeithing HS), 16/O girls, silver – 100m Breaststroke

Erin O’Connor (Viewforth HS), 16/O girls, bronze – 100m Breaststroke

Steven Pate (Kirkcaldy HS), 12/13 boys, 5th – 100m Breaststroke; 10th – 100m Freestyle.

Jennifer Gordon (Balwearie HS), 12/13 girls, 10th – 100m Freestyle.

The three primary schools’ swimmers competed in five events with all of them resulting in a PB, with the top two improvements coming from twin sisters Niamh and Mairi Doherty, with Niamh improving her 25m Backstroke by 3.46 seconds and Mairi her 25m Breaststroke by 3.42 seconds.

There were no medals but 4 of the swims made it into the top 10. The results were –

Ethan Pate (Cardenden PS), 10/U boys, 5th – 25m Butterfly; 9th – 25m Freestyle

Niamh Doherty (Burntisland PS), 10/U girls, 5th – 25m Backstroke

Mairi Doherty (Burntisland PS), 10/U girls, 6th – 25m Breaststroke.

At the Carnegie Graded Meet seven swimmers contested 26 events and there was some medal success from Kristin Mackay, plus three more of the swimmers achieved a top 10 finish. The most pleasing aspect, however, was that 20 of the swims resulted in PBs, with all swimmers achieving at least one PB, but it was size of the PBs that was most impressive with three of the five swimmers, Kristin, Charlotte Wardlaw, and Adam Selbie producing 6 PBs in excess of 10 seconds.

Kristin Mackay, 8 to 11 years girls, won two gold and two silver medals from her four swims. She won gold in 200m Breaststroke and 200m Butterfly, and silver in the 200m Backstroke and 200m Freestyle, reducing her Breaststroke time by 10.41 seconds.

While Kristin was Fins’ top swimmer in terms of medals, there is no doubt as to who the most improved swimmer was. Nine year old Adam Selbie, 8 to 11 years boys, recorded four PBs in excess of 10 seconds, from four swims and despite giving away two years to most of his fellow competitors Adam finished 7th in both the 100m Individual Medley and 200m Freestyle, and 8th in the 50m Backstroke. Adam’s PBs were – an amazing 48.67 seconds reduction in his 200m Freestyle, 24.26 seconds in his 100m Individual Medley, and 10.93 and 10.92 seconds in his 50m Backstroke and 50m Breaststroke respectively.

Although not gaining a top ten finish Charlotte Wardlaw, 8 to 11 years girls reduced her 100m Individual Medley by 11.23 seconds.

The remaining two swimmers who gained a top ten placing were –

Kimberley McCabe, 14/O girls, 8th – 50m Breaststroke, and 9th in both the 50m Backstroke and 100m Individual Medley; and Grant Wardlaw, 12/13 boys, 9th in the 50m freestyle.

The two remaining swimmers to compete were Olivia Dutiaume (8 to 11), and Jennifer Gordon (12/13) who both had some very impressive swims.