Seven Fins’ swimmers travelled to Bathgate to compete in the SWL Distance Meet, held at the Excite Centre in Bathgate, and again produced some excellent performances, recording 14 PBs from 15 swims.

While there were no medals on offer five of the seven swimmers gained a top three finish, from nine of the swims.

Top swimmer for Fins was Adam Selbie, 14 years boys, who had one win and three 2nd placings. Adam’s win came in the 200m individual medley in a time of 2 minutes 24.85 seconds, and his 3.63 second PB had an impact on the Fins’ all-time top 50 short course rankings moving him up 11 places from 46th to 35th. Adam also recorded the largest PB, by a Fins swimmer of 38.89 seconds in his 1500m freestyle where he finished in 2nd place behind Nikolai Sisnett, City of Glasgow. This swim also made an impact on the Fins rankings moving him from 18th to 9th, as did his other two swims.

A 19.36 second PB in his 800m freestyle gave him a 2nd place finish, again behind Nikolai, and this moved him from 7th to 4th in the Fins’ top 50 rankings.

In his 200m Backstroke a 9.72 second PB gave him his final 2nd place and moved him a massive 24 places up the rankings from 32nd to 8th. This time he finished behind Tyler Spalding of Carnegie.

Adam also recorded a further two PBs, reducing his previous best at the 400m split mark on his way to the 800m freestyle. This moves him up the rankings from 36th to 23rd and, at the halfway mark in his 200m backstroke he reduced is previous best for the 100m backstroke by 0.04 seconds but did not make an impact on the rankings.

In terms of the official Scottish rankings for 14 years boys Adam is ranked 2nd in the 200m backstroke, behind Nikolai, 3rd in both the 800m and 1500m freestyle, behind Aiden Anderson, Bridge of Don, and Nikolai. And 4th in the 200m individual medley.

Adam also has three top 25 places in the British rankings with his highest being 10th in the 200m backstroke. He is also 21st in the 1500m freestyle and 25th in the 800m freestyle.

Kristin Mackay, 15 years girls, also achieved a win in her 1500m freestyle with a 5.02 second PB, and remains 2nd in Fins rankings behind Erin Taylor, Kristin’s time also retains her 4th place in the 16 years girls’ Scottish rankings.

Kristin was also 6th in the 200m backstroke with a double figure PB of 10.98 seconds, which gains her entry to the Fins ranking in 32nd place. The former Fins’ swimmer to drop out is Claie Edwards who set her time at Kirkcaldy Pool in April 1995.

L to R – Irys Lilian, Finnley, and Ethan.

Ethan Pate, 13 years boys, had two 3rd places. In his 400m individual medley Ethan recorded Fins’ 2nd largest PB of 13.80 seconds which gained him entry to the Rankings in 49th place with the swimmer dropping out being Derek Smith who set his time at Whitburn in May 1988.

Ethan also had an 8.60 second PB in his 200m backstroke, and is now just over 3 seconds off the rankings.

Ethan’s times means that he is placed 8th in the 400m individual medley 13 years boys Scottish rankings, and 19th in the 200m backstroke.

Millie Whytock, 11/12 years girls, was 3rd in the 200m backstroke and 7th in the 200m breaststroke. Millie swam in a double year age group and was 1st and 2nd respectively in the 11 years girls and her times mean she is ranked 4th in the 11 years girls Scottish rankings, and 9th in the breaststroke.

Lilian Blair, 11/12 girls, was 3rd in the 400m freestyle and recorded a 12.43 second PB, and her time ranks her 12th in the 12 years girls Scottish rankings.

Irys Blair, 14 years girls, was 8th in the 400m freestyle and 9th in the 400m individual medley. A 2.48 second PB in the individual medley moves he up the Fins’ rankings from 32nd to 30th.

The remaining swimmers was Finnley McDonald who was 11th in the 300m freestyle.

Very good performances over the weekend, and good to see swimmers in the top 25 Scottish Age Group Rankings, and Adam with a top 10 place in the British Rankings.

However, it should be remembered that age group rankings are usually very dynamic and it is just as likely that swimmers may drop down the rankings as well as up. The main thing again is to try to be YOURSELF and you never know what might happen.

Ken White,

Club Press Officer