University of Aberdeen Age Group Meet – 26 – 28 April 2024

The University of Aberdeen held their 2024 Age Group meet, at the Aberdeen Sports Village from 26^th to 28^th April. The meet attracted a large entry, including a couple of Scandinavian clubs.

L to R – Finnley, Irys, Erin, Caleb, Ian Lewis (Head Coach), Lilian, Charlotte, Kristin, and Eva

Fins had nine swimmers competing with reasonable success, with the 12 and 13 year olds doing well in what was a three year age group, 12 to 14 years. The improvement rate was down a bit at 54%,  the swimmers have had quite a few long course swims recently, but there were some good PBs recorded and some movement and entries to the top 50 Fins’ long course rankings.

Overall, the swimmers competed in 47 events winning three silver medals and two bronze, and qualified for 14 finals, or equivalent as many of the events were heat declared.

Despite only swimming on the Sunday, having attended the Scottish Swimming Open Water Development Day on the Saturday, the top swimmer for Fins was Adam Selbie, 12-14 years boys. Adam had three swims winning a silver medal in the 50m backstroke, a bronze medal in the 200m backstroke and qualified for the final of the 100m freestyle in 9^th place but didn’t swim in the final.

Adam recorded a PB of 3.87 seconds in the 50m backstroke having not swum the event long course for a few years. This meant he moved up the Fins’ rankings by the nine places, moving from 14^th place to 5^th.

Despite a more modest PB in his 100m freestyle there was no change to his position in the rankings.

Caleb Gray, 12-14 boys, won a silver medal in the 200m butterfly, and just missed out on two bronze medals, finishing 4^th in both the 800m freestyle and 400m individual medley. Calebs other swims were outside the top 10 finishing 12^th in the 400m freestyle, 13^th in the 200m breaststroke, 18^th in the 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley, and 32^nd in the 100m backstroke. As with other swimmers Caleb recorded PBs but it didn’t change his position in the rankings. Caleb’s best PB came in the 200m backstroke which he reduced by 4.15 seconds moving him up one place in the rankings from14th to 13^th. He also had an entry to the rankings in his 200m breaststroke in 15^th place.

Kristin Mackay 15/16 girls, won the remaining silver medal in the 1500m freestyle and was the most improved Fins ‘ swimmer. Kristin also just missed out on a bronze medal finishing in 4^th place in the 200m backstroke. She was also 8^th in the 200m individual medley, the 200m breaststroke, and the 100m butterfly, 9^th in both the 100m breaststroke and 200m freestyle. Kristin had only one swim that did not finish in the top 10 and that was a 19^th place in the 100m backstroke. This, however, produced the largest PB by a Fins’ swimmer at the weekend with Kristin reducing her 100m backstroke time by 7.56 seconds. This was also the largest move up the rankings from 32^nd to 21^st. She also moved up the rankings from 9^th to 6^th in the 100m breaststroke with a 1.89 second PB, and entered the rankings in 8^th place in the 200m backstroke.

Erin Taylor, 17 and over girls, was Fins remaining medal winner with a bronze in the 200m individual medley. Erin also had a further official top 10 finish in the 50m breaststroke, in 8^th place, and while she qualified for the 100m butterfly final in 8^th place, she did not swim in the final. Erin’s only other swim was in the 100m freestyle where she finished in 18^th place.

Irys Blair, 12-14 girls, had three top 10 placings the highest of which was 6^th in the 200m backstroke, and was 8^th in the 50m backstroke and 10^th in the 200m individual medley. Irys had a further three swims finishing13th in the 400m freestyle, 18^th in the 50m freestyle and 34^th in the 200m freestyle.

Irys also had a good weekend in terms of moving up the rankings, including the second largest movement from 18^th to 8^th in the 50m backstroke with a 2.20 second PB. Her largest PB of 4.06 seconds in the 200m backstroke saw her move from 13^th to 10^th place  Irys also moved from 23^rd to 15^th in the 50m freestyle, and from 21^st to 19^th in the 200m individual medley. Her other swims resulted in no change in her positions.

The remaining four swimmers finished as follows:

Lilian Blair, 12-14 girls, giving two years away to most swimmers, 17^th – 200m backstroke, 23^rd – 200m butterfly, 28^th – 200m breaststroke, 39^th – 100m freestyle, and 41^st – 200m freestyle.

Lilian improved her ranking position in two events plus one entry. The improvements were 24^th to 23^rd in the 200m freestyle and 29^th to 25^th in the 100m freestyle, and she enters the rankings in 10^th place in the 200m butterfly.

Charlotte Wardlaw, 15/16 girls had two swims finishing 19^th – 50m breaststroke, 21^st – 100m breaststroke and moved from 20^th to 19^th place in the 100m breaststroke.

Finnley McDonald, 15/16 boys, was 23^rd – 400m freestyle, 24^th – 200m freestyle, 27^th – 100m breaststroke, 28^th – 50m freestyle, and 33^rd in both the 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.

Finnley entered the 400m rankings in 11^th place, and moved from 13^th to 12^th in the 50m freestyle.

Eva Watson, 12-14 girls, was 23^rd in the 400m freestyle, 37^th in the 100m butterfly, 43^rd in the 200m individual medley, and 44^th in the 200m freestyle.

Eva entered the rankings in the 400m freestyle in 15^th place, and the 200m freestyle in 24^th place. She also moved from 28^th to 26^th place in the 100m butterfly with a 6.80 second PB.

‘Labore et Scientia’ – through hard work and understanding.

It is important that you do work hard, but even mor important that you understand what you are doing and why.

Be guided by your coach.

Ken White

Club Press Officer