Debbie Cocking built on her 100 metre butterfly British Championships time achieved last year by qualifying today for the 200 IM & 50 Freestyle. Debbie took part in the Burns Meet at Ponds Forge and produced some fantastic swims clocking 2:27.89 in the 200 IM and 28.88 in the 50 freestyle to take her tally of British Championship times to 3 meaning she will have a busy week at the London Aquatic Centre in April.

Debbie also narrowly missed out on the 100 backstroke mark but with time still remaining to qualify for this prestigious event watch this space.

Well done Debbie.

It was an away weekend for Rotherham Metro swimmers who competed at the City Of Bradford Swimming Club’s Winter Meet last weekend held at Shipley Leisure Centre.

Rotherham yet again fielded a strong squad of swimmers from age 9 to 44. This festive themed gala always manages to blend the fun side of swimming with the more serious competitive element having many swimmers chasing Yorkshire and North Eastern qualifying times for next year in races ranging from 50m sprints to more gruelling 400m freestyle and individual medley events.

Rotherham’s superb Cannon team brought home the money where eight swimmers were selected to compete in the only team event of the weekend and the only race offering prize money. Always a highlight of any gala weekend this race was no exception with the eight swimmers comprising Daniel Lyon-Smith, Ehren Beresford, Abigail Martin, Kenyon Kellett, Harri Thorman, Carys Neal, Kayley Britten and Jack Fox swimming one of the most exciting races seen at this event for many years. Rotherham fended off City of Leeds Swimming Club’s strong race by finishing 8 x 25m freestyle in a time of 1m55.25secs with Leeds less than one second behind posting a time of 1m56.17 secs.

The success in the Cannon set the scene for the weekend’s great performances. Medallists include Saoirse Behan (1B 1S), Ceri Thorman (1G 3S 1B), Holly Empson (1B 2S), Callum Simmons (4G  1B), Harri Thorman (6G 4S), Ehren Beresford (4G 1S 1B), Josh Turver (1G 1S 2B), Devin Kellett (8G), Carys Neal (1B), Isabelle Bailey (1S), Owen Mason (3G 1S 1B), Kenyon Kellett (2G 2S 3B), Becky Britten (7G 2S), Kayley Britten (4G 4S), Jack Whitehurst (3B), Thomas Blank (1S), Ben Cliff (2S), Benjamin Gavelle (2S), Daniel Lyon-Smith (1G 2S) and Ty Burrell (1G).

This last weekend City of Sheffield Swimming Club held their annual Snow Frills Gala at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. Rotherham Metro fielded a strong team of swimmers and medals were won by Callum Simmons (2B 2S 1G), Shannon Eades (1S), Rebecca Britten (3G 1S), Dayna Towns (1G 1S), Harold Cocking (3B 1S 1G), Connor Wood (1S 1B), Daniel Lyon-Smith (1B), Ehren Beresford (1B), Devin Kellett (1G 1S 1B), Connor Neal (3S), Abigail Jackson (2G 1S), Abbie Ackroyd (2S), Owen Mason (2B), Rebecca Finnie (1B), Ty Burrell (1B). Rotherham’s true grit was demonstrated by Carys Neal who achieved a fifteen second personal best in the 200m freestyle even though her goggles came off on the initial dive.

Meanwhile the Barnsley Minors League Individual Gala was held at Knottingley Sports Centre. Medallists include Jorge Croyden (2B), Hannah Burgess (1B), Charlotte Tingle (2G) and Seth Blundell (1G).

13 year old Debbie Cocking has qualified for the 2015 British Swimming Championships which will be held at the London Aquatic Centre in April. Debbie has earned the right to compete in the 100 metres butterfly event at the most prestigious meet on the British Swimming calender.

This is a fantastic personal achievement for Debbie and also a great boost for the club to have a representative at this high calibre event, well done Debbie.

A small team of swimmers traveled to Stockport to take part in their annual short course open. As usual it was a fast gala with some of the UK’s big teams in attendance including the odd Olympian and Commonwealth Champion for good measure. Despite the tough opposition our swimmers did very well posting a host of personal best times including a couple of new club records.

Debbie Cocking gained 4 pbs with a series of strong swims and set a new junior record in the 50 metre butterfly with a time of 31.18 seconds. Dayna Towns improved her times in the 50 & 200 free, Abigail Jackson knocked 5 seconds off her 200 breastroke time and Alice Aucott finished 3rd in the 100 breastroke.

The boys also performed well with George Russell setting 5 pbs and also finishing 2nd in the 400 free & 50 fly and 3rd in the 200 free. George also broke the 4 minute barrier in the 400 free to set a new senior club record of 3:59.81. Jack Anderson also performed well over the weekend again with 5 pbs including a second place in the 50 free. Rob Pearson finished 2nd in the 50 free and 3rd in the 200 back and also picked up two pbs to round off a good weekend for our swimmers.

Full results

Just as you thought it was safe to go back into the water South Axholme Sharks Swimming Club held their Halloween Sprints B/C Grade Gala at Beverley Leisure Centre in East Yorkshire last weekend. Always a well attended event this gala manages to blend the supernatural with a much needed fun element. Rotherham Metro always field a great team of swimmers who yet again showed that the town will continue to be a force to be reckoned with over the coming years.

Personal best times are always a great goal for all swimmers, with 10 year old Oliver Russell smashing his own PB over 50m breaststroke by 11.7 seconds and Ebony Steele pummelling her 100m Individual Medley time by a whopping 23.3 seconds, but the kids were particularly keen to win one of the fabulous spooky etched glass trophies.

Trophy winners include Jorge Croyden (9), Charlotte Tingle (9), Lucy Ellis (9), Carys Neal (11-12yrs), Adam Hamstead (10), Oliver Russell (10),  Grace Russell (11-12yrs), Abigail Martin (11-12yrs), Jack Steele (11-12yrs), Chloe-Rose Monks (10), Saoirse Behan (10), Lauren Empson (10), Alexander Roberts (11-12yrs), Kitty Bramhall(10), Charlotte Jeffries (13-14yrs), Luke Monks (11-12yrs), Antonio Mars (11-12yrs), Hannah Burgess (13-14yrs), Luke Hamstead (15yrs and over), Thomas Blank (11-12yrs),

Speeding Tickets awarded to those just too quick included Oliver Russell, Grace Russell, Jack Steele, Kitty Bramhall and Chloe-Rose Monks.

Full results

Rotherham Metro came back from the Winter Yorkshires at Ponds Forge with their biggest medal haul in five years. Leading the way was Harold Cocking who managed a top three finish in every event taking an impressive hat-trick of golds in the 50 free and back and 100 IM together with two bronzes in the 50 breast and fly.

Debbie Cocking also took a gold in the 100 fly and silver in the 100 breast setting new junior club records in both events in the process. Youngsters Billy Anderson and Callum Simmons each took silvers in the 50 breast and fly respectively to round off a great weekend for the club’s age groupers.

Swimmers taking top ten positions were:

Bailey Cook:  6th 50 back

Charlotte Tingle:  10th 50 fly

Lucy Ellis:  8th 50 fly

Billy Anderson: 6th 50 back

Daniel Hutson:  4th 100 IM, 8th 50 free

Callum Simmons:  4th 50 free, 5th 50 back, 8th 100 IM

Abigail Jackson:  8th 100 breast, 10th 100 fly

Harri Thorman:  10th 100 free

Daniel Lyon-Smith:  7th 100 free

Jack Anderson:  8th 100 fly, 9th 100 free, 10th 100 back & 200 IM

Debbie Cocking:  5th 100 back, 7th 100 free

Robert Pearson:  10th 100 back

Full results available here

Congratulations to Borough of Kirklees who won the top visiting club award and also to Hedley Butlin of City of Lincoln Pentaqua who was Top Boy and Metro’s very own Kayley Britten (pictured below with her award) who was the Top Girl.

July Graded Meet Results With Speeding Tickets

Results from the recent distance time trial held at Maltby are attached, all results are also now showing on the ASA rankings database.

A big thank you to everyone who helped on the day and well done to all swimmers.

Maltby Time Trial Results (4NE4809)