Historic year for Wycombe District Swimmers (From Bucks Free Press)

Historic year for Wycombe District Swimmers

9:39am Wednesday 22nd September 2004 in Wanderers

SWIMMING: Wycombe District Swimming Club ended the season with the best results in its history, with the club placing nine different swimmers in National Championship Finals and above.

Top of the shop was the club's 21-year-old Olympian Simon Burnett who broke the British record in placing seventh in the famous 200m freestyle. He also gained a fourth place as a member of the Great Britain 4x200m freestyle relay squad.

Alex Vine continued his development as one of England's best individual medley swimmers with finalist spots in the English and British Long-Course 200m individual medley events and in addition he made final in the 100m individual medley at the British Short-Course Nationals.

At the National Age Group Championships, Andrew Carpenter made final in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke events for his age group 14 years in his first Nationals.

James Crawford competed in the National Youth Championships, 15/16 years age group and made finals in the 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley events.

As a result he has been selected for the Assessment & Orientation Day for the 2005 British National Youth programme.

Also selected for the programme is 14-year-old Katie Ambridge after her success in the 14/15 years 200m butterfly (3rd), the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley finals.

Jeni Howard, 15, also made the final of the 200m individual medley and has been allocated a place on the Welsh Youth Squad for 2005.

Stephanie Wilson, 17, made 16/17 age group finals in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly events, while Anna Jemielity, 14, made her 14/15 age group finals in the 100m and 200m backstroke.

And Robert Matthew-Stroud, 15, gained a surprise silver medal in the 15/16 years 50m freestyle final and as a result he has been short-listed as a member of the Great Britain Youth Olympics team for July 2005.

The club's relay squads also had a very successful year with the men's 4x200m freestyle team of Crawford, David Ryan, Burnett and Vine placing fourth at the English Nationals.

The girls 14-17 years 4x100m medley team of Jemielity, Anna Miller, Katie Ambridge and Wilson finished sixth at the Youth Championships.

The boys 15-18 years 4x100m freestyle team of Robert Matthews-Stroud, Ryan,Crawford and James Poulter also placing 6th at the Youth Championships.

l If any individual or company wishes to get involved in sponsoring the club, contact the chairman Dave Hibbert on 01494 511855.

l The Division Ten Schools Trials were held at the Wycombe Sports Centre on Saturday.

As a result eight Wycombe District members should make the Division Ten schools team for the National Finals to be held in Coventry during October.

Junior Girls: Cordelia Wilson; Intermediate Girls: Katie Ambridge and Anna Jemielity; Intermediate Boys: Andrew Carpenter and James Crawford; Senior Girls: Charlotte Ambridge and Stephanie Wilson; Senior Boys: Scott Mudge.