Berkhamsted swimmers provide some winter cheer

Berkhamsted SC had 11 swimmers in action at the East Region Winter Championships over the weekend, while Mark Strakosch headed to the Scottish Masters Long Course 1,500m Championships in Glasgow.
Berkhamsted swimmers were on form at the East Region Winter ChampionshipsBerkhamsted swimmers were on form at the East Region Winter Championships
Berkhamsted swimmers were on form at the East Region Winter Championships

Strakosch continued his amazing run of form by setting another PB in his 1500m; recording a time of 20:14 to take the gold medal.

Meanwhile, 14-year-old James Chennells knocked 20s off his own 1,500m short course best, recording 17:44.15 which was a club age group best.

Charlotte Watson, 14, also continued her return to form after an injury-plagued 18 months by dropping the 50m backstroke club best to 32.51.

This was followed by possibly the best swim of the session for the club by Jack Filer who posted 1:10.98. He finished well above his seeding and took the 17 years age group club record in the process.

Tom Strakosch followed up by setting the first of two PBs in his signature backstroke events with 1:04.11, while Jordan Northwood dropped his best to 1:04.48 and lowered the club best by almost a second.

In the same session, Amy Pemberton swam to her PBs in both the 100m free and 100 IM.

Sunday dawned with Yazii Brand hanging on well in her 200 IM to touch in 2:33.20, followed by Nel looking in superb form for his 50m back with a new best of 29.18. Immediately beforehand, Strakosch had also won his heat, hitting the pads right on his PB.

In the girls’ 50m free, Ellie MacDonald was disqualified but can take heart from the fact that she swam a PB of 29.18. In the same event, Watson took third in her heat with 28.65 and Pemberton finished her meet with second in her heat.

Brand’s last race was the 100m fly where she clocked 1:10, while Ollie and Abbie Hurst both looked strong in their 200m breast races but were even more impressive later in their 50m swims. Abbie set a time of 35.33 and Ollie dropped to 32.96 – both club bests.

Filer stepped up again to lower his own best with a gutsy 32.06 for second in his heat from lane 8.

Northwood then lowered his old 400 IM time to 4:54.98, and both he and Nel competed in the 100 free before Strakosch finished the weekend with yet another PB and club best in his 200m back.

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