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Young and talented smash swimming records in Sheffield

The National Junior and Youth Swimming Championships were an overwhelming success with 18 British, 11 European and eight World Records broken during this weekend’s competition. Over 200 disabled swimmers took part in the short course 25m pool at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield.

Paralympic gold medallist, Jessica-Jane Applegate MBE, was one of the performances to note- breaking two World Records. The 17 year-old City of Norwich swimmer (East Region) competed in the S14 (swimmers with a learning disability) 100m Individual Medley, touching in a time of 1:10:02. Applegate then went on to break yet another World Record in the S14 200m Freestyle in a time of 2:09:30, taking a second off the previously held time.

Speaking of her racing, Applegate said:

“It has been really good to break some records because it is my last junior event so I wanted to make it a good one. I’ve been talking to the young competitors because they are the next generation of swimmers coming through. I hope it will help them by sharing my experiences.”

Scottish swimmer Danielle Joyce is an outstanding talent at just 17. She competes in the S15 class for deaf or hearing impaired swimmers and broke a phenomenal three World Records during the weekend. Danielle touched in a record breaking time in the 100m Backstroke, 100m Individual Medley and the 200m Individual Medley where she shaved three seconds off the previous World Record, touching in a time of 2:22:75.

Paralympic medallist and World Champion, Hannah Russell, ensured her last junior event was one to remember. Russell, 17, broke a World Record in the S12 (for visual impaired swimmers) 100m Individual Medley where she touched in a time of 1:08:90. The Kelly College swimmer, competing for the South West team, then went on to break another World Record in the 100m Backstroke touching in a time of 1:05:78.

Russell said:

“I really didn’t expect to break my own World Record that I had just set three months ago. It feels like my hard work has really paid off.”

Other notable performances came from 17 year-old, S7 Paralympic Champion, Josef Craig (South Tyneside); London swimmer Amy Marren (Romford Town) in the S9 class, as well as North West Swimmer Thomas Hamer (Burnley Bobcats) in the S14 class. Hamer, 15, broke a World Record previously set by his fellow North West team mate Ben Procter in the 200m Freestyle, touching in a time of 1:59:75.

The East Region took home the highly-sought-after team trophy which is gained through the accumulation of individual points. Amy Marren (London region) was presented with the Top Girl and Craig Harris (South West) won Top Boy.

The National Junior and Youth Swimming Championships are an annual opportunity for the nation’s best youngsters to compete over a 25m short course. They are organised by Disability Sport Events (DSE) in partnership with British Swimming. DSE is an English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) programme, which delivers a range of participation opportunities from grassroots to international standard.

The Championships were run with thanks to ongoing support from British Swimming, Sheffield City Council and Copiertec. DSE relies on sponsorship and fundraising to deliver the successful events programme.

All records are subject to ratification. 

For further information please contact:

Jannine Walker, National Events Manager at EFDS. Email: jwalker@efds.co.uk  Mobile: 07725 273158

For more information on British Swimming or to request any swimmer interviews, please contact Gemma Field, Senior Communications Officer on gemma.field@swimming.org   or 07917 726431. www.swimming.org