SWIMMING: Crawley's Jackson breaks five Sussex records

Crawley Swimming Club swimmers achieved success at the British Championships and English Nationals held in Ponds Forge Sheffield last week.

Abby Jackson aged 14 Crawley’s Butterfly specialist qualified to swim at British Championships swimming against the cream of the UK.

Abby broke five Sussex County Records in her swims; 50 metre Fly under 16s, 100 and 200 metre Fly both the under 16s and Ladies Open.

Not satisfied with breaking five Sussex County records Abby broke the South East Regional records in the 50 and 100 metre Fly in her age group. Abby finished an impressive 4th in the 100 Fly at British Champs making finals in both the 50 and 200 metre Butterfly events.

Abby also qualified for the 200 metre Freestyle at English Nationals and achieved a personal best time in the final finishing 5th. A great finish to Abby’s season.

Crawley’s Senior Ladies Club Captain Eleanor Morris also broke her own Sussex County Record in the 400 individual medley event at English Nationals finishing at impressive fifth in the final and making the 200 Backstroke final also finishing 5th achieving personal best times.

Senior Men’s club captain George Hopkins who specialises in Breaststroke qualified for two events at English Nationals, the 50 metre and 100 metre Breaststroke and achieved two personal best times just missing out on a finals place.

George’s twin brother Charlie took on the might of the 1500 metre Freestyle, a long arduous race where he achieved a 40 second personal best time to comfortably win his heat, finishing fourth overall going into the event ranked 30th.

Not be outdone by her older brother’s Freya Hopkins aged 14 qualified at English Nationals starting with the 400 individual medley achieving a personal best time.

The 100 Breaststroke was her next swim finishing in 10th overall in the final with a personal best time,

Freya went into the 200 Breaststroke final ranked in 9th place and after a magnificent swim climbed up the rankings to finish 4th. This was Freya’s first Nationals and she was unfazed with the huge event.

Crawley’s backstroke sprint specialist Georgina Gratton broke her own Sussex County Record in the 50 Backstroke finishing fifth in the finals.

Seven Sussex County Records broken in total and two South East Regional. Crawley swimmers achieved 17 personal best times, making 9 Finals with 3 x 4ths 3 x 5ths 1 x 6ths 1 x 10th and 3x 13th places.

Head coach Ron Philpot said “It was great to see Crawley Swimmers contesting national finals, and being rewarded for all the hard work they have put in to their training.

“A tremendous effort by all our swimmers who were a credit to our Swimming Club and the Community of Crawley, I am very proud of them all.”

If you’d like more information on joining Crawley Swimming Club visit www.crawleysc.co.uk

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