News Irish Short Course Nationals 20/11/2009 Our Senior Swimmers are in Dublin competing in the Short Course Nationals. Here are the reports from our Head Coach, Peter Hill, to update everyone with the progress so far. The message to all our young swimmers is, this could be you in years to come. OK final session of the weekend was another good one for CoB Alison 400 IM - 4:53.46 Club Record – silver also a fact I actually haven’t told her yet – If a certain someone hadn’t beaten her by 1.3 seconds this time by Alison would have had a new ULSTER RECORD! Emily 50 FS - 27.11 PB – Silver Emily 200 FLY - 2:20.52 PB – Silver Alison 100 BRS - 1:11.43 Club Record – Silver Dave 100 BRS - 1:06.12 Girls 4x100 MTR Bronze Jenny 100 BC (LO) - 1:13.52 – PB So we finished the meet with 6 silver medals and 1 Bronze 29 events competed in – 34 PB times, 9 Club records. Dave, Alison and Emily all renewed Ulster squad times I think that while we have undoubtedly had better short course nationals in terms of medal count this meet was extremely satisfying because it was completely unexpected. The way the team conducted itself during races and especially during the warm ups was very pleasing. This has shown us more than anything that we can not only still attend these meets but that we can go there and compete with the best at them. We need to keep the hard work up. Stretch ourselves every day. WE ARE WHAT WE REPEATEDLY DO. EXCELLENCE THEREFORE IS NOT AN ACT BUT A HABIT!! Hey Heats session just finished this morning. Another goof start to the day. Alison 400 IM 5:04.75 - qualified for final in 2nd place Seana 200 FS 2:17.0 Jenny 200 FS 2:20.3 - PB Club record Emily 200 FLY 2:21.4 Qualified for final in 1st place Ben 200 FS 2:03.3 - PB Qualidied for B final (1st evening swim at national level) 4 x 100 MTR Girls relay 4:49 Qualified for final in 3rd Seana Lead off leg 1:16.3 PB So tonight we have a busy final finals session Alison 100 BRS Alison 400 IM Emily 200 FLY Emily 50 FS David 100 BRS Ben 200 FS B final 4 x 100 MTR Should also point out that Alison entered 7 events and has made every final meaning that she has had 16 individual swims this weekend Emily entered 6 events and has made every final meaning that she has had 16 individual swims this weekend Both also swam 4 relays When you consider 8 sessions 3000 warm up per session 800 swim down per race (minimum) This gives these girls a 40,000m volume (plus their actual races) for the 4 day meet. This is why we don’t rest going into meets like this if we did our performances would drop badly on last day where as it is we may well have our best session tonight. Well down everyone one session left to go keep it up Morgan and Jenny joined team today. Morgan 800 FS 9:52.2 – PB Seana 800 FS 9:52.5 – PB (would have finished 7th in final heat if had qualified for the fastest heat) Jenny 800 FS 10:02.6 Alison 200 IM 2.23.3(heats) – PB qualified for final 2:21.4 (final) – PB silver medal Emily 200 IM 2:32.5 (heats) – PB qualified for final 2:31.2 (final) – PB Ben 50 FS 26.3 – PB Dave 100 BR/S 1:05.5 – PB Qualified for final (club record) Alison 100 BR/S 1:13.6 Qualified for final Emily 50 FS 27.7 (heats) – PB Qualified for semi 27.2 (semi) – PB Qualified for final Emily 100 FLY 1:03.4 – PB Alison 100 FLY 1:03.5 - PB Girls 4 x 200FTR 9:07.4 (heats) Qualified for final Lead off leg Seana 2:18.6 - PB 8:54.4 (final) Lead off leg Seana 2:16.2 - PB Again I am seriously impressed with the professional behaviour of our team in terms of their management of themselves. They have shown again and again that they are not just hear to make up the numbers. One day to go. Well done Hey all Session 2 was great last night Seana finished 15th in 400 FS in new club record 4:45.01 Every one swam a 4000m set as well last night (remember that we are not resting in any way for this meet, as the 1st time we rest, for Dave McCullagh we want to feel the benefit and that wont happen if we don’t keep volume up now) Session 3 over Another good morning. Ben 100 FS 56.64 - PB Seana 100 FS 64.61 - PB Seana 100 Fly 1:12.1 Emily 100 Fly 64.3 - PB thru to semi tonight (lying 2nd) Alison 100 Fly 65.5 - thru to semi tonight (lying 4th) Alison 200 BR/S 2:38.8 - Best morning time. Thru to final tonight. Busy finals session later David 50 BR/S final Emily & Alison 50 Fly final Alison 200 BR/S final Emily & Alison 100 Fly Semi Emily & Alison 100 IM Final Looking in great shape peter 1st report Is important to remember that the aim of the short course national meet is as an exercise is racing when tired. Those who are in full training will be tired at the start of the meet and will have to raise their game every time in order to race. The goal for senior athletes in the heats is within 3% of PB time and then as close to PB as possible in finals. This morning went off pretty well Emily 50 Fly – 29.74 Qualified for tomorrow’s final David 50 BR/S – 31.14 Qualified for tomorrow’s final Emily 100 IM - 1:11.02 Qualified for tomorrow’s final Alison 100 IM - 1:08.43 Qualified for tomorrow’s final Seana 400FS - 4:48.45 Qualified for tonight’s B Final Every swimmer entered today has hit the target set for todays swims (or better) and has a 2nd swim. Job done (so far) Peter