Flyers on top form at swim champs

Nebulite Taranaki Flyers swim squad had outstanding success at the Taranaki Short Course Swimming Championships held over three days last week at the TSB pool Stratford, winning 32 gold, 19 silver and 21 bronze medals with 135 finalists.

Joshua Gilbert (11yrs) competing in the 11 and 12 year boys events lowered his own 200m breaststroke record of 2.59.13 to 2.58.23.

In the 10yr age group, Claudia Taylor topped the medal count winning gold in all of her nine events and Cormach Hughson-How, in the 10 yr boy, won six gold and two silver in his eight events. Mathew Anderson, in the 13 and 14yr events, won nine gold and one silver.

The championships attracted 42 swimmers from Bay of Plenty which added strong competition for the 130 Taranaki swimmers.

Finalists (first 3 places):

10yrs and under girls:

Claudia Taylor was first in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle; 100m butterfly; 100m and 200m medley; 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke. Laurie Collins was third in the 100m and 200m breaststroke. Adele O'Byrne was third in the 50m butterfly; 50m and 100m freestyle. Caitlyn O'Connell was third in the 200m backstroke.

11yr and 12yr girls:

Rebecca Brown was second in the 50m freestyle.

12yr and 13yr girls:

Brittany Taylor won the 200m backstroke; was second in the 100m backstroke,; third in the 800m freestyle.

Lauren Wood was second in the 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle; third in the 200m breaststroke, 200m medley, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle. Baillee Drumond came third in the 100m breaststroke.

15yrs and over women:

Brooke Wells came third in the 100m medley, 400m medley and 100m backstroke.

10yrs and under boys:

Cormach Hughson-How came first in the 50m, 100m, 200m freestyle, 100m medley, 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly; and second in the 50m and 100m backstroke. Luca Zabel placed second in the 50m butterfly, 200m freestyle, 100m medley; and third in the 50m and 100m freestyle, and 50m backstroke

11yr and 12yr boys:

Joshua Gilbert won the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 100m freestyle, 400m medley, 100m backstroke; was second in 50m and 200m backstroke. Zahn Collins was third in the 50m and 100m breaststroke.

12yr and 13yr boys:

Mathew Anderson won the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, 100m and 200m medley. Jordan Wood won the 50m and 200m butterfly, was second in the 100m butterfly and 200m and 400m freestyle.

Men 15yrs and over:

Ryan Cooper won the 50m and 100m butterfly, was second in the 50m and 200m backstroke, third in the 200m and 400m freestyle and 100m medley.