IAN POWELL last night became the first Guernsey swimmer to win a national age-group title. The Millfield-based Beau Sejour Barracudas swimmer took the 200m backstroke title by a fingernail in an exciting final near the end of day seven of the nine-day championships at Pond’s Forge in Sheffield.
‘It was all on the touch - a brilliant swim,’ said Barracudas coach Alison Frankland.
‘We’ve won several medals in the past at age-group level, but I think this is our first ever gold.
‘It was nice to see him win. The last two weeks before the championships he trained with the Barracudas. He wanted to come home and sharpen up.’
The title was proof of him having done just that.
Powell, who had finished sixth in the Olympic trials, qualified for the final ranked two with a time of 2-09.99.
But in the final he set a new island long course record of 2-04.65 to snatch the gold. Two years ago, in the same event, he had won silver.
‘It is such a relief to have finally won it,’ said Powell this morning.
‘It has not been a great year for me, but this was the competition that mattered.
‘I wanted to become national champion and I’m delighted.
‘I knew it would be tough because Ewan [Dale] has been swimming well, but I swum it just right and the last 50m I gave it everything.’
Powell had earlier set an island long course record in the 100 butterfly.
In the semi-finals he clocked 56.38 to be ranked third for the final.
However, with that final scheduled just two races ahead of the 200 back showdown, he withdrew.
It has been an excellent first week for the Guernsey contingent at Sheffield.
Jeremy Osborne, 14, reached the final of the 100m freestyle where he placed sixth in a new personal best of 56.48.
Tom Hollingsworth also reached final, placing 10th overall in the 15/16 years 100m butterfly with his first set of sub-60sec. swims.
Both Osborne and Hollingsworth now wait to see if they will be invited on to the world-class age-group squads, having both been ’smart-tracked’ (measured for their physiology and physical talent) at the championships
Alexander Beaton, 13, swum a PB in the 200 backstroke, as did Christine Hume in the 200m breaststroke, courtesy of her 2-15.48 to win her heat.
That swim moved her up the rankings to 11th and first reserve for the final.
Ben Lowndes was a little outside his PBs in the 50m freestyle and 100 butterfly events.
Article posted on 4th August, 2004 - 12.00am
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