Ian Hubert dominated the butterfly events in Jersey. (Pictures by Steve Sarre, 0797807)
WITH more than 250 swimmers from 11 UK and Channel Island clubs, the Beau Sejour Barracudas contingent of 32 swimmers enjoyed a string of successes at the AIB Tigers Open Swim Meet staged in Jersey and returned with a host of medals and personal best times.
The event, staged at Les Quennevais Sports Centre, provided early season competition on the doorstep and gave swimmers the opportunity to see how their preparations were going in readiness for forthcoming major competition.
Many had their sights set on securing Hampshire County qualifying times – one of the first events in the 2010 swimming calendar.
Man of the match was undoubtedly Island Games medallist Ian Hubert, who dominated the butterfly events in the senior age group winning gold in the 50, 100 and 200 fly, producing a personal best in the 50m distance of 26.72sec.
Ranked first in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, he won the shorter distance in a time of 24.60 ahead of Llantrisant’s Ellis Davis, but after having put everything into the 200 butterfly and with little recovery time before the 100 freestyle, he was unable to hold on to his first place ranking with Davis and Tiger’s Tom Gallichan pushing him into third place.
Showing early season promise, 11-year-old Chloe Tostevin and 13-year-old Miles Munro both received best girl and best boy award in their respective age groups for their performances in the 50 butterfly and 400 freestyle respectively, based on the highest scoring GB points in those events.
Tostevin also claimed gold in the 50 butterfly and 100 breaststroke in addition to four silver and a bronze to add to her outstanding performance.
It was yet another successful weekend for the Parfit girls who, between them, amassed a total of 13 medals.
Eight went to the younger of the two, Lotte, who despite competing at the bottom of the 14/15 age group, produced gold medal winning performances in the 200 and 400 individual medley and the 50 fly and 50 backstroke in addition to four silver.
Sister Victoria, competing in the 16+ age group and ranked second behind her Jersey rival Charlotte Manning in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, produced personal best times in both to take first place honours with times of 1-16.40 and 2-40.91 respectively.
She also won gold in the 200 individual medley and bronze in the 50 backstroke and 50 breaststroke.
Showing great potential as a breaststroker, 15-year-old Jamie Salmon demonstrated his technical ability in his age group in both the 50 and 100 breaststroke winning both events in times of 33.09 and 1.15.55 respectively – the 50 metre distance being a lifetime best.
Despite a gallant performance in the 200m and producing yet another personal best of 2-48.98, he had to concede defeat to Truro City’s Luke Hollis, who took the touch just 0.66 seconds ahead.
Medal-winning performances from Barracudas came from Matthew Tostevin and Joe Ogier, Luke Winberg, Rosie Le Friec and Courtney Butcher.
To round off an excellent weekend, the gala ended with a popular ‘Skins Event’ with team members gaining selection from those with the highest scoring GB points in their best individual swim.
They then take part in a continuous series of races over a distance of 50m with two junior and two senior competitors being eliminated in each round until a winner is determined. Barracuda members Miles Munro, Luke Winberg, Victoria Parfit, Ian Hubert and Lotte Parfit put up a great performance with the latter two reaching the final round before being eliminated.AIB Tigers Autumn Open Meet: Beau Sejour Barracudas enjoy plenty of success in Jersey
Article posted on 9th November, 2009 - 2.29pm
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