National medals for swim duo
Great Yarmouth Swimming Club's Isaac Kirby and Jack Utting had super results at Sheffield's Ponds Forge in their first British Gas National Age Group Championships.
Great Yarmouth Swimming Club's Isaac Kirby and Jack Utting had super results at Sheffield's Ponds Forge in their first British Gas National Age Group Championships. Isaac brought home a gold medal, Jack a silver and bronze.
The event attracts the very best in competitive swimming from across the UK, and to qualify is an achievement in its own right, with only the fastest making the cut-off times required.
Jack was ready for the challenge on day one and despite being the youngest competitor in the 13 years age group, had a good qualifying heat in the 100 metres backstroke, sending him to the evening's finals in
sixth place.
There he produced a fantastic swim, not only holding second place at the turn, but coming back to challenge the leader in the closing 10 metres to take the silver medal.
Day three saw Jack again qualify for the 200 metre backstroke but this time go through to the final in second position.
Most Read
- 1 Mixed feelings for traders as they move into Great Yarmouth's new market
- 2 Rollesby mum shares heartbreak after death of her seven-year-old daughter
- 3 Six arrested after Willow the dog finds 'substantial' quantity of drugs
- 4 Drone shots show British warship anchored off Yarmouth ahead of Jubilee
- 5 Green light for new Sainsbury's store on 850-home estate
- 6 Tributes to 'wonderful' school head who loved to see children learn
- 7 Crews called to collapsed walker on remote Norfolk Broads' path
- 8 Work begins on £3m Great Yarmouth council flats development
- 9 Hero boxer rescues man who plunged into river to save dog
- 10 8 places where you can see fireworks for free in Norfolk for the jubilee
The final was a tense one with one swimmer making a break for it from the off. Jack went with the pursuing group and by the final turn had closed the lead down and the race was open. Jack swam another personal best time to touch into the bronze position, less than a second behind the winner.
Isaac swam on day four with the 12 years 100 metre breatstroke and was in amazing form, smashing his own entry time and personal best by two seconds, putting him into the final as the fastest qualifier.
The evening saw Isaac produce an inspiring swim, taking the lead in the first 10 metres and slowly stretching this out.
The gold medal was never in doubt with the other swimmers left to fight for the remaining places.
Both boys will now take a rest before training for their next trip to Sheffield in October when they will be joining the Norfolk team in the National County Team Championships, with Great Yarmouth head coach Garry Jarvis as county team manager.
If you would like to join the Great Yarmouth Swimming Club to either learn to swim, improve your swimming or trial for squad training, please contact Nigel on 01493 377906 or see www.gysc.org.uk for details.
