Wick swimmers praised for ‘great effort’ at Inverness graded meet
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Thirteen young swimmers from Wick Amateur Swimming Club took part in the annual graded meet hosted by Inverness Amateur Swimming Club at the Aquadome.
Those competing from WASC were Sophie Innes, Carey Richard, Caalin Rosie, Jack Angus, Tyler Ronai, Paige Ronaldson, Bella Swanson, Rory Donaldson, Morven Begg, Alex Richard, Davie Swanson, Mikolaj Hutny-Wojcicki and Katie Innes.
This was the first event where newly elected team captains Eva Robertson and Nebi Senguler were in attendance to offer moral support and to assist with warm-up and marshalling. Officials complimented them on their conduct and praised them for the help they offered with not just their own team but with others too, especially when at marshalling.
Despite a shoulder injury which is keeping her poolside, Rona Taylor was on the sidelines to help the team captains and to assist the head coach on the day, Sonja Senguler, with organising the team lines.
It was the first competition for Jack, while for Tyler and Sophie it was their first event outwith either their own swimming pool or a pool within their home county. While there were nerves, the mood poolside was buoyant and one of excitement and camaraderie. Jack said he “really enjoyed it and wants to do it again”.
Every swimmer was able to secure at least one personal best time.
Caalin took a whopping 28 seconds from his 50m butterfly time in the 10-years-and-under section, securing fourth place overall. Tyler, who was swimming 100m backstroke in the 11/12 years section, reduced his time by 24 seconds, while Morven saw significant improvements – a 15-second PB in 11/12 100m backstroke and an 18-second PB in her 11/12 individual medley.
In addition to the huge haul of personal bests, several WASC members took home medals. Carey, who was swimming in the 10-years-and-under female section, secured a PB and gold for 50 fly, while older brother Alex took silver in his 100m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 100 individual medley, as well as a bronze for his 100m freestyle.
Katie – recently returning to swimming following a break to her hand – placed third in her 100m freestyle in the 13/14 female section. Davie, in the 13/14 male section, took bronze in 100m breaststroke, gold in 100m individual medley and an elusive “speeding ticket” for his 100m backstroke.
Graded meets are organised so that a swimmer must be slower than an entry time. Where a swimmer then proceeds to exceed this entry time by more than five per cent, they earn a speeding ticket – a special cap and certificate that deems them “too fast for gold”. Every swimmer who secured a medal did so with a convincing personal best time.
Each session was rounded off with relay events.
WASC entered teams in both the medley and freestyle relays. In some cases, this meant some of the younger competitors swimming “up” an age group, and they rose to the challenge.
The male medley team – Rory, Mikolaj, Alex and Davie – swam in the morning, placing fourth. The female medley team – Carey, Bella, Paige and Morven – also secured fourth place in the morning session.
The afternoon relays were both freestyle. Rory, Jack, Caalin and Alex placed fourth, while the girls – Morven, Carey, Paige and Bella – were fifth.
Overall it was a great day by some of the club’s younger swimmers, rewarded by personal bests and a clutch of medals.
Club coach Sonja Senguler said: “There was fantastic team spirit all day, a great effort by all swimmers. It was an absolute pleasure to be their coach.”
