Craig wins six medals in seven swims
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The Thurso team returned north with a haul of 16 medals with the top performer, Craig Yuille (13), winning six of these.
Craig had seven swims in the 12-to-13-years age group over the weekend. He achieved personal best times in both the 100m breaststroke (1.23.20) and the 200m freestyle (2.22.60) and his medals were won in the 100m free (silver), 100m breaststroke, 100m backstroke, 200m free, 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley (bronze).
In the 14-to-15-years section, Tim Ridgley (15) was Thurso’s only gold medal swimmer. He achieved this in the 400m individual medley where he also improved his PB by 15 seconds. Tim had six swims over the weekend and in addition to his gold medal he won silvers for the 200m breast (2.50.43) and 200m butterfly (2.51.56) and a bronze for the 200m free (2.16.35).
Rorie Stewart (16) was Thurso’s sole representative in the oldest age group, 16 to 18 years. He too returned north with a haul of medals from his seven swims, winning silvers in the 100m and 200m breast and 100m fly, and a bronze in the 200m individual medley. This was a great result for Rorie as he had just returned from injury.
Jamie Mackinnon (14) was another medal-winning swimmer, achieving second place in the 100m fly – his favourite event. He also achieved a PB in the 100m back (1.13.44) and narrowly missed out on his 200m individual medley PB.
Nicole Cowie (15) also swam in seven events and won Thurso’s only medal for the girls, achieving bronze for her 100m breaststroke. She also finished fourth in the 200m breast – her favourite stroke. Nicole narrowly missed out on PBs in the 100m back and 100m free.
In the youngest age group, Thurso was represented by Eve Nicoll (10) and Megan Smith (11). Both girls did well at this level of competition, achieving two PBs each. Megan improved her 100m backstroke time by 12 seconds to finish in 1.28.44 and her 100m freestyle by over 15 seconds to record a new time of 1.19.61. Eve had four swims and improved by over three seconds in both the 100m back (1.27.19) and the 200m free (3.03.88).
Also swimming in the 14-to-15 age group were Euan Bremner (14) and Lorna Nicoll (14). Euan achieved three PBs from five swims. These were in the 200m individual medley, the 200m free and the 200m back where his time of 2.41.56 was an improvement of almost 13 seconds. Lorna had six swims over the weekend. Her best placing was for the 400m individual medley where she came in fourth, and her best swim was the 100m butterfly.
Thurso had three other boys competing in the 12-to-13 age group. Twelve-year-old Craig Mackay achieved five PBs from five swims, taking a combined total of almost 30 seconds off his previous bests. Craig’s times were 100m back (1.18.52), 200m individual medley (2.55.89), 200m breast (3.24.39), 100m fly (1.28.06) and 200m back (2.49.38).
Jordan Bain (12) was in the water for eight events after getting his two reserve swims. This was his first attempt at the 200m fly and he finished in a time of 3.25.60 which gave him fifth place. He also narrowly missed out on a PB in the 400m individual medley.
Lee Lockhart (12) achieved two PBs from his five swims. These were in the 200m breast (3.38.81) and the 200m free, where his time of 2.46 was almost 10 seconds faster than his previous best.
