The County is keen to support its swimmers gain international competitive experience and periodically sends a County Team to represent Middlesex in Meets across Europe.

This month saw such a team compete in North Portugal. The team consisting of 34 swimmers plus support staff performed exceptionally well and delivered many PB’s and Qualifying times.

 

Read the full press report below.

  

 

Middlesex County swim team travelled last weekend ( 4/5 Feb)  away from cold, snowy London to the slightly warmer climate of Northern Portugal to compete in the Povoa de Varzim International Open meet just outside the city of Porto. 

 

The team of 34 swimmers were selected from British Rankings positions and covered swimmers from 12 years to 27 years across a wide range of experience. The meet format unfortunately had to be changed just a few weeks before and so all the swimmers were competing in one open age group and on a heat declared winner basis. This made no difference to the determination and professionalism of the Middlesex swimmers who all raced tough against swimmers from across Portugal and teams from Spain, Serbia, Ireland and the Israeli National Senior Team. 

 

Katerina Avramova proved to be Middlesex’s most successful swimmer at the two day meet, taking gold in all her four individual events 100 FS (57.02), 100 Back (61.74), 50 Back (29.39) and 200 back (2.12.81). Katerina also picked up the award for the top female performance of the meet – based on FINA points – for her 100m backstroke. 

 

Gina Heyn took a medal in each of her four individual events with gold in the 50 Breast (33.04) and 50 Free (26.64), and silver in the 100 Free (57.43). To complete the set Gina, took bronze in the 100m breast (1.13.76). Both Gina and Katerina were members of the women’s 4 x 100 medley and freestyle teams which also took the gold medal position with Erin Nabney and Lucy Thornton joining them for the medley team and Sarah Procter replacing Lucy in the 4x100 freestyle team. There was also silver for Erin Nabney in the 200m breaststroke with a new best time of 2.39.90. Joanne Zambelli picked up bronze in the 400 IM (5.09.54) whilst Rosie Hughes managed 2 bronze medals in the 50m (30.69) and 100m (65.19) backstroke events.

 

On the men’s’ side, the 4 x 100 freestyle  team of Melako Coker, Patrick Jack, Bogac Aythan  and Leo Jaggs were victorious in a close fought race taking the top spot in 3.35.76. Charlie Boldison collected 2 individual medals with 26.66 for the 50M back good enough for silver and 57.19 in the 100m back  gave him the bronze. James Stanhope came away with a silver in 50 fly (25.48). One of the final races saw the Middx men’s medley team of Charlie Boldison, Adam Plavsic, Bogac Aythan and Leo Jaggs  fight a close fought race to make the silver spot. 

 

At the end of the two day meet Middlesex finished in second place in the top points trophy with Israel the winners with 865 points, Middx 820 points and third spot going to Porto with 441points. The team had a positive experience with training sessions also organised around the swim meet and the younger ones especially learning about racing in a new environment with a different group of swimmers and coaches supporting them than usual. The trip is another example of the excellent pathway through competitive swimming that the County Swimming Association has provided with the continued support of the county clubs and coaches.  

 

Full team: Team manager: Pam Crofts (Haringey), Head Coach: Dave Hobbs (Camden Swiss Cottage) Coaches: Allan Thornton (Ealing), Rhys Gormley (Barnet Copthall), Barry Thomas (Edmonton) and Ed Sinclair (Teddington). 

 

Swimmers: Alex Bandarian, Callum Barrett, Melako Coker, Patrick Jack, Adam Plasvic, Katerina Avramova, Gina Heyn, Maisie Jameson, Erin Nabney, Lucy Thornton (all Ealing ),Bogac Aythan, Ed Graham, Leo Jaggs, Rosie Hughes, Sophie Rittenhouse, Olivia Willis (all Camden Swiss Cottage) . Charlie Boldison, Freddie Cornwall, Yaron Gerber, Jamie Richter, Paige Powell, Jo-Anne Zambelli (all Barnet), Elliot Bertram, Mia Hawkes (both Edmonton) , Ted Elson, Sean Panacides (both Harrow) Pietro Revelli, Charlotte Hogarth (both Chelsea/Westminster), Sarah Procter, Alexandra Kaye, Lauren O’Connor (all Hillingdon), James Stanhope, Hannah Rogers (both Teddington)