SWIMMING — Inverclyde ASC Compete At West District Meet
ELEVEN swimmers from Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club were back in action at Tollcross for the West District pre-SNAGS (Scottish National Age Group championships) meet and it proved to be another successful weekend.
The competition was one of the last chances for swimmers to achieve the consideration times needed to be eligible to compete in the championships at the end of March. SNAGS is the biggest and most prestigious competition for swimmers in Scotland.
Competing in eight events, Aimee Watson had a superb weekend, winning five medals. Aimee won gold in the 50-metre and 100-metre breaststroke events, silver in the 200-metre breaststroke and bronze in the 100-metre butterfly and 200-metre individual medley.
Having already secured SNAGS qualification times for all her events, it was a brilliant bonus for Aimee to secure a qualification time for the British championships in the 100-metre breaststroke. To round off her competition, Aimee also came fifth in the 50-metre butterfly, and 12th and 14th in the 50-metre and 100-metre freestyle respectively.
Matthew Garrity also performed well, picking up three bronze medals over the competition. Like Aimee, Matthew’s SNAGS qualification was already secured in his seven events, but he improved his times to take bronze in the 200-metre and 400-metre individual medley and the 800-metre freestyle. Matthew also came 7th in the 100-metre breaststroke and 11th and 15th in the 50-metre backstroke and 50-metre freestyle.
Thomas Cannon secured four top-10 finishes in his six events. He came fifth in the 50-metre breaststroke, sixth in the 100-metre and 200-metre breaststroke and 10th in the 100-metre butterfly. Thomas had already qualified for all of the SNAGS breaststroke events, but his superb new PB (personal best) in the 100-metre earned him the qualification time needed for the British Championships. Thomas also came 17th in the 50-metre freestyle with a new PB.
Luke Garrity was unlucky not to make his SNAGS times, but still put in a good performance across his four events, securing fourth place in the 200-metre breaststroke, sixth in the 800-metre freestyle (with a huge new PB), 12th in the 100-metre breaststroke and 15th in the 200-metre individual medley.
Swimming in eight events, Molly Cannon achieved sixth place in her 200-metre breaststroke, ninth in the 200-metre individual medley and 10th in the 100-metre breaststroke. Molly already had her SNAGS times for the two breaststroke events and the 50-metre breaststroke, but was pleased to set new PBs in the 200-metre individual medley and 100-metre freestyle.
Also gaining a top-10 finish was Kian McNelis, who came sixth in the 400-metre individual medley, but just missed the chance to secure SNAGS times for the 200-metre and 400-metre individual medley events.
Competing in eight events, Jay Keith showed great improvement to set new PBs in most of his races, and secured SNAGS qualification in the 200-metre butterfly and 100-metre breaststroke events.
Also competing were Ashleigh Blyth, Ben Skinner, Emily Lightfoot and Darren Macleay. Although none were able to secure SNAGS times at the event, they continued to improve with each of them setting at least one new PB.
The success of the swimmers didn’t go unnoticed by the event organisers, with the club mentioned in the commentary for the high level of swimming on show. The coaches were pleased with the performance of the team and are looking forward to taking the team to SNAGS.
