A TOTAL of 33 swimmers qualified for the 2022 Winter Yorkshire Short Course County Swimming Championships, achieving outstanding success for Skipton Swimming Club, writes Angela Appleby.

Notable performances came in the form of Jack Jenkinson, 16, who swam for the first time in the open age category and achieved eight personal best times.

Jack, who is a student at Ermysted’s Grammar School, has since been selected to take part in the 2022-23 National Youth Development Programme which is a pathway designed by the Swim England Talent Team to support young athletes at the start of their journey to become a Great British swimmer.

Sam Smith, 15, also a student at Ermysted’s, swam in six events and was crowned County Champion in the 100m free and 100m butterfly.

He went on to achieve two silver medals in the 50m free and 50m butterfly events and a bronze and fifth place in the 400m and 200m Individual Medley respectively.

Skipton’s Kaye Fenton, 16, swam in seven events (50m and 100m free, 50m and 100m back, 50m and 100m fly and the 200m individual medley) and achieved six personal best times whilst securing eleventh place in the open age category 50m backstroke.

Her team-mate Fenn Turner, 15, retained her 50m breaststroke Yorkshire Champion title, achieved top 10 positions in all of her events and went on to qualify for the North East Regional Championships.

Max Shillito, 14, qualified for four events: 100m free, 50m and 100m fly and the 50m backstroke with team-mate Archie Appleby, 14, qualifying for the 50m and 100m breaststroke events. Archie also went on to qualify for the North East Regional Championships in the 50m and 200m breaststroke.

Lily Oddy, 11, who is a student at Upper Wharfedale School, put in a fantastic performance, qualifying for nine events and swimming in eight.

She achieved top 10 positions in five of her events, achieving fourth place in the 50m breaststroke, sixth in the 50m backstroke, eighth in the 100m backstroke, 10th in the 50m butterfly and 10th in the 200m Individual Medley.

Team-mate Beatrice Appleby, 11, of Skipton Girls’ High School, qualified for the 50m butterfly, which was her first time qualifying for this event at the County Championships.

Five Skipton swimmers made their debuts at the Championships, including Micah Warner (13) who swam in the 50m and 100m free and the 50m and 100m breaststroke.

He set personal bests in all of his races, achieved a fantastic 11th place in the 100m breaststroke and secured himself a North East Regional qualifying time in the same event.

Having only started competitive swimming earlier this year, Betsy Rider, 11, also made her Championships debut, competing in the 50m free and the 50m and 100m breaststroke. She went on to qualify for the North East Regional Championships in the same events plus the 100m Individual Medley.

Kitty Shillito, 10, of Cononley Primary School qualified for her first Championships in the 100m breaststroke and 50m backstroke and achieved personal best times in both events.

In their first time competing, siblings Jack and Will Barnes qualified for five events between them. Jack, 12, swam the 50m and 100m breaststroke and Will, nine, swam in the 50m free, 50m backstroke and 50m breaststroke, achieving a fantastic eighth place in the breaststroke.

Ian Scrivin, head coach said: “It's been another excellent County Championships for the club, and I am immensely proud of every single swimmer that took part.

“Special recognition goes to those swimmers who were competing at the Championships for the first time.

“Gaining the qualification times is a huge achievement in itself but going out to swim at these large-scale events in an unfamiliar environment can be daunting, especially for our youngest competitors.

“I’d like to say a huge well done and congratulations to all our swimmers and a big thank you to the club’s committee, coaches, parents and volunteers who have supported our swimmers and helped make the event a success.”