Jason hits the Jackpot!

Tigershark swimmer Jason Butt (11) was in outstanding form this weekend at the Swim Swansea Long Course Open Meet. Jason cruised to his first ever National Qualifying time for the 2006 Championships in the 200m Frontcrawl. His time entitles him to compete over both the 100m and 200m Frontcrawl at the National competition in July. Jason just missed out on his 400m Frontcrawl NQT but produced personal best times on all of his swims throughout the weekend. With his team mate Joshua Wheeler the two boys totally dominated the 11 year old age group. Joshua taking gold in the 400m FC, 200m Back and 200m FC and Jason taking gold in the 200m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley.

Lauren Jones (11) continued to prove what a great Frontcrawl swimmer she has become as she snatched her second National Qualifying time for 2006 in the 200m event. Lauren also produced huge PB times throughout the weekend on all of her swims, sneaking close to her 400m FC and 200m IM NQT times. Sophie Hawkins (13) just seems to get better and better as the weeks go on. Sophie blasted to her 400m Frontcrawl National Qualifying time with three seconds to spare and then improved on her 200m FC NQT by over a second and a half. Sophie also pushed herself closer to her 200m Individual Medley NQT, her total now stands at four qualifying times for this year's competition.

Alex Jones continued to excel over all disciplines. Despite suffering with a heavy cold and chest infection Alex (14) produced another National Qualifying time in the 100m Backstroke, bringing his total of qualifying times to nine. Alex also produced a fantastic time in the 100m Frontcrawl to improve his NQT to 57.10. Aaron Lee (15) snatched his second National Qualifying time of 2006 with an outstanding performance in the 100m Backstroke and once again agonisingly just missed out on his 100m Butterfly.

Jazmin Carlin (15) thrilled her team mates as she cruised to victory and her seventh National Qualifying time in the 200m Individual Medley. James Magness (14) had a great outing over the 200m Backstroke to take gold by some margin. However he was disappointed to miss out on his NQT. Rosie Broad (12) was left feeling the same disappointment as she missed her second and third NQT's in the 200m FC by 0.99 of a second and the 400m FC by 1.75 of a second. Natalie Montezuma (14) missed her second NQT of the season by 0.19 of a second in the 100m Backstroke but was boosted by some very good swims in other events. Hayley Towner (13) produced a five second personal best time between the heat and the final of the 100m Butterfly and also swam to a crop of very big PB times in a number of events.

In the junior competition Tigersharks 10 year olds who will be embarking on their first District competition in June were in outstanding form. Kane Baker was undefeated in all of his swims. Kane smashed the Age Group Best Times in the 100m and 200m Backstroke, 400m and 200m Individual Medley as he took the gold medals, he also took gold in the 100m and 200m Frontcrawl events. Kane was a little disappointed to miss out on his National Qualifying time in the 200m Backstroke by just 1.34 of a second but with four more possible opportunities he stands every chance of making the Nationals in July.

The 10 year old Girls Relay team of Rachel Waine (Back) Michaela Boniface (Breast) Briony Merritt (Butterfly) & Sophie Roberts (Free) were untouchable in the medley Relay as they finished 10m in front of the next team, in a competition best time for their age group by over five seconds. All four girls produced fantastic Long Course personal best times which were also faster than their short course times. Notably Briony Merritt cruised to victory in the 100m and 200m Backstroke, her 100m Backstroke time of 1:21.32 was an Age Group Best Time.

Team mate Sophie Roberts took Bronze in the 200m Frontcrawl and in the 100m Frontcrawl Sophie smashed her PB to produce a time of 1:11.45 which was also under the Age Group Best Time by three seconds but was only good enough to take the Bronze medal in what was a very close race. Rachel Waine and Michaela Boniface were also in fine form producing PB's on all of their swims. The competition was certainly good preparation for their District competition in June.

Tigersharks National Qualifiers to date:

Jazmin Carlin, Stacey Wood, Natalie Montezuma, Sophie Hawkins, Rosie Broad, Lauren Jones, Grant Turner, Aaron Lee, Alex Jones, Dean Williamson, Jason Butt.