Takahashi and Pitts shine for Sx3

In the first two weekends of June, all attention is turned to the long course competition pool at Millfield school in Somerset where the top BAGCATS in the South West battle it out over four days of intense competition. With 35 swimmers qualifying for the meet, Swindon Swim Squad were a force to be reckoned with.

Swindon’s most recent find, ten year old Aiko Takahashi shook up the opposition with some superb performances in the 100m and 200m backstroke taking gold medals in each and new LC NQT’s. New NQT’s followed in the 100m & 200m freestyle along with a gold medal and bronze medal respectively. She narrowly missing a further NQT in the 400m event, settling for a silver medal. Takahashi also showed her proficiency across all strokes by taking second place in the 200m individual medley and her fifth LC NQT.

Charlotte Pitts was focused on her main aim of achieving her first ever National time in a distance freestyle event and by pacing her swim to perfection, did so comfortably in the 1500m. The 800m event was less fruitful, missing the national time but still taking a gold medal to match the 1500m award. A trio of gold came with another victory in the 400m event. Pitts also took a well deserved silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in the 200m breaststroke.

Other medal winners included Samantha Berry with silver in the 200m butterfly improving on her NQT and a fourth place in the 400m freestyle giving her fourth NQT of the season.

For ten year old Adam Brown, this was his first year of regional BagCat and first taste of long course competition. Competing in nine events, Brown reached finals on four occasions, taking silver in the 400m individual medley and bronze in the 200m butterfly.

The Girls 4x200m FC team also picked up a well deserved bronze medal. The team of Charlotte Pitts, Emily Weston, Aiko Takahashi and Samantha Berry will now have to wait to see if they have done enough to secure a place in the National event.

James Clark took bronze in the 100m breaststroke and in his final year of BagCat competition, finished a creditable third in the overall BagCat 14 years boys category with team-mate Thomas Howitt finishing eighth. BagCat third places also went to Aiko Takashi (girls 11 years), Charlotte Pitts (girls 12 years) and Samantha Berry (girls 13 years).

Sx3 swimmers featuring in finals were, Abigail Davidson, Adam Brown, Aiko Takahashi, Alex Chantler-Mayne, Alex Eburne, Charlotte Pitts, Emily Weston, James Clark, Lauren Matthews, Liam Jefferies, Niall Westman, Sam Hunter, Samantha Berry, Samantha Reeves, Thomas Codling, Thomas Howitt & Victoria Tainty


	Takahashi and Pitts shine for Sx3 In the first two weekends of June, all attention is turned to the long course competition pool at Millfield school in Somerset where the top BAGCATS in the South West battle it out over four days of intense competition. With 35 swimmers qualifying for the meet, Swindon Swim Squad were a force to be reckoned with. Swindon’s most recent find, ten year old Aiko Takahashi shook up the opposition with some superb performances in the 100m and 200m backstroke taking gold medals in each and new LC NQT’s. New NQT’s followed in the 100m & 200m freestyle along with a gold medal and bronze medal respectively. She narrowly missing a further NQT in the 400m event, settling for a silver medal. Takahashi also showed her proficiency across all strokes by taking second place in the 200m individual medley and her fifth LC NQT. Charlotte Pitts was focused on her main aim of achieving her first ever National time in a distance freestyle event and by pacing her swim to perfection, did so comfortably in the 1500m. The 800m event was less fruitful, missing the national time but still taking a gold medal to match the 1500m award. A trio of gold came with another victory in the 400m event. Pitts also took a well deserved silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in the 200m breaststroke. Other medal winners included Samantha Berry with silver in the 200m butterfly improving on her NQT and a fourth place in the 400m freestyle giving her fourth NQT of the season. For ten year old Adam Brown, this was his first year of regional BagCat and first taste of long course competition. Competing in nine events, Brown reached finals on four occasions, taking silver in the 400m individual medley and bronze in the 200m butterfly. The Girls 4x200m FC team also picked up a well deserved bronze medal. The team of Charlotte Pitts, Emily Weston, Aiko Takahashi and Samantha Berry will now have to wait to see if they have done enough to secure a place in the National event. James Clark took bronze in the 100m breaststroke and in his final year of BagCat competition, finished a creditable third in the overall BagCat 14 years boys category with team-mate Thomas Howitt finishing eighth. BagCat third places also went to Aiko Takashi (girls 11 years), Charlotte Pitts (girls 12 years) and Samantha Berry (girls 13 years). Sx3 swimmers featuring in finals were, Abigail Davidson, Adam Brown, Aiko Takahashi, Alex Chantler-Mayne, Alex Eburne, Charlotte Pitts, Emily Weston, James Clark, Lauren Matthews, Liam Jefferies, Niall Westman, Sam Hunter, Samantha Berry, Samantha Reeves, Thomas Codling, Thomas Howitt & Victoria Tainty