Braintree swimmers in fine form

8:47am Friday 25th April 2008

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Members of Braintree Swimming Club finished third in their latest Essex Mini League meet.

Overall there were many fine swims for the club, with 28 personal bests (PBs) from the 48 events.

Many swimmers enjoyed good debut performances.

Sophie Howard started in the perfect way by winning her backstroke event while Orin Mann was time faulted but still claimed a massive four-second PB to his name.

It was the same for Harriet Bartram-Baird, who shaved more than a second off her PB in her freestyle swim.

Amy Lazell and Matthew Horne each achieved individual wins, with both swimmers also picking up PB times.

Lazell also improved her one length fly time by just under a second.

Ben Lane slashed more than five seconds of his previous best time in his breaststroke while Matthew Banner improved his backstroke by more than two seconds and Gregory Bennett had a near one-second PB in his breaststroke event.

Isabel Salthouse, Ben Lane and Ben Shambrook all collected more individual wins in their age bracket freestyle events. The boys relay team of Lane, Bennett, Shambrook and Mann claimed a win with Lane securing a fine new PB.

Lucy Merrell claimed two new PBs in leading her relay squad of under-ten girls in the freestyle and breaststroke, with a massive six-second improvement in the breaststroke.

Elliot Birks also claimed a new best time in the first leg of the boys under-ten relay and also secured victory, along with fellow swimmers, Ben Durban, Lane and Daniel Mclagan.

The relays proved a good source of success for PBs.

Durban led off and claimed a new two-second best time in the breaststroke.

Verity Forster was another to prosper, gaining a three-second best time in the freestyle relay.

Sian Chambers secured a PB after swimming to a new one-length best time in the girls freestyle relay event.

The boys fly relay squad of Mclagan, Durban, Mann, Durban, Matthew Horne and Max Palmer-Everson were never headed to collect a win for the team.

Amy Shambrook picked up a second place and new PB in her open age group four lengths freestyle.

Durban won over the same distance and stroke in the boys open, along with a new two-and-a-half second PB.

Final score: Harwich 178, Romford 153, Braintree 131, Canvey Island 119, Maldon Sharks 71.

Braintree Swimming Club is offering a free, no obligation trial.

Contact Steve Hall on 07894140581 or email hall@braintreeswimming.co.uk Alternatively contact Janet Watkins on 01376 329289 or visit www.braintreeswimming.co.uk