Manchester International Open Meet 2015

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted! but since my last post, I’ve been on holiday (twice), it’s the start of the new season, a new head coach, new focus, GCSE’s and life just getting more manic!

I’ve just completed a busy weekend of racing at the Manchester International Open. It was fantastic to swim and be in the same company as LiamTancock, Fran Halsall, Roberto Pavoni, Hannah Miley, Molly Renshaw and loads more swimming stars.

We arrived in Manchester on the Friday afternoon, checked in at the hotel had a walk around the massive Trafford Centre followed by a good meal and a great night's’ sleep.

Saturday saw a mixed bag of results, my 1500m free was off a little but I had good personal best times on both the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke. Had a great night relaxing with my family,

another brilliant meal and a good laugh back at the room later on :)

Sunday morning saw a big hearty breakfast and a trip to the pool for the middle session. Again, I had personal best times on 200 IM, and 100 backstroke. I managed to take gold (in my age group)

for the 400 freestyle and also got Fran Halsall’s autograph along with an Arena swimming hat too!

So, even with a cough and a cold, I had a good weekend of swimming which will be a starting point to build upon for the rest of the season.

See you next time J

Success in the 1500m and 400m Freestyle!

The Leicestershire ASA County Championships started a couple of weeks ago. I've swam OK with a couple of medals as a bonus. I got a silver and 2nd place for my 1500m freestyle (sc) with a time of 17.03.96 which was about 40 seconds under the Midlands qualifying time and puts me 2nd in the County, 7th in the Midlands and around 16th in the Country. It was my best swim to date and felt great all the way. I'd got a good race plan and most importantly stuck to it :)

The picture below is of me with the 3rd place bronze I got for the 400m freestyle (lc) with a time of 4.30.53 which just managed to get me a Midland qualifying time.

Bronze for the 400m Freestyle at Loughborough Uni Pool of Dreams

I'll be swimming again this weekend in the Counties so i'm looking forward to more positive results :)

Midland Open Water Age Group Championships 2014

Hi all, on Sunday 13th july, I took part in the 1500m, regional (Midlands) Open Water Championships. I really enjoyed my swim, got a dirty face, swam well, was pulled by the ankles and shoulders but the vaseline that my dad applied before the race meant they just slipped straight off.

I came 7th in my age group and 8th overall. I think i'll be looking at more meets like this over the next season, it's only my 2nd attempt at open water and I'd like to step up to the 2000m or 3000m for my next swim as I felt I had plenty left and wasn't really sure on how to swim it, especially the hustle and bustle of the start!

I came home in a time of 18.25.08, with my 1500m time in a 50m pool at 18.08.52. I think next time i can go out harder and be more aggressive at the start but I'll put this one down to experience. The water temperature was 21.3deg. with an air temp of 18.4deg. 

Midlands Age Group Open Water Championship 2014

Midland Age Group Championships 2014

It's been a busy week so far, moved up into year ten at high school before the end of term, steady training, mainly short distance sprints and skills work as we're being tapered for the Midland Age Group Championships. I've had a tough year but I did get 3 regional times 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle with only being less than a second of another 4!

Coventry Sports Centre

I Hope it goes well tomorrow :)

Don't forget to follow me on twitter @swimmerjd :)

Run-Sleep-Swim-Sleep-Swim-Sleep! *UPDATED*

Hi everyone...it's going to be a busy weekend starting today!

My School are holding their athletics day at Leicester's athletics stadium...this year, as last, I'll be running the 1500m. Last year I came second and I expect that I'll do the same this year as the 1st place runs for the county and trains as I do with my swimming so it'd be wrong of me to think I'm going for gold...I'm always up for a good race and to push myself though :)

Leicester's Saffron Lane Athletics Stadium

The sun is out, I've got plenty of drinks and they'll be an ice cream van there for when I NEED that ice-cream cone :)

After having a good sleep, my Dad and I will be taking a trip to the Corby International Swimming Pool for the Northampton Spring Open Meet. I still need a few regional qualifying times and I'm going to try my hardest to get them this weekend. The races are over the 2 days and are as follows:

 400m IM, 100m & 200m Backstroke, 100m & 200m Breaststroke and finally the 100m free

Corby International Swimming Pool

I'll let you know how I get on....I hope it's good news ;) Have a good weekend all....what ever you're up to

************UPDATED*************

I had a great 1.5k run and finished in first place...I set off a little too quick but managed to hold my lead and kicked hard with over 400m to go leaving 2nd place behind by over 50m...i'm very happy with that :)

I had a fairly bad couple of days at Corby, one's I've got to try and forget and move on from to be honest....onwards and upwards :)