Derventio Open Meet

This weekend see's the start of the 3 day Derventio open meet at Ponds Forge Sheffield. I'll be there from Saturday morning until Sunday evening. It's usually a tough meet with a high caliber of swimmers. I'm not in the best place at the minute, I'm training well but when it comes to competitions, I just can't seem to pull it out of the bag. I'm having a lot of pain during the day and feel the need to stretch out and warm up all the time? I've been told that it's growing pains and some suffer more than others.

To help me during the weekend, my mum and dad have let me have one of my christmas presents early!....a new pair of Speedo Fastskin Elite 2's. It's given me a boost in confidence and I know there's nothing more I can do except swim as fast as I can :)

Have a fantastic Christmas where ever and what ever you are up to :)

National Arena Swimming League and Lincoln Vulcans Open Meet

I swam with the Leicester Sharks in the National Arena League last Saturday. We went to Birmingham knowing full well it was going to be a tough meet, we were against City of Coventry, City of Derby and City of Hereford amongst others. We only had 23 swimmers in our squad but we showed even though we aren't a City squad we could still compete with the best. I swam in 3 individuals and 3 relays...I was pleased at how I swam. We came 3rd with Coventry and Derby in front of us and Hereford behind us in 4th place, it was a great night, it felt like a win...the atmosphere on the coach was fantastic on the way back :)

National Arena Swimming League

This Saturday i'm at the Lincoln Vulcans open meet, Ponds Forge Sheffield. It's the first long course meet of the season and one of my targeted meets. There are 3 sessions and i'm taking part in all 3 so it'll be a long day. I'm hoping to get some new PB's to continue good start.

On the day, i'll be competing in:

Session One

200m Backstroke

200m Freestyle

Session Two

400m Freestyle

Session Three

200m Breaststroke

Ponds Forge Sheffield

Have a good weekend all

James ;)

Breaststroke action shot!

Here's a picture of me doing the 100m Breaststroke from the Penguins Open Meet

with the Leicester Sharks Swimming Club

Just need to have more of a neutral head position and we're good to go!

Follow me on twitter swimmerjd ;)

Good result at Penguins Open Meet

After swimming in an early season open meet, it's nice to see a little improvement this early on, it's encouraging and makes the 5.15am starts all worth while.

I got first place for 100m breaststroke, and 3rd places for 200m and 400m freestyle.....I missed out on 3rd place for my 200m medley by 0.40 sec.

Got some really nice, laser etched trophies, think these are my favourite one's so far :)

These are my new short course times:

100 Breast 1:20.73

200 IM 2:33.52

400 Free 4:38.66

200 Free 2:13.80

James :)

City of Leicester Sprint Meet at the Pool of Dreams!

Had a great day at the City of Leicester Sprint Meet at Loughborough University's

"Pool of Dreams"

This is a photo of me and some of my team mates taking a breather during lunch

the weather was great :)

Part of the City of Leicester Squad Loughborough ITC July 2013

Braunstone Sprints 3 Gold's and a Silver!

I had a great day on Sunday at the Braunstone Sprints Open Meet, it was good to spend all day with my Sharks mates, hadn't seen a few of them for a while. Got some good times, would have liked to have dropped a second on my 50 free and 50 fly as I've been working on my fly, lots have improved but I want the times to show it. It'll be my last Braunstone Sprints so it was good to finish well.

I came 2nd in the boy's aggregate time by just under a second, it was my fly and free that cost me first place but I'm very happy with what i've got as I'm not really a sprinter!

50 Back 33.74 Pos 1

100 Free 01:02.41 Pos 1 (mqt)

100 IM 01:13.46 Pos 1

50 Breast 38.61 Pos 2

50 Fly 35.32 Pos 4

50 Free 29.97 Pos 5

Aggregate Time: 04:33.51 (Pos 2)

I'm on twitter too @swimmerjd :)

Michael Jamieson winning Silver 2012 Olympics

Racing in the 2012 Olympics Michael Jamieson won a silver medal in the 200 breast. He broke the British record three times, twice in the heats and once in the final!

We were in Swansea at the Welsh Nationals during the Olympics last year...it was great to be at such a huge swimming event during the Olympics, it made it very exciting!

We're going to the Swim Wales Summer Nationals again this year but going with the squad from the City of Leicester Swimming Club instead of just my family like last year...it'll be great to have my mates with me this year!

Last Day at Midlands Championships :(

Just relaxing after a long lunch and a new PB of 2.19.54 on 200m free long course. I went out hard on the first 100m and got 1.06.97....I paid the price for the last 50m though!

I went back poolside after lunch and got a 10 sec PB on my 200m I.M with a 2.39.38, pleased with that as long course isn't my thing usually

See you later!

First day at the Midlands

Saturday 1st June was my first day at the Midlands Championships, I had a good day and PB'd on both of my swims. It's always nice to get your Midlands qualifying times at the Midlands!

The sun is shining and I'm off to training as usual tonight, looking forward to another week of taper training ready for another weekend at the Midlands :)

follow me on twitter :)
@swimmerjd

Midland Age Group Championships this weekend!

It's the first weekend of the Midland Age Group Championships starting this Saturday. Can't wait! I'll be doing the 200 back and 400 free on Saturday.....having a good rest this week ready to smash it!

Leicestershire County Championships

This is a picture of me (top middle) and some of my Leicester Sharks teammates at the last night of the Leicestershire County Championships

The championships take place over 3 weekends in March where around 450 swimmers compete from all over the county. It's a really busy time and there's hardly any room poolside

I was one of 42 swimmers in my age group, swimming 9 events in the championships and 

winning silver for my 400 freestyle. Here I am holding my trophy for finishing 4th overall in my age group within Leicestershire

Me at the LASA's

Ponds Forge

Nothing more to say other than that I love this place....that's me in lane 1 at Ponds Forge

Midland Age Group Championships

Looking forward to going to the Midland Age Group Championships in June this year. Got qualifying times in the 200 and 400 free, 200 back and 200 I.M. Would really of liked my 200 breast too but ended up just over a second off....I'll get it before the end of the season!