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 :)

My TYR Alliance Team Backpack 2

The only bag I ever want to be poolside with, my TYR Alliance Team Backpack 2, i'd be lost without it and so would most of the swimmers around the world I think.

It's big, strong, it's got loads of pockets and it's cool to customise. Mine's only got the badge I got for swimming for my county, an ID tag that my dad made and Ross Davenport's and Melanie Marshall's autographs but the girls at the City of Leicester have lots of things hanging from thiers!

What have you got hanging on yours?, maybe +TYR Sport Inc. should start a "what's on yours" photo campaign on twitter and on google+, i'm sure they'd get loads of picture tagged on @TYRSport

Don't forget to follow me on twitter @swimmerjd

Midland Age Group Championships Kit

It's been a busy week so far, moved up into year nine at school before the end of term, steady training, mainly short distance sprints and skills work. There's no training tomorrow morning as some of the squad are at the Midland Age Group Championships again. I'll be there all day Sunday where I'll be swimming 200 free and 200 I.M.

I've been wearing my new Midland hoodie and hat this week at training....after just missing out on a few Midlands qualifying times last year, it's taken 18 months to get those...It feels good to wear them at last!

I'll give you an update on Monday how I got on at the last day of the Midlands

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

Midland Champs Hoodie and Hat