8:00am Saturday 12th May 2012
ERICA Harris starred for Wyre Forest Swimming Club at the Midlands District Youth Championships in Coventry at the weekend.
The teenager produced the club’s standout display in the 15 and 16-year-old butterfly.
Despite being ranked 12th, she produced a stunning performance to make the final, where she set a new personal best time of 31 seconds to take bronze.
Megan Tinsdale and Lizzie Hall were also in good form. Tinsdale reached the 50-metre and 100m freestyle finals and finished in a respectable fifth place in both events. She is now in heavy training in preparation for the National Championships later in the summer.
Hall, 17, cracked the 30-second barrier for the first time at a long course meet, with a time of 29.9 in the 50m freestyle to come 13th in the over-17s age group and fifth in her age group.
Unfortunately, Hayden Griffiths, who had high hopes of a good weekend, was unable to compete because of illness.
Head coach Alan Bircher said: “It’s been a good weekend, I didn’t expect too much as we are working hard right now in preparation for meets coming up.
“Erica really deserved her bronze medal, she made her first districts last year and finished eighth so the target was to always improve on this, which she has obviously done.”
Meanwhile, the club is expanding its learn to swim programme following the successful Wyre Forest Primary School gala in April and on the back of a wave of enthusiasm for swimming generated by club member Amy Smith’s participation in the 2012 Olympics.
The club has named Tim Hastie as the new lead teacher for the scheme and is looking forward to the challenge of growing the membership.
His aim is to make sure the growing numbers coming to the teaching sessions held at King Charles I School Kidderminster and at the Stourport Sports Centre enjoy their time with the club and gained the best possible tuition.
Wyre Forest Swimming club follows the ASA Learn to Swim Programme and many of the youngsters who have developed with the club have continued to compete at high levels.
Anyone who wants more information on joining the scheme can go to learntoswim-wfsc.co.uk or call membership secretary Carole Walters on 01299 825769.
© Copyright 2001-2013 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk
http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/trade_directory/