Eloise races to national title

A NEWBURY swimmer has been crowned the English national champion at 50m breaststroke.

Eloise Wade, 16, qualified in first place at the National Summer Championships in the 16 year age group after swimming a personal best in the morning’s qualifying heats.

And she managed to hold off the strong opposition to take the gold medal and the national title in the evening final at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge last week.

Head coach at Newbury District Swimming Club, Emma Harris Commissar, said: “Not letting her nerves get the better of her she qualified first for the 16 years age group final in an amazing PB of 34.51.

“Knowing some of the other swimmers would be bringing fierce competition in the final, she managed to fight them off and win gold with a time of 34.61 making her the 16 years age group national champion.

“It’s been a really successful end to the season for NDSC and it leaves me feeling confident for the next year.”

Earlier this month two other Newbury swimmers took part in the British Summer Championships, which were also held in Sheffield.

Kaleb Fox-Jones swam in three events – 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle – making the finals in all three races.

In the 50m backstroke he swam a new personal best time of 27.09 to finish ninth in the men’s 18 years age group.

It was another PB in the 100m backstroke, where he again made the final, finishing 10th in a time of 59.11 despite suffering with a shoulder injury.

His final event was his preferred race – the 100m freestyle – where he again swam his way to the final and a PB of 51.70, placing him fourth overall and just missing out on a bronze medal by half a second.

Abbie Holland also swam on the same day, in the women’s 18 years age group 200m butterfly event.

She put in a superb performance, setting a personal best time of 2.24.22 in the heats, securing a spot in the finals, where she eventually finished 10th.

“Both of these swimmers should be so proud, swimming against big club swimmers some of whom were competing at their home pool,” added Harris.

“The older they get, the harder it is to stay focussed and motivated and these two have been so determined this year.”