British Gas ASA National Youth Championships 2011

16^thMD  Heat 100m Breaststroke SB8 3^rd

♥

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British International swimming championships / European Trials, held at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield between the 8-10 April 2011. There were over 24 different countrys competing at this event,  Austria, Belguim, Brazil, Catalona, China, China Taipei, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Uganda, Ukraine, and Wales. All the events were MD (multi disability) and I was up against swimmers of all ages, and all disabilities in all classifactions. Which is not good, because it normally means the lower classifications win. I qualified for all 7 events available in my disability classification, which is S9 SB8 SM9,  I chose to enter only 2 events due to the amount of A level course work I am currently doing at the moment.

Here are my Results   

British International Swimming Championships (50m) 2011

MD (Multi Disability) events up against all disabilities 

30^th MD  200m Individual Medley  S9  7^th  

33^rd MD  100m Breaststroke SB8 4^th 

♥

British Gas National Championships / European Trials, This was an able-bodied long course event with some multi disability events mixed in. I qualified for all 7 events available in my disability classification, which is S9 SB8 SM9, they were all MD (multi disability) events, which meant I was up against swimmers of all ages, and all disabilities, which is not good, because it normally means the lower classifications win. The competition was over 8 days at the Manchester Aquatic Centre in Booth Street, because of this, I chose to enter only 2 events due to the amount of A level course work I still needed to complete, I could not afford to have a whole week away from school, missing vital A level lessons so close to my final exams. I was a little nervous because I was a long way from home and this was the first time my parents were not there to support me, they had to stay at home to look after my best friend, Bruce ♥ (my dog)

Here are my Results  

British Gas National Championships / European Trials 2011 Long Course

MD (Multi Disability) events up against all disabilities 

18^th MD  Heat 200m Individual Medley  S9  5^th  

16^th MD  Heat 100m Breaststroke SB8 3^rd

February 2011  I qualified and entered 7 Individual & 2 Team Relay events for my last ever  DSE’s (Disability Sport Events) National Short Course Junior (18 & under) Championships at Ponds Forge international sports centre in Sheffield. 

Results  

DSE 18u National Junior Short Course Swimming Championships – Sheffield

100m Freestyle  S9   2^nd

200m Individual Medley  S9   2^nd

400m Team Medley Relay  2^nd (Jo-Jo Freestyle)

100m Breaststroke  SB8   2^nd 

400m Freestyle Team Relay  4^th

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The weekend started out well and I was looking forward to the competition.

My daddy, met me at Sheffield to stay and support me whilst my brother and mummy stayed at home with my best friend Bruce (my dog). Unfortunately Bruce who is 15½ was not very well he has been on medication for his heart for a few years now. As the weekend progressed Bruce’s health deteriorated so much so that my dad had to leave for home in the middle of the night. We prepared ourselves for the worst. I pulled out of most of my events because I was so upset. I just could not stop crying. I was going to lose my best ever friend. Did I want to go home with my dad or did I want to stay away? I didn’t want to see Bruce in such a bad way. I love Bruce so so much. We all prepared ourselves for the worst.

First thing Sunday morning my mummy, daddy and brother took Bruce to the vets.

The vet came out of his room and asked why are you all crying? Bruce could not stand up un aided he keeps falling down, walking into things, his eyes are shaking all the time and his head is all twisted over. The vet replied, Bruce has got a problem with his middle ear, which is affecting his balance, and that he would be fine in a week or two.

Phew! What a relief.

As you can probably tell I did not swim that good and I only ended up entering 4 events plus 1 relay. But on the other hand Bruce is still with us Hooray and you will be pleased to know he is on the mend.

I love Bruce!

♥

November 2010  I qualified and entered 7 Individual & 2 Team Relay events at the DSE’s (Disability Sport Events) National Short Course Senior Championships at Ponds Forge international sports centre in Sheffield.  

Here are my results

DSE Senior Open SC National’s – 20^th & 21^st November 2010

100m Freestyle  S9  10^th

100m Backstroke  S9  8^th

400m Team Medley Relay  3^rd (Jo-Jo Butterfly)

100m Butterfly  S9  5^th

400m Freestyle  S9  5^th

200m Individual Medley  S9  4^th

100m Breaststroke  SB8  4^th

50m Freestyle  S9  9^th

400m Freestyle Team Relay  2^nd

^♥

August 2010   British Gas ASA National Championships 2010 / Commonwealth Trials venue Aquatic Centre, Sunderland. It was the first time I had ever competed in Sunderland, the pool and the facilities where superb. It was an able-bodied long course event with some multi disability events mixed in. I qualified for all 7 events availble in my disability classification they were all MD (multi disability) events, which meant I was up against swimmers of all ages, and all disabilities, which is not good, because it normally means the lower classifications win.

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18^th to  21^stAugust 2010  British Gas ASA National Championships 2010 (Long Course)     

MD (Multi Disability) events up against all disabilities

14^th MD  Heat 50m Freestyle  S9 6^th    

9^th MD  Heat 200m Individual Medley  S9 3^rd  

9^th MD  Final 200m Individual Medley  S9 3^rd  

16^th MD  Heats 100m Freestyle  S9 5^th  

Heat 100m Breaststroke  DQ T- L1 Did not show intent to touch with two hands    

3^rd  MD  Heat 100m Butterfly  S9 1^st     

3^rd  MD  Finals 100m Butterfly  S9 1^st   

8^th MD  Heats 400m Freestyle  S9 2^nd 

7^th MD  Final 400m Freestyle  S9 1^st  

9^th MD  Heat 100m Backstroke  S9 1^st       

9^th MD  Final 100m Backstroke  S9 1^st   

April - Home for the Easter holidays  hurray! For a short rest, Rest, ha! What rest? A nice 185 mile drive, home for two days, then catch several trains to Sheffield for the British Championships in the first week, second week I had an operation to remove my wisdom teeth, lovely a mouth full of stitches and for last week competing at the International Disability Swimming Championships and amongst all that I had to try and fit in some revision for my up and coming exams. 

Oh well. People do say, no rest for the wicked

Holidays over Time to pack up and get ready for School in Somerset and Internationals in Sheffield. Great what next? My parent’s vehicle only went and broke down so we had to hire a car. It was a tight squeeze, I mean a very tight squeeze fitting in all my school stuff, printers, bedding, swimming and sports kits etc. But we just about managed it. Then of we went for the 200 mile journey to Sheffield for the British International Disability Championships over twenty different Countries’ were there competing, it was very exciting. Until! I hurt my foot climbing out of the swim down pool. Ouch click! Crunch! Yes you guessed it I broke one of my toes it was agony. I tried my best but the pain and swelling was getting a bit too much so unfortunately I had to pull out of all the finals on the last day. I needed to get my foot strapped up and drive the 220 miles back to School. All in all it was not the most exciting Easter Holiday I have had. but I am well, alive and happy. Plus I did get to see my family and friends.

Here are my results

British International Disability Championships / World Trials  Sheffield 16th 17th & 18th April 2010

MD (Multi Disability) events up against all disabilities

18^th MD Heat 400m Freestyle S9 5^th

Pulled out to concentrate on Breast final. Final 400m Freestyle

14^th MD Heat 100m Breaststroke SB8 3^rd

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3^rd MD B Final 100m Breaststroke SB8 3^rd

21^st MD Heat 50m Freestyle S9 8^th

9^th MD Heat 100m Butterfly S9 6^th

8^th MD Final 100m Butterfly S9 6^th

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20^th MD Heat 100m Freestyle S9 8^th

Pulled out needed to travel back to Millfield Final 100m Freestyle

15^th MD Heat 100m Backstroke S9 5^th

Pulled out needed to travel back to Millfield Final 100m Backstroke

20^th MD Heat 200m Individual Medley SM9 7^th

Pulled out needed to travel back to Millfield Final 200m Individual Medley

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March / April 2010   British Gas Swimming Championships 2010, venue Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield. It was a long course event. Qualifying times were really hard. Which meant only the best qualified, like:-

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British Gas Championships 2010 (Long Course) – 29th March to 3rd April        

MD (Multi Disability) events up against all disabilities

 10^th MD  Heats 400m Freestyle  S9 2^nd        

10^th MD  Finals 400m Freestyle  S9 2^nd        

13^th MD  Heats 50m Freestyle  S9 7^th        

14^th MD  Heats 100m Breaststroke  SB8 4^th        

18^th MD  Heats 100m Backstroke  S9 6^th        

14^th MD  Heats 100m Freestyle  S9 6^th        

 14^th MD  Heats 200m Individual Medley  S9 5^th        

4^th MD  Heats 100m butterfly  S9 2^nd        

  4^th MD  Finals 100m butterfly  S9 2^nd

DSE (Disability Sports Events) Short Course Junior Nationals venue Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield. It was a short course event with two age groups 10 to 13 and 14 to 18. I fell in the 14 to 18 age group which was probably the hardest age group, most of the other competitors where Paralympic Medallists. I qualified for all the events on offer to my swimming classification, which is S9 SB8 SM9 but decided only to enter the events available to the Paralympics in 2012, which were 7 events.

  Here are my results

DSE (Disability Sports Events) Short Course Junior Nationals – 6th & 7th March 2010

4^th  100m Freestyle 

2^nd Silver  200m Individual Medley 

3^rd Bronze  400m Freestyle 

2^nd Silver  100m Breaststroke 

4^th  100m Backstroke 

4^th  100m butterfly

4^th  50m Freestyle   

It’s Official I am the s9 1500m Long Course British Record Holder

January 2010  

Here I am with my Millfield Swimming Coaches left to right Edward Sinclair, Jolyon Finck, me & Emma Collings shortly after I broke the S9 Long Course 1500m Freestyle British Record (subject to ratification) at Exeter City Long Course Open (Able Bodied) Meet which was held at Millfield School in Somerset. 

Here are my results

Exeter City Long Course Open Meet 22nd to 24th January 2010

 (subject to ratification) 1500m Freestyle S9 BRITISH RECORD

5th 100m Breaststroke  

 13th 50m Freestyle

8th 100m Backstroke

6th 200m Individual Medley

6th 100m Butterfly  

11th 100m Freestyle

December 2009   End of my first full term at Millfield I’ve had my ups and downs but overall it has been a great experience. Anyway packed up my room at Millfield and headed to Wales for the Welsh Disability Long Course Swimming Championships in Swansea. Sad to say it was the last time ever wearing the Speedo LZR full body,

It was a relaxing meet for me no pressure to make any times just had to swim and wind down. I think it was a nice way to end a very busy year.  

Here are my results:-

Welsh Long Course Championships 12th & 13th December 2009

100m Butterfly   S9 2nd

 50m Freestyle   S9 6th

200m  Individual Medley   S9 6th

200m Freestyle   S9 4th

  100m Freestyle   S9 4th

 100m Backstroke   S9 4th

 Looking forward to 2010 and the new Speedo LZR Racer Elite. bring it on!

November 21st & 22nd   I qualified and entered 7 Individual & 2 Team Relay events at the DSE’s (Disability Sport Events) National Short Course Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield. I had a reasonably good meet, it was not fantastic.  I have been working on my strokes. Lets edit that, changing my strokes, everything I do now is so different. Technique, Gym, Nutrition, Studying everything. So my swimming coach Emma Collings and I were not expecting miracles. I did manage to get a few Medals and PB’s (Personal Bests)

 Here are my results:-

DSE Senior Open SC National’s – 21st & 22nd November 2009

100m Freestyle   S9 5th

  100m Backstroke   S9 2nd

400m Team Medley Relay   3rd  

100m Butterfly   S9 3rd  

400m Freestyle   S9 2nd

200m Individual Medley   S9 4th

100m Breaststroke   DQ

50m Freestyle   S9 6th

400m Freestyle Team Relay   1st 

The highlight of the weekend was when I got to meet Ralf Little  from Two Pints of Lager & a Packet of Crisps and The Royle Family.

I was Selected to compete for East of England in this years  UK School Games  in Wales at the National Pool Swansea. For 100m Butterfly and 100m Freestyle. It was my fourth and last UK Games because you have to be sixteen and under to compete. On the 5^th September I competed and came 2^nd with a Silver Medal for 100m Butterfly and 4^th for 100m Freestyle. Not bad when you think my mind was on starting Millfield on the 6^th September.

July 28th    Start of the National Youth Championships, venue Ponds Forge in Sheffield. I qualified for 7 events which would have been over 6 days but due to the expense of hotels I entered only 5. They were MD (multi disability) events which means I was up against swimmers of all ages, and all disabilities. Here are my results:-

National Youth Championships 2009

21st MD   200m Individual Medley   S9 8th

21st MD   100m Freestyle   S9 4th

14th MD   100m Breaststroke   SB8 3rd

12th MD   100m Butterfly   S9 6th  

14th MD   50m Freestyle   S9 5th   

July 4th & 5th   No rest for the wicked, so the saying goes. I competed at the British Gas Swim Wales short course (25) Open Meet / IPC International Paralympic World Trials in Newport, Wales this weekend. Sadly I did not qualify for worlds, but I did come:-

4^th 400m Freestyle  

5^th  100m Individual Medley  

DQ 200m Individual Medley  

4^th  50m Freestyle  

3^rd 100m Breaststroke

4^th  100m Freestyle

November 2008  I qualified and entered 7 Individual & 2 Team Relay events at the DSE’s (Disability Sport Events) National Open Short Course Senior Championships at Ponds Forge international sports centre in Sheffield.  

Here are my results

DSE Senior Open SC National’s – 1^st & 2^nd November 2008

100m Freestyle 7^th

100 Backstroke 5^th

400m Medley Relay 2^nd (Jo-Jo Backstroke)

100m Butterfly 3^rd

400m Freestyle 2^nd

200m Individual Medley DQ Turned on front to soon from back at turn.

100m Breaststroke 3^rd

50m Freestyle 7^th

400m Freestyle Relay 3^rd

March 2008 I was selected by the national governing body of British Swimming to compete for Great Britain at the 2008 Danish Open 

It was the second time I had offically been selected and competed for Great Britain, so things were not so daunting and by now I was used to the pool and the facilities and of course being away from home. I qualifed and entered 8 events  2 of which where MD (multi disability) events, which meant I was up against swimmers of all ages, and all disabilities.

Here are my results  

Danish Open 2008

Esbjerg, Denmark

 7^th to  9^th March 2008

LC(Long Course) MD (Multi Disability) events up against all disabilities

Cranfield, Jo-Jo (S9/SB8/SM9) W 1993

Great Britain

6^th 100m Freestyle  S9 

4^th 200m Individual Medley  S9 

2^nd 200m Freestyle  S9 Silver Medal

3^rd 50m Butterfly  S9 Bronze Medal  

6^th 50m Butterfly Multi Disability Open Final

3^rd 400m Freestyle  s9  Bronze Medal

2^nd 100m Butterfly S9  Silver Medal

4^th  100m Butterfly Multi Disability Open Final

6^th 50m Freestyle s9

♥

March 2007  Back in January I was offically selected to compete for Great Britain by the national governing body of British Swimming, they asked if I would compete at the 2007 Danish Open which was going to be held at one of the best competitive pools in Denmark,the swimming pool Svømmestadion Danmark was built in 1996 and has been used for many international competitions.  I was very nervous as it was the very first time I had competed for Great Britain, I had never been away from home on my own before.  I qualifed and entered 8 events  2 of which where MD (multi disability) events, which meant I was up against swimmers of all ages, and all disabilities.

Here are my results  

Danish Open 2007

  9^th to  11^th March 2007 

LC(Long Course) MD (Multi Disability) events up against all disabilities

Cranfield, Jo-Jo (S9/SB8/SM9) W 1993

Great Britain

9^th 100m Freestyle  S9 

7^th 200m Individual Medley  S9 

4^th 100m Breaststroke SB8

7^th 100m Backstroke  S9 

10^th 400m Freestyle  s9 

3^rd 100m Butterfly S9  Bronze Medal

7^th 50m Freestyle s9

♥

September 2006   The inaugural UK School Games was amazing it brought together over 1200 teenagers from all over the UK. There were five major sports competing: athletics, swimming, gymnastics, fencing and table tennis with disability events in athletics and swimming. The UK School Games organisers have the intention to expand this to 15 sports by 2012.  The UK School Games provided competitors with a fantastic opportunity to experience and learn how to deal with the challenges of a large multi-sport event. Television cameras filmed the action, which gave many youngsters a taste of competing under a variety of pressures. The athletes will use this experience as a stepping stone to participation in London 2012, and 2016.

The teams came from all over the UK. Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England East, London, Midlands East, Midlands West, North East, North West, South East, South West, Yorkshire & Humberside.

I was selected to compete for the East of England

Here is my result

UK School Games – Tollcross – Glasgow – 9^th September 2006

 100 Butterfly 2^nd