CALLIGO Tigers continued to stamp their authority on the national stage, this time in the GoCardless Swim England National Summer Meet.
When the sun set in Sheffield at the conclusion of the week, Tigers took home three English national age-group titles, four silvers, two bronze, five top tens and three club records.
In what has been a packed summer schedule for his team, head coach Nathan Jegou was “thrilled” with the results.
“What an amazing week to finish another strong season for the club,” he said.
“It was great to see so many swimmers make their debut at this level and put up strong performances.
“This includes coach Sian [Silvester] and her two swimmers Jack [Militis] and Ellie [Grant]. It really shows the programme is working from top to bottom.”
The emerging duo of Militis and Grant shone in the 12-13 years age group, as the former claimed two age-group titles in the men’s 400m freestyle, a club record, and the men’s 200m backstroke.
In what was a busy week for the youngster, he also took home silver in both the 800m and 1500m freestyle, while also finishing sixth in both the 200m individual medley and 200m freestyle finals.
Meanwhile, Grant produced one of the swims of the week in the ladies 12-13 years 400m IM, taking down a club record that had stood since 2010 to claim the gold, national title and a 14-second personal best time.
Grant also claimed bronze in the 200m breaststroke with a huge drop in time, managing a week of personal bests which highlighted the form she was in.
Tigers coach Silvester was excited to see two of her young swimmers come through and produce swims at the highest level, saying: “I’m thrilled with how the week has gone.
“Six days of racing is a big step up for the younger swimmers, so the fact they were performing to such a great level on day six and still managing to smash their personal bests is something I am immensely proud of.
“I hoped we would get great results, it shows their hard work and the Silver programme is working.”
Tigers now enjoy a deserved break for the summer before returning in September.
Coach Jegou added: “The last two months have been brilliant, from seeing Oscar [Dodds] and Filip [Nowacki] in Lithuania, to the results at the British and English nationals which importantly saw the next batch of swimmers coming through and exposing themselves to the right level of competition.
“We now take a break and look forward to the 2024-2025 season and go again.”
Elsewhere, Georgie Corrigan swam in the 14-15 years ago group level for the first time, with a personal best in the women’s 1500m freestyle to finish 11th.
She also came 25th in the 800m freestyle and finished off the week by placing 16th in the 400m freestyle.
Hannah Sterry swam well after competing at the British Championships the week previous.
The impressive teenager placed tenth in the 14-15 years women’s 800m freestyle, 12th in the 100m breaststroke and finished the week with a personal best in the 50m breaststroke to place 21st.
Elsa Dodds, after her great open water swim, competed in her first ever English Championships in the women’s 14-15 years age bracket in the 1500m freestyle event, finishing in 14th place.
Libby Powell, another first-time swimmer at this level, had a strong 200m freestyle swim to place 29th in the 14-15 years age group.
Tom Sterry swam well, claiming a well-deserved personal best in the 14-15 years men’s 800m freestyle to come sixth, where earlier in the week he had placed 23rd.
In the 16 years age band, Bo Buckley swam a superb personal best in the women’s 50m freestyle to place 21st.
Her busy week saw her also swim the 400m freestyle, placing 16th, the 100m freestyle, finishing 18th and the 800m freestyle, where she ended in 17th.
Chloe Hansford raced well in the 16 years 400m IM to come 17th to round off a solid season.
In the 17 years age group, Dan Papworth stormed to a bronze medal in the men’s 200m backstroke with a massive personal best in the final.
This had followed a week of personal bests in both the 100m backstroke (18th) and the 50m backstroke (18th), a great week to round off another progressive season.
Matthew Deffains broke the club record twice in the men’s 17 years 100m Freestyle, once in the heats and then again in the final to finish sixth.
He then swam a season’s best in the 17 years 200m free final to win Tigers’ final medal of the week and take home a well-deserved silver.
In the 18 years and over age band, Joe Swart made the men’s open 100m butterfly final, swimming two massive lifetime bests in the process.
He also swam a personal best in the 200m IM, but just narrowly missed out on reaching the final.
Megan Hansford came 18th in the 18 and over women’s 200m IM.
She then stormed her way to a huge lifetime best and her first 50m backstroke personal best in over a year to claim silver in the final.
Tigers extended their thanks to Calligo Limited for their continued support of the club.
