Performance: BUCS Swimming Team Champions
29 March 2011
Loughborough University played host for the main event in the BUCS swimming calendar this past weekend. The team championships haven’t been contested by the Cardiff University team for some years, so this year the swimming team were determined to make an impact. In February, the swimmers shocked the Southern Universities, by winning at the brand new sports park at the University of Surrey gaining a place in the National Team Championship Finals held in Loughborough. Cardiff, the only team from Wales to gain a place in the Finals, were loud and proud in supporting and focussed on the competition at hand. From lane 4, the swimmers were perfectly placed to command the races and so they did. Hard training leading up to this event meant that the Cardiff swimmers were fitter and better in their strokes through the water. In many of the races the commentator had already announced Cardiff as the winners by half way through the race.
The individual events saw first places from Chris Campbell, who had recently returned from competing at the British Championships. Swimmer of the day was awarded to Libby Heatherington, who despite struggling with a migraine, cruised coolly out of the reach of other swimmers. Glyn Chisholm-Jones won through in style in the 200m Freestyle. Jack Middleton gritted his teeth to fight through to win in the backstroke events and Rory Hollings swam to victory in the 100m freestyle and even had a go at the breaststroke events. Cardiff’s support for each other never wavered and Team Manager Michael Cook made a permanent feature at the end of pool, shouting for the team.
Even with all of the individual success, Cardiff were not on for a clear win. Tactical racing ensured a small lead going into the final double-point-winning relays but Glasgow and York were not far behind. Excessive motivation came from men’s captain and the girls team reacted admirably. Against very tough and very good swimmers, Nichola Gordon-Jones, Lucy Jenner and Ceris Westlake swam excellently and Libby Heatherington bought home the win. It was then down to the Men’s team. Led out by Rory Hollings, Cardiff led from the start. Jack Thomas who’d swam brilliantly all day made it look easy. Chris Campbell, extended the lead and Glyn Chisholm-Jones displayed the fact that Cardiff are a cut above the rest in the pool.
Cardiff University went to win and they fully deserved the BUCS gold medal at the end of the afternoon. Congratulations to the team and good look to those who have been selected to represent Welsh Universities in Belfast at the Celtic Nations!
