Jack and Isaac at the East Region Championships Report

Monday, 14 June 2010 08:30

Great Yarmouth Swimming Club's Jack Utting and Isaac Kirby both attended the British Gas East region swimming championships at the UEA Sportpark taking four gold medals between them.

Jack opened on day one with his favourite events of the 100 and 200 mtr Backstroke. After controlled swims in the qualifying rounds, he dominated the races from the start taking over a three second lead in the 100 mtr race and five seconds in the 200, smashing the existing records to claim the golds. Confirming his position as the top backstroke swimmer in the age group within the region.

Isaac was to join him on the Sunday for the 200 mtr Breaststroke in his first regional championship swim, and showed he was more than capable to compete with the older lads in the group, leading Jack into the finals. After a close first 100mtrs, Jack took the forth place and Isaac followed him comfortably into fifth. Jack went on to join the City of Norwich team in the afternoon for the 11-14 year old 4x100 Medley relay event where he was to open with the Backstroke leg and the team went on to take the win which should see them through to Sheffield in July.

The second weekend was thrown into doubt for Jack, after suffering a foot injury during the week. He fought through though to take the bronze medal in the 200 mtr Individual medley and achieved his third National time. The afternoon saw a fourth place in the 200mtrs Freestyle after a tense final length putting Jack at the top of the leader board.

Isaac was certainly not going to be outshone with a strong qualifying time in the 100mtr Breaststroke seeding him second, ahead of the 2009 winner. As he pressed the leader up the first length to turn on his shoulder, Isaac stretched out on the return to draw level in a perfectly timed challenge towards a breathtaking final ten metres, to take his first championship gold. Isaac achieved not only his first National qualifying time, but a new record with it. Jack returned on the Sunday and swum again in the 100 mtrs Butterfly taking the bronze and achieving his fourth National qualifying time for 2010 . The afternoon saw another bronze in the 11-14 4x200 mtr freestyle relay team event.

Jack closed the competition collecting the 12 Y/O East Region British age group title. Both Jack and Isaac have qualified and go on to the National age group championships to be held in Sheffield at the end of July.