The first week of March saw the end of the 2009 Kent Swimming Championships. The championships saw some fine swims from Canterbury swimmers, notably Oliver Kilbey, Caroline Robinson, Ellie and Sophie Weymouth and Ben Watson. For results click here.

With all the Championships races held at the Blacklion Leisure Centre, Gillingham, which is currently under refurbishment the county’s swimmers were treated to facilities not deserving of their talent and hard work. Kent, in the relatively prosperous South East of England and with its close proximity to the 2012 venue surely deserves a 50m swimming facility. It is clear that a great deal of hard work would need to be done to make this a reality but it is a matter of political will and an understanding that continued success in the pool requires investment in facilities – and soon. Even against this backdrop, the competing swimmers gave their best, with some exceptional swims and times

Canterbury, although not as successful as in previous years still had swimmers who competed hard and put in sterling efforts to win many races or come in the top six.

For the Canterbury boys there were 1 st places for Oliver Kilbey in the 200m and 400m freestyle, Ben Watson in the 100m, 200m Freestyle, and the 50m Backstroke. Dan Seagrove-Castle won the 100m Freestyle and Rob Messenger, the 50m Breaststroke.

Not to be outdone the girls gained 1 st places for Ellie Weymouth, 200m backstroke and 200m IM, Sophie Weymouth in the 200m Backstroke, Caroline Robinson in the 50m and 100m Freestyle, 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke, and the 200m IM, Elizabeth Wells in the 400m IM, and Helen Robinson in the 200m Butterfly.

The championships are spread over a number of weekends during February and March but the swimmers kept up a high level of performances throughout. This included the relay events where the Canterbury teams put in maxium efforts to win, or gain top six final placings in most of the team events.

Other swimmers racing in the individual events who produced excellent swims, with either top six placings, pb’s or both included George Casey, Curtis Tilbury, Jamie Woodard, Charlie Champs, Liam Drew, Sam Woodard, Guy Hewett, Alfie Goldsmith, Ege Sever, Cameron Foreman, Jazz Malcom, Nick Boylan, Michael Stanley, Dominika Sucova, Emma Drabble, Nicole Prosser, Catherine Lough, Simone Ward, Victoria Champs, Jessica Harvey, Holly Ralfe and Bethany Seaman.