Hampshire Counties 2016 - Weekend 2

The middle weekend of 2016 Hampshire County Championships was held at Waterlooville on 30 and 31 January. This weekend saw a full programme of races up to 200m for swimmers aged 14 and under.

Basingstoke Bluefins had another very successful meet, claiming 8 gold medals, 7 silvers, 3 bronze and having 14 further finalists, along with numerous personal best times.

Amelia Trist led the way for Bluefins with a fantastic haul of 3 golds and 2 silvers. Swimming in the 13 year old category, Trist won both the 200m breaststroke and butterfly by over 4 seconds, as well as winning the 100m breaststroke and coming second in the 50m breaststroke and 100m Butterfly.

In the youngest aged group, 10 and 11 year olds, Alexander Heath and Conor Cherrington showed that the future is bright for the club. Cherrington won the 200m breaststroke by a 5 second margin and gained silver in the 50 and 100m breaststroke and 50m butterfly. Heath won gold in the 100m backstroke and picked up bronze for both the 50m and 200m backstroke as well as reaching the final of the 50m freestyle.

In the 14 year old category John Holt won gold in the 100 and 200m Butterfly and came second in the 50m Butterfly. Julia Lebosse won the 50m freestyle, finished 2^nd in the 200m breaststroke and reached the finals of the 50 and 100m breaststroke as well as the 100m backstroke. Aemilia Rugman won a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke and reached the final of the 50m breaststroke.

For the 13 year olds, Isla Haynes finished third in the 200m butterfly as well as reaching the finals in the 50 and 100m butterfly.

The other Bluefins finalists were Emily Rogerson in the 12 year olds 50m breaststroke, Chloe Garlinge in the 10/11 years old breaststroke and in the 14 years old group Kieran Parker reached the finals of the 50 and 100m backstroke, Charlyne Lebosse missed bronze in the 100m butterfly by 0.2 seconds as well as making the final in the 50m butterfly and Laura Helyar reached the final of the 50m breaststroke.

The third and final weekend of the Championships takes place on 6^th and 7^th February in the 50m pool at Portsmouth for 15 year olds and over.