Swimming: Arnberg provides happy hunting ground for youngsters

Jun 11 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

SWIMMERS from West Lothian took to international waters last weekend when they contested the Neheim-Husten 38th International Swim Festival.

Thirty youngsters from clubs from around the county travelled to Arnberg, Germany, for the event which is one of the largest open-air swimming festivals in Europe.

West Lothian swimming clubs were selected to compete as part of the local council’s twinning initiative with Hochsauerland, and was the second group to travel to this meet after the county’s first appearance in 2006.

Despite bad weather the county’s swim stars finished a respectful third overall.

As most of these athletes have had a major change to their training regimes in recent weeks, personal best times and consistent swimming were the targets, with any medals an added bonus.

The challenge was met by these youngsters as out of 251 swims they posted a staggering 147 PBs, with every swimmer gaining numerous personal bests.

Emma Calvert had a PB in every swim and also lifted a bronze in the 50m backstroke.

Erin Cooper took home gold in the 200m butterfly, Shona Mackie silver in the 200m backstroke and Sophie Ross bronze 200m backstroke.

The medals continued when Rachel Taylor won silver in the 50m backstroke and Josh Wilson also scooped silver in the 200m breaststroke.

Some swimmers even doubled up and took two medals back on to the bus home to West Lothian: Hayley Marshall won bronze in both the 50m and 100m butterfly; Ashley McAdam took home gold in the 200m and silver in the 100m butterfly; Mark Steel clinched a silver in the 400m freestyle and bronze in the 200m backstroke.

There were even some county swimmers who completed a memorable hat-trick of triumphs by winning three medals: Paige Aitchison won gold in the 400m IM, bronze in the 200m backstroke and a silver in the 200m breaststroke.

This amazing achievement was matched by Alex Bryce who also won three medals: bronze in the 200m and 400m freestyle and silver in the 100m butterfly. Katherine Jones won a bronze in the 400m freestyle and 200m breaststroke and a silver 200m IM.

Daniel McCart was another swimmer who celebrated a hat-trick of honours after taking gold, silver and bronze in the 200m and 100m breaststroke and 200m IM.

Cameron McCarthy won gold in the 50m freestyle, gold in the 100m freestyle and bronze following the 200m freestyle, Aaron Sievewright’s trio came via a gold in the 400m freestyle, a silver in the 200m backstroke and a bronze in the 100m butterfly.

Kim Taylor followed with a silver in the 400m freestyle, and a pair of bronze gongs in the 100m and 50m breaststroke.

Marnie Whitfield rounded off the swimmers who won three medals after scooping a gold in the 200m butterfly, a gold in the 100m butterfly and finally a bronze in the 50m freestyle.

There was better to follow, with one county swimmer winning five medals and another taking six. Andrew Harkins took home the gold in the 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke, a silver in the 200m IM, 200m Butterfly and 200m freestyle.

Meanwhile, Ross Shearer also lifted six, with four bronze and two silver gongs. They were bronze in the 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 200m backstroke and 100m backstroke, and silver in the 200m IM and the 50m freestyle.

But without a doubt the star of the trip with an amazing nine medals was James Black who romped to four golds, two silver and four bronze medals while he was also desperately unlucky to finish just outside the medals in his remaining two swims.

Coaches Gilbert Kirkwood and Tricia Aitchison were thrilled with the achievements of the young squad saying: “This is our first foreign trip with these swimmers and they really grew in every respect.”

Sharon Ross, Swimming Development Officer, added: “We would like to thank West Lothian Council and the West Lothian Twinning Association for supporting us in this and hope they will continue to do so in the future.

“It would be fantastic to return in a couple of years’ time to clear the medals once again.”