Amazing medal haul for Felix

DELTING Dolphins swimmer Felix Gifford won five gold, two silver and three bronze medals at the recent North District Championships at Inverness, breaking eight age group records and two open Shetland records in the process.

He started the weekend with a PB in the 100m breaststroke, then powered through the 200m butterfly to win his first gold in a Shetland record time of 2.20.84.

In the second session Felix started with the 400m IM, being in the second fastest heat. He led from the start, taking 20 seconds from his time to win the bronze in a record time of 5.05.78. He then swam a PB in the 200m breaststroke. In his last event of the session Felix swam another PB to win the silver in the backstroke.

The third session was Felix’s best, winning the 200m freestyle in a new record time of 2.02.27. In the butterfly he cruised to victory in 1.02.39, his fourth record.

On Sunday morning Felix started with the 100m freestyle which gave him the opportunity to show his true speed to win the gold in a record time of 55.62. The next event was the 1500m freestyle where he broke both the age group record and the Shetland open record on his way to winning the bronze.] Session five saw him win his final gold medal, also breaking the age group and open record with 4.22.92 in the 400m freestyle in which he led from the start. This session also saw him qualify third for the final of the 200m IM.

In the final session Felix won the bronze in the 200m backstroke. With very little rest, he powered his way to silver in the 200m IM, his final record of 2.22.97.

Thus ended a fantastic weekend for Felix in which he did PBs in every event and won medals in all but the breaststroke races.

Also swimming in this age group were Jake Swanson and Jamie Murphy. Jake swam a PB in the 100m breaststroke while in the 400m IM he took 13 seconds from his time. He then attacked the 200m breaststroke, taking 16 seconds from his PB.

In the 200m freestyle Jake he took another five seconds from his time, while in the 100m butterfly he lowered his time by a further three seconds. He also swam PBs in the 100m freestyle, 200m IM, 200m backstroke400m freestyle and the 1,500m event, where he took 21 seconds off his time.

Jamie started the weekend in the 100m breaststroke in a great PB time. In the 200m freestyle he tore nine seconds from his time, while in the 100m freestyle he went out from the beginning to win his heat, taking five seconds from his time. In his final event true to form he did another PB in the 200m backstroke.

In the 11/12 age group Saul Swanson, not to be out done by his brother, gained PBs in the 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 400m IM, 200m freesyle, 200m butterfly, 100m backstroke and 200m IM.

Michael Southern swam new PBs in the 400m IM and 200m freestyle, while Iwan MacBride did likewise in the 100m and 200m freestylen races.

Callum Maccoll improved his PBs in the 200m backstroke, 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle while David Wallace, the youngest Delting swimmer, gained a PB in the 200m freestyle.

For the girls Jessika Swanson and Leigh Wishart swam in the older age group. Jessika swam PBs in the 800m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 400m freestyle showing the improvement she has made in this stroke. Leigh achieved a good PB in the 100m freestyle.

The last girl, Arwen Raikes, was swimming in the youngest age group and recorded PBs in the 400m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle.

A spokeswoman said the Delting Dolphins would like to thank Maria Wishart and Liz Southern for travelling with them and being their officials.