Two swimmers secure medals and all do well

South Mainland ASC took nine swimmers to compete in the Dyce Hunting Trophy Meet at Westhill last weekend, giving them all the opportunity to race in 100m events in their age groups. A great number of personal best times were achieved and two of the team brought home medals.

Scott Riise, 11, swimming in his first competition south for a year, was the last of the South Mainland swimmers to race in the morning, but was first to win a medal by taking bronze in the boys 10-11 years 100m backstroke with an excellent five second PB of 1.28.12. In the afternoon session, he then won gold in the 100m freestyle with another PB time of 1.18.09 and finished his successful day with the 100m breaststroke where he equalled his PB.

James Morris, 12, swam all four races in the 12-13 year age group, but started his busy day competing in the open 200m IM, which he swam extremely well for a seven second PB of 3.03.84. His best swim of the day was in the 100m backstroke where he had a brilliant three second improvement on his time, finishing in silver place in 1.21.37. James also gained PBs in the 100m freestyle with 1.15.06 and the breaststroke with 1.39.09. His time for the butterfly was on PB pace.

Jason Riise, 13, also swam five events. In the open 100m IM he had a PB of 1.28.32. In his age group events he managed a further three PBs which included a tremendous six seconds off his entry time with a 1.13.40 for the freestyle and a most impressive seven second improvement in breaststroke with a 1.31.46. In both these events he came fifth.

Lucy Morris, 12, swam two events in the 12-13 year girls. Her backstroke was on her PB and she had a super five second PB in freestyle with a time of 1.21.60.

Four of the South Mainland girls competed in the 10-11 year age group. Vhairi Davies, 11, had a chunky five second PB for a 1.30.83 in the backstroke where she came fourth, only missing out on a medal by less than a second. Her breaststroke was also a good three second PB with 1.50.48, and both freestyle and butterfly finished on entry times.

Curstaidh Mackay, 11, got off to a fantastic start to the day in the 100m butterfly. Seeded only as reserve, but given the chance to swim, she dropped her entry time by 13 seconds to finish in a 1.48.43. In backstroke and breaststroke, her times were just outside entry times, but another fabulous PB was achieved when she knocked almost seven seconds off her freestyle with a 1.20.07.

Cara Steven, 11, competing south for the first time in two years, also had a good PB in her freestyle, improving on her time by three seconds for a 1.25.48, with her swims in breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly close to entry times.

Ten-year-old Sophie Morris, swimming for the first time south at this level of competition, had brilliant swims in all three of her races. Her butterfly resulted in an excellent 1.37.01 to finish well up the rankings in sixth place. In backstroke, too, she finished sixth with a PB of 1.32.40 and then finished off her day with a massive six second PB in the freestyle for a 1.21.48.

Youngest of the SMASC swimmers was Erraid Davies, nine, who swam two races in the nine-year age group.

Her breaststroke showed good improvement with a three second PB for a 1.53.74 and a fifth place, and she also swam her backstroke well.

The club would like to thank NorthLink and Mainlands for their support.