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National Swimming Championship for Children with a Visual Impairment
Sponsored by British Blind Sport
Worcester Swimming Pool
17th March 2004
The start of the Gala was delayed for a short time as we received a phone call from the West of England School group who were caught in heavy traffic. The hold up was such that the bus carrying the junior competitors turned back. The senior group forged on regardless, albeit at a snail's pace.
We had another slight setback when we heard that only one student from University College Worcester would be able to act as a timekeeper. Staff from the various school groups rallied around and we were able to get the junior gala underway thanks to our last minute volunteers.
Everything began to improve from then on. Our one student arrived with five friends in tow - so they were able to take over the timekeeping duties, allowing the teachers to return to their charges. Then, before we started the senior events, the West of England group arrived.
In all, over 100 young people from eleven different schools / organisations travelled from as far afield as Scotland, the South West, the South East, the North West and the Midlands. They competed in seventy-two races, subdivided by stroke, sight classification, age and sex.
The competition was fierce but all efforts were appreciated by the spectators who cheered on even those bringing up the rear.
Records are by definition difficult to surpass. However, one competitor has continued to extend his own personal record. Andrew Briant, from New College, Worcester, has broken at least one championship record every two years over an eight-year period. His latest success was in the B1 Freestyle event, which he has dominated since 1998. He also holds two records in the Backstroke.
The Gala finished a little later than in recent years but everyone returned home with a sense of achievement, possibly a ribbon or two and a swim cap from our sponsors.
May we thank our colleagues who helped on the day; the students of University College Worcester; Miss Dina Murdie, our volunteer stroke judge; the Staff of Worcester Swimming Pool; British Blind Sport who sponsor the event; Gillian Parker, BBS Sports Development Officer, who presented the awards and, most importantly, all the young people who trained hard and competed honourably.
Brian McManus and Angela Beach (St Vincent's, Liverpool) Organisers.
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