43rd Calligo Tigers Open Meet

The Beau Sejour Barracudas certainly made their mark at the 43rd Calligo Tigers Open Meet held in Jersey this weekend.  The talented team of 48 returned with a plethora of medals and some amazing Championship records.

Orianna Wheeler, swimming in the 16 years and over category, was in cracking form as she set no less than 4 records - 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke.  In the latter she set a new Island record, of 2.35.12 which had previously been held by the former Island breaststroke star Helen Watts.  It was set back in the year 2000.  Orianna, then  just missed setting a further Island record in the 200m butterfly, by eight hundredths of a second posting 2.16.33.  She also took silver in the 100m butterfly.  With a score of 675 FINA points Orianna also received Best Girl Award in her age group.

Orianna Wheeler

It was teammate Orla Rabey who took the gold in the 100m butterfly, where she set a record of 1.03.27, as well as setting a new mark in the 50m butterfly with a great swim of 28.55.  She also took gold in the 100m and 50m freestyle.

The backstroke events 50m and 100m were won by Molly Staples, whilst the distance freestyle events – 800m, 400m and 200m all went to Delphine Riley, in some great performances in her favoured events.

The other medallists for the Barracudas in this age group were, Elodie Riley, Jemima Green, Erin Watterson and Katherine Bolton.

For the boys in this age group, there were podium finishes for Cameron Lee, Josh Dunning and Enzo Crowson.  This section facing the toughest competition from the Tigers National swimmers such as Jo Swart, Matthew Deffain, Isaac Thompson and the infamous Filip Nowacki who impressed with his outstanding record breaking 100m breaststroke swim of 1.00.52. 

Best Girl award in the 10/11-year age group went to Charlotte Bolton with 455 FINA points.   She took gold in 50m, 100, and 200m freestyle as well as silver in the 50m butterfly.  The gold going to Charlotte Holland who had a great weekend with 5 medals in total.  It was left to the third Charlotte in this age group – Charlotte Miller to take silver in 50m and 100m breaststroke as well as bronze in the 50m butterfly.

Charlotte Bolton

For the boys in the 10/11 section – a very focussed Caelan Osborough, impressed with wins in the 50m and 100m backstroke as well as silver in the 50m freestyle and third places in 100m and 200m freestyle and 200m backstroke.  Kobe Robinson pushed hard to medal in 50m back stroke (2nd place) and 50m freestyle and 100m breaststroke, where he won bronze.

Barracuda Jessica Boyle was awarded Best Girl 14 years with a FINA points win of 556.  She returned with a further 6 second places and 2 thirds.  In the same age group 14/15 years, Emily Hyland impressed with 3 golds in 50m and 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly, as well as a silver and a bronze.  Eve Hartley swam the best of her life in the 50m butterfly, to take gold.   Due to an error at the start, Eve completed the swim on her own to thunderous support from all and was delighted to post 31.48.  Niamh Polson also had a brilliant weekend with some magnificent personal best times and 2 medals.

Spike Jinks was impressive in the 50m backstroke, butterfly and freestyle, where he won a hat trick of golds – he was super delighted to see the clock stop at 25.92 in the freestyle – his new lifetime best! It was Garratt Dixon who took the 50m breaststroke sprint title, with Joey Langford squeezing in a bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

The three Barracuda boys in the 12/13 age group dominated.  Zach Maiden, Cooper Robinson and Henry Bolton.

Zach Maiden worked so hard throughout the long weekend to medal in no less than 10 events with golds in 400m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke, 100m backstroke and 400m Individual medley.  With silver in 800m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 200m freestyle and a further bronze win in 100m freestyle – he could be hugely proud of his weekend’s work.

Likewise, Cooper Robinson stormed home to win the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly events, as well as silver in the 400IM and 5 further bronzes.  The third medallist in this age group was Henry Bolton who again impressed with a medal haul; of 4 silver and 4 bronzes.

In the same age group for the girls Megan Carter achieved some excellent results.  Winning 400m and 50m freestyle, 50m and 200m backstroke, as well as silver in 800m and 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke and bronze in 50 breaststroke and 200m freestyle, illustrating her versatility and skill over a mixture of strokes and distances.  

Caletta Hern, swimming at the bottom of the 12/13 age group swam well to take a third place in the 50m butterfly.

Swimmers throughout the age groups focussed on swimming their lifetime bests and with that mindset, they all achieved some superb results.  The team extended their thanks to OAK for their continued support enabling them to compete off Island in such events.