Westhill Success at North District Open
The North District Open Swim Meet was held at Westhill on 3rd and 4th June and the host club performed well in all disciplines over the two days. Chris Chasser set a new N.D. Open Championship record in the Mens 100m butterfly (56.72) previously held by none other than Commonwealth Gold medallist David Carry. Chris was also in fine form in other events, winning three further Golds in 400m freestyle (4.08.72), 200m butterfly (2.05.83) and 100m backstroke (1.01.92).
Jenny Sangster was another young swimmer in excellent form, breaking two N.D Age Group records in 200m IM (2.32.73) and 400m IM (5.22.53), the latter of which also saw Jenny take the Silver medal.
Other Westhill medal successes were Craig Thomson with Bronze in both the 200m backstroke and 1500m freestyle with a considerably improved “pb” (17.37.30), Laura Murchie who won Bronze in the 100m Breaststroke and Michael Caldwell with Bronze in the 800m freestyle.
Most swimmers and their parents will have encountered the frustrating “catch 22” quandary of how to gain updated times in certain events when existing times aren’t fast enough to gain entry, but this event also incorporated Youth Distance Time Trials, which offers swimmers a common-sense opportunity to gain improved accredited times for future competitions. Many younger swimmers took advantage of this opportunity and gained qualification times which can be entered in forthcoming meets.