Great finish to the 2024 County Championships for AST Burnham

The second and final weekend of the 2024 County Championships took place at a slightly less raucous than usual Millfield School Pool due to a few clashes with national qualifying meets over the same weekend. There was still a high standard of competitive swimming on show though with AST Burnham’s swimmers putting in a lot of great performances over the weekend.

The Boys 100M Back kicked things off where Killian Faubel (11) set a new best time with a 7th place finish. A very high standard was on show in the under 13 age group where Leo Woodrow (12) also dropped his time to finish 5th, with Jay Duggan (14) also setting a new best time. Swimming in the Open age group, older brother Lewis Duggan (17) came in 5th.

The Girls 400M Free then saw Lauren Glanville (12) land a big long course PB to finish in 7th place. Eleanor Rees (14) also dropped her time as she finished in 9th, before Macy Noad (16) picked up the first medal of the weekend by finishing 3rd with a great swim. The Boys 100M Fly rounded off a fairly short morning session where Harry Glanville (12) and Jay Duggan (14) both produced outstanding swims in their first attempts at the event in a Long Course pool. Jay finished in 9th place overall with Harry just outside the medals in 4th.

Leo Woodrow (12) got the afternoon session off to a fast start with a great 200M Medley PB. However, he had to settle for 4th place as all the 12 year old boys in the event delivered some very impressive times that would have seen them win a couple of medals and place around the same in the age group above. Eleanor Rees (14) and Thea Faubel (14) then battled hard against another very strong field in the 100M Fly before a shortened day was finished off with the Boys 50M Free.

Joe Hay (10) and Madox Winder (10), who was making his first Counties appearance, got things off to an impressive start with big PB’s in the first 50M Free heat, soon followed by Ben Spinner (10) who also delivered a great swim and a big PB. Arthur Astill (11) demonstrated some great speed to finish 9th with a new PB, as did Killian Faubel (11). Leo Woodrow (12) was not to be denied this time with a great swim that saw him land the Bronze medal. Just behind him in 6th place was Ryan Smout (12) who unleashed his best form with a powerful swim. Harry Glanville (12), Aaron Mawby (15), and TT Magang (15) also dropped their PB’s whilst Lewis Hay (15) finished 8th overall.

It was another early start on Sunday in what became increasingly challenging conditions as the day wore on with the temperatures in and out of the pool feeling a lot higher than usual. This did begin to have a fatiguing effect on all the swimmers competing and there was a regular parade of team managers taking kids outside to cool off during the afternoon session. However, this did not stop the Academy Swim Team from delivering one more day of impressive swimming, starting with the Girls 200M Back and some big time drops for Albany Powell (9), Rosie Woodrow (10) and Charlotte Chard (11).

In the next event Leo Woodrow (12) again delivered an excellent Medley swim, this time over 400M to once more lower his PB and this time finish with the Bronze medal. Lorelai Jimmieson (11) then produced another good Breaststroke performance to lower her PB and finish in the top 10, whilst Eleanor Rees (14) was just edged out of the medal places in 4th.

The Boys 50M Fly rounded off the morning session and saw some great sprinting from AST Burnham’s entrants. There were huge PB’s in sprinting terms for Killian Faubel (11), Arthur Astill (11) and Harry Glanville (12), whilst Leo Woodrow (12) produced a big time drop of his own to finish 6th. Ryan Smout (12) again delivered a very fast swim but was just a fraction too quick off the starting blocks, whilst Jay Duggan (14) rounded off a good championship for him with another new PB. The older Boys then raced hard against some tough competition with TT Magang (15) knocking over a second off his PB to finish 10th, just behind teammate Lewis Hay (15) in 9th. Lewis Duggan (17) was last to go and finished 5th in the Open age group.

The afternoon session started off with the Boys 200M Breaststroke where a busy Killian Faubel (11) was once more in action and produced another great swim to finish with a new best time in 8th place. Macy Noad (16) then won her second medal of the weekend with a great 400M Medley performance that saw her finish with a hard earned Silver.

Arthur Astill (11) started off the Boys 100M Free with another impressive time drop that saw him finish in 8th place. Killian Faubel (11) was still going strong as he finished in 10th with another PB, whilst Leo Woodrow (12) also dropped his time but was just edged out of the top 3 into 4th place. Harry Glanville (12) continued the run of PB’s as he finished in 9th. TT Magang (15) then went very close to breaking the 1 minute barrier with a great swim, knocking over 3 seconds off his best time in the process.

As temperatures continued to rise poolside a hotly contested Girls 50M Free rounded off the afternoon session with just the 232 entrants taking part! All of AST Burnham’s girls produced some more great sprinting, starting with Albany Powell (9), Elsie Vowles (10) and Rosie Woodrow (10) all dropping under 40 seconds for the first time in a Long Course pool. Charlotte Chard (11) also followed this with a great new time and the PB’s continued as Lauren Glanville (12) and Evie Rowley-Wall (12) put in some good sprints, as did Agnes Alexander (13), Thea Faubel (14) and Eleanor Rees (14). Macy Noad (16) then finished off a successful weekend for her with a new PB to finish 7th.

The final session then saw 4 swimmers from the Academy Swim Team remain behind to take on the last event of this year's counties, the challenging 800M Free. The timing of the long distance events this year was tough for all taking part with the Millfield pool having been out of action for 2 months. Most of those competing had swum in many events over the weekend already, as they had before the 1500. However, it was the same conditions for everyone taking part and it was great to see the determination, athleticism and fast long distance swimming by all those who were still competing.

For AST Burnham the tireless Killian Faubel (11) put in one last great effort at the end of a packed weekend’s swimming for him as he finished in 4th place. Similarly Leo Woodrow (12) grafted hard after a lot of swimming over the weekend to drop 23 seconds off his PB as he also finished in 4th place. Lauren Glanville (12) once more produced a big time drop as she did in the 1500M Free, but this time had to settle for 5th. Harry Glanville (12) then picked up one last medal for the Academy Swim Team with a huge PB as he finished in 3rd place to complete a successful pair of long distance events for him.

Head Coach Sara Flinton was very pleased with the effort from everyone competing, saying “I would like to say what a privilege it was this weekend to work with all the young athletes, in particular on Sunday in a challenging environment. We are laying the foundations of what we need to be great senior athletes. The swimming journey is a long one and we always have to remember that we do this because we love it and are having fun. It was great to see so many of our swimmers delivering the race plans they were given before their races. Some standouts were from Eleanor Rees in the 400M Free and 100M Breast, Macy Noad in the 400M IM, Killian Faubel in the 200M Breaststroke and Leo Woodrow in the 200M IM. Swimming is a thinking sport and these swims were excellently executed, with great focus and thought, so well done. Also, a big shout out to Madox Winder swimming in his first ever County race only 3 months after his first ever race. Lastly, a thank you to all of those who team managed, volunteered and officiated over the weekend, events like this do not happen without your support.”

Final Medals Total