Rachel Haigh and Chris Knight hit a brace of gold medals each at the Sheffield Winter Distance Gala last weekend. The 14-year-old swimmers led a large contingent from the City of Newcastle club taking part in the last event of the year. Rachel struck gold with personal best times in both the 14-15 years 200m butterfly in 2-22.92 and later in the 400m individual medley with 5-11.30. "That was a big improvement on my swims in Leeds two weeks ago," said Haigh afterwards. "I think I can still improve more as I bring the second half of my butterfly race back faster." Haigh also finished second in the 200m individual medley with 2-27.28. Knight's gold medals came in the longest freestyle event, the 1500m freestyle, breaking 17 minutes for the first time in a 50m pool with 16-59.25 after earlier winning the 200m individual medley in 2-21.30 ahead of club mate Chris Dixon who was third. Dixon came second in the 14 years 200m breaststroke in 2-45.70. Another winner was 14-year-old Alex Smith who won the 200m backstroke in 2-18.87. Other medal winners at the event were: 12 years: Andrew Dixon 200m breaststroke, second, 2-59.13; 13 years: Andrew Learmouth 400m individual medley, 2, 5-18.62; 200m backstroke, 2, 2-28.77; 200m individual medley, 2, 2-28.54; Andrew Summers 200m breaststroke, 2, 3-03.71; Alex Rea 400m freestyle, 2, 4-38.68; 200m backstroke, 3, 2-31.91; 15-16 years: Robert Shaw 200m breaststroke, 2, 2-31.59; Andrew Smith 500m freestyle, 2, 16-47.53; 400m individual medley 3, 4-55.84; Andrew Barrett 200m butterfly, 3, 2-18.97; 17 and over: Niall Nesbitt 200m breaststroke, 2, 2-34.60; 400m individual medley, 3, 4-57.82; 200m butterfly, 3, 2-24.54. Girls: 11 and under: Charlotte Sim 400m freestyle, 2, 4-56.86; 200m freestyle, 3, 2-23.62; 400m individual medley, 3, 5-47.73; 12 years: Alice Miller 200m breaststroke, 3, 2-55.89; Lucy Gordon 200m backstroke, 2, 2-34.23; Sarah Murray 200m backstroke, 3, 2-39.55; 14-15 years: Sally Reid 200m breaststroke, 2, 2-45.72; Amy Jessett 400m freestyle, 3, 4-35.22; Eve Mackey 800m freestyle, 3, 9-35.50. |
