Blenheim swimmers among the medals

Marlborough’s two representatives at the National Age Group Swimming Champs in Hasting earlier in the month did the province proud.

Blenheim Swim Club members Will Atkinson and Nicola Lovell were the only participants from here, after Max Skehan withdrew late due to illness and injury. Seventeen and 18-year-olds have been removed from the NAGS programme and will race at the NZ Opens in late May.

Will, racing in the 14 years boys division, continues his ascent up the NZ ranks, especially in his preferred butterfly stroke where he picked up his first national title with a gold medal in the 50 fly and a bronze in the 100 fly. He also reached the final of the 50 back.

Nicola, who competed in the 16-year-old girls section, followed up last year’s medal by claiming two silver medals in the 400 individual medley and bronze in the 200IM as well as a fourth place in the 200 breast and made the final of the 100 breast.

The next major events for these two will be NZ secondary schools in July, the Swimming Nelson Marlborough champs in early August and then the South Island champs which are in Blenheim this year from Aug 22-24.

The BSC will have a team of four heading to the NZ opens in May - Jack Bugler, Jack Love, Jessica Lovell and Finlay McNabb.