National Age Groups 2007:

Two things learnt this weekend:
* Skins really do work! The minute the skins go on, the PB's come rolling in. I don't know if the magic is in the skin or in the head but, hey, who cares! They work.
* I told everyone to focus on points and positions as this is the National Champs and it is the positions that count and because of the huge amount of races in which most swimmers were participating , PB's were not really on the cards. Well, our swimmers did concentrate on the positions but the PB's still kept coming in thick and fast.

So, where do we start - PB's, school records or medals? I suppose since this is the National Age Groups Champs, we should start with the medals - all fifteen of them that AIS managed to win.

Remember that, according to the new AIS bead system for sporting achievements, all swimmers getting a gold medal at the National Champs will receive a gold bead and all swimmers getting either a silver or bronze medal will get a silver bead.

Four gold medals were won by the following swimmers from AIS:

Ralph Goveia (boys 11 years - a remarkable achievement given that Ralph only turned 11 a week ago!)

Danielle Findlay (girls 12 years)

Cameron Mackintosh (boys 13 years)

Cuan Smith ( boys 16 and over)

Seven silver medals were won by the following swimmers from AIS:

Max Ryan (boys 8 and under)

Natasha Rusch (girls 10 years)

Nicholas Bertram (boys 11 years)

David Frost (boys 12 years)

Timothy Schurz (boys 13 years)

Hano Smith (boys 14 years)

Zoë Frangeskides (girls 16 years)

Four bronze medals were won by the following swimmers from AIS:

Crystal Findlay (girls 8 and under)

Jessica Robertson (girls 10 years)

Alex van Vlaanderen (boys 10 years)

Eddie Royle (boys 11 years)

Next, we will look at school records broken:

Each swimmer breaking a school record is entitled to a silver bead for each record broken.

School records either set or broken
* Max Ryan broke the 50 free record in the 8 and under boys category . So, one silver bead

* Crystal Findlay broke the 100 breast record in the 8 and under girls category (her own record). One silver bead

* David Frost broke the 200 breast record in the boys 11-12 category (broke his own record). One silver bead

* Danielle Findlay broke three school of her own school records in the 100 breast, 100 fly and 200 IM and also set a timefor the 200 breast. Also apparently broke her own record for the 100 back but I didn't get the official time for this so will verify once the official results are out. Four but probably five silver beads

* Cameron Mackintosh broke five school records- 50 free, 200 free, 50 back, 200 back and 200 IM. So, five silver beads

* Timothy Schurz broke his own 200 fly record (this is going to be a hard one to beat in years to come!). So, one silver bead

* Cuan Smith broke his own 50 free record and in doing so, not only earned a silver bead but also a gold for smashing his own Zambian national record for 50 free and earning one gold bead as well.

And then, last but not least.... PB's!

Considering that I told everyone NOT to worry too much about PB's due to the huge number of events being swum, I was pretty much ignored because a total of EIGHTY FOUR PB's were recorded as follows (Yellow beads per two PB's)

Top PB earners in the 11 and under age categories during National Age Groups
* A monstrous seven PB's to Alex van Vlaanderen!!!! Top PB earner in the 11 and under age category. Three yellow beads.
* Runners-up with five PB's - Sarah Pickard and Peter Frost. Two yellow beads each!
* Then, on four PB's apiece - Crystal Findlay, Hannah Ryan, Oriana Findlay, Jessica Robertson and Brandon Andrews. Also two yellow beads apiece.
* On three PB's - Eddie Royle - One yellow bead
* And a whole herd on two PB's (one yellow bead) - Natasha Rusch, Jessica Schurz, Sophia Graybill and Nicholas Bertram.
* One for Max brings the total PB's for 11 and unders to 49 PB's!

Top PB earners in the 12 and over age category during National Age Groups:
* Cameron with eight PB's so four yellow beads
* Runners-up - David Frost and Hano Smith with six PB's apiece. So, three yellow beads
* Then, Danielle Findlay with four PB's - two yellow beads
* Then, Timothy Schurz and Zoë Frangeskides on three PB's -so, one yellow bead each
* Jacob Bertram on two PB's - one yellow bead
* Then, Stefan, Aimee and Cuan with a PB apiece make 35 PB's for the 12 and over group

So. well done to you all - every single AIS swimmer did the school proud!