OUSC has a strong BUCS performance
On Friday 16th February, OUSC headed up to Sheffield to compete at BUCS Nationals, with a team of 13. Despite a temperamental minibus and the ordering having the three fastest heats of each event at the beginning of each session, meaning many swimmers had to swim events back to back, the team had a strong performance with some good race practice for Varsity next weekend.
The new ordering was an interesting hurdle, this saw the first swims of the session by Jamie Towner and Cameron Manley in the 50m backstroke, both achieving their blues times. Cameron also broke the Oxford 50m backstroke record in a time of 28.34s! Next up was the 100m butterfly, which saw Zara Ryan break the Oxford record in 1.07.82, which had stood for 18 years. However, Juliet Flamank broke it back only two heats later in a final time of 1.06.99 – well done girls! Juliet also got a taste of racing next to Cambridge’s butterfly swimmer, she was touched out at the end but we will surely see a different result back in a short course pool. The schedule continued, seeing great swims from Emma Watts and Adam Bagley in the 200m freestyle, a personal best for Emma. Emma then went on to swim the 50m backstroke with a solid swim. Janet Chan Yuan Ting was our only competitor in the 50m breaststroke, swimming in her first race for Oxford. Lastly, Ben Eastman and Arman Karshenas had great 100m butterfly swims too, with Ben achieving his blues time.
In the next session Emma achieved another PB in the 200m backstroke. For the 50m freestyle, Lauren Burton and Jamie swum in the three fastest heats with great swims, Jamie swimming a blues time. Janet had her second swim for Oxford with a great 200m breaststroke. The men then had a solid performance for their medley relay, where the team of Cameron, Adam, Ben and Arman, qualified for the B final, which would take place the next day. The remaining heats for the session continued with swims from Courtney Saunders and Matt Williams in the 50m freestyle, with Matt swimming a blues time. A great first day for OUSC!
Straight into it the next morning Zara and Ben swum the 200m butterfly, a tremendous well done for both for such a nasty event! The 100m freestyle was next, seeing swims from Lauren, Matt and Jamie, with Jamie swimming a blues time in 55.40s. Matt then had to go straight into his 100m breaststroke, with a solid swim. Next the 200m IM saw swims from Zara, with an impressive swim immediately after her 200m butterfly, Juliet and Adam, with Juliet qualifying for the final later that day in a time of 2.32.53s. Next for the three fastest heats Cameron swum very well in the 100m backstroke. Adam, straight after the 200m IM, had his 400m freestyle which deserves another special mention for swimming the events so close together. In the remaining heats for the events, Courtney, Juliet, Ben and Arman all swum great 50m butterflies. The last swim of the session was Janet with a solid 100m breaststroke.
Into the last session of the weekend, Juliet swum in the club’s only individual final, this was also Juliet’s first BUCS and therefore a great achievement to final! Placing 10th in the final with a very solid swim. The last swim of the weekend was the men’s medley relay in their B final, the team was Cameron, Matt, Ben and Jamie, with all four doing impressive times considering how much they had already swum that day.
The weekend was very fun for the whole team, and just want to say a huge well done for everyone. We did superbly as a team at this long course meet, especially given we primarily train to race short course.
A special well done to: Matt, Cameron, Ben and Jamie on their blues times; Zara, Juliet and Cameron for breaking Oxford records; and Juliet and the boys relay for making the finals.
