Scottish swimmers looking to progress in the para swimming pathway congregated at Aberdeen Aquatics Centre to compete in the SDS/SS National Performance Championships. Thirty nine swimmers from across the length and breadth of Scotland competed in their classification groups in a multi classification format to achieve personal bests and break records with a view to being selected for the Scottish Swimming National Squad Programme.
This event is being targeted at swimmers of regional development squad level and above who are swimming at least twice a week from all areas of Scotland. As well as providing swimmers with another competition in the calendar year it will aim to achieve the following:
- Offer a wider range of events to swimmers;
- Give swimmers experience and educate them in the minus one rule and the British Disability Points Scoring System;
- Develop swimmers’ competition etiquette.
Results will also be used to select swimmers for the Scottish Swimming National Development Squads for swimmers with physical, sensory and learning disabilities.
The championships are open to SDS Regional development squad swimmers identified by SDS Regional Managers and Scottish Swimming as having potential to progress through the swimmer pathway. This includes swimmers identified for classification and those who currently hold recognised classifications.
S1-S10: British Swimming (BS) or International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
S11-S13: British Blind Sport (BBS) or International Blind Sport Association (IBSA)
S14: UK Sports Association (UKSA) or International Association of Sports (INAS-FID)
S15: UK Deaf Sport (UKDS) or International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD)
For the first time ever the event was integrated with a mainstream district meet organised by Dyce ASC. This was deemed to be a great success with both mainstream and para swimmers benefitting from the extended programme. A total of 132 swims took place in the above classification groups over the course of the day.
Para swimmers did not disappoint, in the effort to be the best they can be. The standard of swimming was high and swimmers pushed each other with some very close finishes. An outstandingly total of 75 personal bests were achieved throughout all of the classes.
And to top it off a new record was set by Lothian swimmer Neil Ferguson – S7 100m Butterfly 1:48.27.
For a full list of results please click here.
Scottish Disability Sport and Scottish Swimming are always welcome new and existing swimmers so if you or anyone else you know would like to get involved in disability swimming please telephone SDS on 0131 317 1130, alternatively you can email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.