RAF Swimming Team

CC AIR HQ RAMSTEIN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The RAF Men’s and Women’s swimming teams competed in the CC Air HQ Ramstein Swimming Championships against other European air forces at the International Swimming Stadium in Eindhoven, Holland, over the period 11-13 Sep 07.

The RAF ladies won the 2006 championships and valiantly defended their title this year but unfortunately came in second to the USAFE team. However, the women’s team achieved several gold medals and some silvers which kept them in the running throughout the competition.

The notable ladies performances were SAC Tiffiny Dickinson who won the ladies 50m Freestyle in a time of 28.89, Fg Off Katie Broomhead who came second in the ladies 200m Freestyle in a time of 2.37.89, the ladies 4 x 50m Medley Relay Team of Fg Off Alice Hartley, SAC Tiffiny Dickinson, SAC Charlotte Medcraft and SAC Charlie Smith who came second in a time of 2.22.19 and finally the ladies 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Team of Fg Off Katie Broomhead, SAC Tiffiny Dickinson, SAC Charlie Smith and SAC Charlotte Medcraft who came second in a time of 4.42.43.

The men did exceptionally well with only 4 swimmers to cover all events. They were in and out of the pool with alarming regularity but pulled all the stops out and managed to finish a very credible third behind the Germans and

the USAFE team who were equal on points at the end but the Germans won on countback.

From the men’s side the most notable performance was SAC Ben Kingshott in the 100m Butterfly, which he won, in an excellent time of 58.62. The men achieved no silver medals but won a number of bronze medals, including for both the Medley and Freestyle Team Relays, which kept them in contention. In all, it was a very well organized event, which ran smoothly, and everyone had a good time both in and out of the pool.

Inter Services Masters, HMS Heron

Nine members of the RAF Swimming Squad competed in the annual Armed Forces Masters event, hosted by the Royal Navy at RNAS Yeovilton. With both military and civilian competitors, this open competition was well subscribed and our swimmers had to fight hard against the tough competition. With only a few weeks to go before the Inter Regional Championships at RAF Cranwell, it was a good opportunity for everyone to see how their training had paid off throughout the year and give them an idea of how hard they needed to work before the Inter Services in July.

The morning got off to a fantastic start with LAC Susan Ransby winning the 100m Fly with the best overall time of the day and Fg Off Nick Harris finishing a close 2nd in the men’s event. This was followed by two solid performances in the 100m Freestyle from Flt Lt Ange Howard and Fg Off Jane Pickersgill coming 1st and 3rd in their respective age groups. LAC Ransby continued to dominate her events with an impressive win in the 100m IM, the 50m Fly and the 50m and 100m backstroke.

New to RAF swimming, Flt Lt Penny Grayson put in a great swim in the 400m FS to come 3rd in her age group. Also new to the squad, Fg Off Nick Harris swam a fantastic 4.19.03 to become the first man home in both the 400m and later in the 200m FS. Also in the 200m FS, SAC Shona Cowan swam a tough race to come 4th along with Flt Lt Ange Howard and Flt Lt Penny Grayson who came 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Another RAF swimmer to bring home the medals was Fg Off Aly Phippen. Her impressive win in the 100m Breaststroke added to her gold in the 100m Fly and earnt her a new PB. Fg Off Gwen Durban added to the medal haul by securing a bronze in the same race in her first open competition for the RAF.

The ladies continued to swim well with both the 72+ and 120+ medley relay teams winning silver medals and a silver and bronze in the freestyle relays.

For the first open competition of the season the results were very encouraging and it gave the swimmers an opportunity to gauge how well their training was going. With another three months until the Inter services, including a training camp in Lanzarote, the RAF Swimming Team is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Pre-Inter Services Swimming Training Camp (La Santa)

This year’s Inter Services training camp at Club La Santa in Lanzarote was enjoyed by all, but was a trip of mixed fortunes. Before the squad left the UK one swimmer pulled out due to ill health and by the return a further 6+ swimmers had sought medical advice from the over-worked Doctor / Female Swimming Manager. However, despite a few aches and pains most swimmers managed to train twice a day and completed the 60,000+ meters. The coach, Colin Cunningham, was so impressed at the enthusiasm and effort put in by the swimming squad he ensured that by the penultimate training session he had accosted the female Icelandic Swimming Coach (also training at La Santa) and set up a joint swimming gala to finish the week off.

GB LC Masters in Manchester

Only a week after returning from an intense training camp in Lanzarote, the RAF Swimming Team was back in action at the GB Masters, held at the Manchester Aquatic Centre. Swimmers from across the UK, including several world-class athletes, provided a lot of strong competition across the different age-groups. With a few injuries sustained in Lanzarote, the RAF team was somewhat depleted but, despite this, managed an impressive medal haul and some good long-course swims.

The weekend started with Cpl Si Almond swimming a well-paced 1500m FS, followed by solid performances from Fg Off Jane Pickersgill and Fg Off Nicola Hark in the 200 IM. The new Men’s Team Manager, Fg Off Nick Harris, picked up our first medal by winning a silver in the 400m FS, subsequently going on to win a gold in the 800m FS and a second silver in the 200m FS. Female swimmers Flt Lt Alice Hartley and Cpl Rachel Davidson fought off tough competition in the 200m Backstroke but it was Off Cdt Adam Simpson who stole the show in the Backstroke, with his impressive gold in the 100m.

The 100m Freestyle was a popular event for the team with Flt Lt Ange Howard, Sgt Bex Nicholls, Cpl Ryan Norris and SAC Keith Johnson all showing their strength and fitness from the recent training camp. Breaststroke competitors Flt Lt Sam Stewart and Cpl Aaron Giles swam well in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke and the competition came to a close with the men’s medley relay team securing a strong 4th position.

This event was the first time that many of the swimmers had competed in a long-course meet for several years and it was very encouraging for so many of them to put out such high class performances. With the Inter services only weeks away the RAF Swimming Team is incredibly close to stealing the all-important title from the Army and the Navy.