England North dominate session one of School Games 2016

England North dominated the opening session of the 2016 School Games at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

The English team managed to top the points table with a significant lead, taking 121 points after the first 22 races.

Top performances from School Games swimming session one

In the girls’ 200m Freestyle, England North’s Elizabeth Harris took gold, but there was almost nothing separating the first two girls in the final 25m. Stockport Metro swimmer Harris touched just 0.09 seconds ahead of Victoria Catterson of Ireland, finishing in 2:07.90.

Harris commented:

I am really happy because it is the start of the new season and everything went the way I wanted it to, even though I was a little off my PB.

“I went out for it from the start and so it was great. It gives me a lot of confidence going into the season.

England South’s Cameron Vearncombe (SB14) took the limelight in the MC 100m Breaststroke, although the race was tight between him and Liam Spence (SB14). There were just five points between the two swimmers, with 14-year old Caradon SC swimmer Vernacombe claiming the gold in a PB 1:22.70, and 524 BDP.

In the boys’ 100m Butterfly, Jacob Peters of England South claimed a new School Games record. The Poole swimmer finished a body length ahead of Ireland’s Robbie Powell, touching in 56.24 to take the gold medal.

Ben Martin wins thriller in 50m Freestyle

In the boys’ 50m Freestyle, English swimmers took all three of the podium places. Ben Martin of England North and Harry Constantine of England East both had a great start and led the pack for the entire race.

Pioneer 79 swimmer Martin ultimately clinched the gold medal with 24.30 while Hatfield’s Constantine touched second in 24.37. City of Leicester’s Joshua Munroe – representing England Central – was third in 25.16.

Abbie Hampshire (S10) of England North topped the podium in the MC 50m Freestyle, taking gold with 703 BDP after touching in 31.24. She was just three points ahead of second place.

The girls’ 800m Freestyle was dominated by English swimmers, although Annalea Davidson of England North left the rest of the field in her wake to take the gold medal.

The Newcastle swimmer touched over five seconds ahead of Royal Wolverhampton School’s Niamh Hofland in second, clocking 9:12.22.

England East win the 4x100m freestyle team event #2016SG#teamwork ?? pic.twitter.com/VY2PS6cp6O

— School Games (@_SchoolGames) September 3, 2016

English teams dominated the boys’ 4x100m Freestyle Relay, taking both first and third place. It was England East who won the gold medal after a tremendous performance from James Eddy in the final 50m. They touched in 3:35.91 to top the medal table.

• View full results from the School Games Swimming events on the SportsSystems website.

Other English gold medallists

• Luke Turley of England East – 200m Freestyle
• Maisie Summers-Newton, SB6 of England Central – MC 100m Breaststroke
• Lilly Snell of England East – 50m Freestyle
• Oludaisi Adefisan, S9 of England East – MC 50m Freestyle
• Lily Boseley of England Central – 100m Backstroke
• Nicholas Pyle of England North – 100m Backstroke
• Megan Richter, S9 of England Central – MC 100m Backstroke
• Jacob Leach, S8 of England North – MC 100m Backstroke