Ward and Cooper win sixth golds on final day in Sheffield

Tia Ward and James Cooper completed incredible six-gold hauls on the final day of the ASA National Summer Championships 2015 in Sheffield.

City of Leeds swimmer Ward won her sixth title in the 12/13 Yrs 400m Freestyle.

She turned with a one second advantage at the half-way point, but a big increase in pace saw her extend this lead to over three seconds by the final touch (4:28.04). City of Leicester’s Michaella Glenister took silver in 4:31.95, while Norwich’s Charlotte Walker touched third in 4:35.49.

Katie Rennolds of Burnley Bobcats stormed the final 50 metres of the women’s 16/17yrs 400m Freestyle to take gold in 4:18.59. She pushed the early leader and 200m gold medallist Amrita Robertson of Waltham Forest into second in a time of 4:19.14.

The pair were joined on the podium by Nova Centurion swimmer Mollie Wright who won bronze in 4:24.96.

“It was amazing. I didn’t expect it,” said Rennolds. “I knew I was eight seconds ahead of the pack after the qualifying heats but I knew a gold wasn’t guaranteed. I still had to race well in the final. I was pleased with another PB as well.”

In the 14yrs 400m Freestyle, City of Bristol’s Jessica Podger won the final sprint to the wall to take gold in 4:30.25 ahead of silver medallist Caitlin MacKay of Chesham in 4:30.67. Pioneer 79’s Elodie Smallwood rounded out the top three, taking bronze in 4:35.72.

Guilford City’s Ellenor Rixon turned first heading into the final 100 metres of the 15yrs 400m Freestyle and took gold in 4:31.00, five seconds under her previous PB. City of Birmingham’s Kate Davies put her head down as she went under the flags to touch second in 4:31.61, with Doncaster Dartes swimmer Finleigh Dukes third in 4:31.72.

Ealing’s Rebecca Dutfield took control of the Women’s 18yrs+ 400m Freestyle from the start, winning gold by over two body lengths in 4:23.47. City of Hereford’s Calypso Harvey and Poole’s Emily Clarke both set new lifetime bests as they took silver (4:27.19) and bronze (4:28.41) respectively.

Romford Town’s James Cooper also wins sixth gold

Cooper also won his sixth gold of the championships in the Men’s 12/13yrs 400m Freestyle.

The Romford Town swimmer made his move after the first 100 metres of the race, extending his lead with every turn to take victory in a new lifetime best of 4:20.13. City of Leicester’s James Newman touched second in 4:24. 89, while Reese Housden of Hatfield was third in 4:26.32.

After a huge final push for the wall, Leinster’s Cathal Kearney touched first in the 14yrs 400m Freestyle with a time of 4:21.38. Shay Bradley was crowned ASA National Champion after a determined final 50 metres saw the City of Derby swimmer hold on to touch second in 4:22.65, a new lifetime best. William Hawkes of Granthan took silver in 4:22.70, while Doncaster Dartes swimmer Simon Kliment was third in 4:24.16.

James Watson turned over a body length ahead of the field at the half point and the Swindon Dolphins swimmer was able to hold onto his lead to take gold in the 15yrs 400m Freestyle in 4:13.57. Wolverhampton’s Kane Murcott and Northampton’s Samuel Dyer join him on the podium after winning silver (4:16.00) and bronze (4:17.19) respectively.

The 16/17yrs 400m Freestyle went right down to the wire with George Eplsy and Jack Smith putting pressure on early leader James Gillies (Dulwich Dolphins), over the final 50 metres of the race. Gillies was able to respond to this late challenge and took gold in 4:05.60, while Basildon and Phoenix swimmer Epsly touched second in 4:06.07 just ahead of Derventio’s Jack Smith, who swam 4:06.12 for bronze.

Reece Worth looked relaxed as he topped the podium in the 18yrs+ 400m Freestyle in a time of 4:00.56. The Mount Kelly swimmer pulled away from the field over the second half of the race, forging a lead of around four second by the final touch. Hatfield’s Joshua Duggan took silver in 4:04.54 and Wirral Metro’s Thomas Nelson was third in 4:06.19.

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