The British Synchronised Swimming Championships and the asa National Age Group Championships saw some excellent performances from all competitors as athletes fought for recognition and places on the 2009 European Junior squad.
Walsall’s Zoe Cooper went into tonight’s Duet Free event already in a prime position and just had to swim her routine well to take the National title.
Cooper started excellently with good height on her boosts and showed improved strength through the water as she continued through her routine.
She finished with good scores and won the gold medal with an overall score of 73.000.
“I have worked all year for this,” Cooper said. “I just can’t believe I have just become national champion. My name is going to be alongside Gayle Adamson’s and Jenna Randall’s and that is amazing.
“I wasn’t nervous before the routine, it is either good enough or it isn’t but I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my club. They are all amazing and I am pleased I did this for my club and my coach Amy.”
Silver was claimed by Rebecca Macenri (Bristol Central) with a score of 70.500 and bronze went to Eleanor George of Portsmouth Victoria with a score of 70.000.
The 15-17 years figure event was being used as the first part of the trial for the 2009 European Junior Championships. The top 16 girls will see themselves progress to the second trial, which will take place early next year.
Reading Royal’s Katie Clark came top on the trials with an excellent performance and with a score of 64.339. Second place went to Abigail Lawrence (Rushmoor) with a score of 63.551 and third place went to Harriet Roberts (Reading Royals) with a score of 62.692.
After looking strong throughout the figure competition Katie Clark (Reading Royals) went into the 13 -14 year solo event and after gaining excellent height in her thrusts and showed good power through the water scored 64.490 to take the gold medal.
The silver went to Clark’s team-mate Rebecca King with a score of 57.912 and bronze went to Samantha Wilson (Bristol Central) with 56.493.
Clark completed her hat-trick in the 13 – 14 years Duet. She completed the routine competently alongside her partner Rebecca King and won the gold medal in a score of 60.909. The silver went to Robyn Bignell and Lucy Hockin (Rushmoor) with 56.544 points and bronze was won by Ashleigh Chapman and Jessica Ranson (Gateshead) with 54.384 points.
Clark’s Coach Kate Coupar said: “We have been working on the routines for about six months, but at Reading the fitness of the girls is more of a priority for us. I did expect for Katie to perform well her and I knew she would win the trial although she didn’t think she could do it.
“She has just come back from two weeks of training in Canada with me and some Canadian coaches as we worked through some specialist Duet training. I could really tell how much it had benefitted her when she came back.
“I think that she will perform well at the second half of the trial and I think she will form part of the European Junior team for April.
