THIRTEEN-year-old David Hill, swimming in the 13 and under 50m backstroke for boys at the Devon County ASA Inter-club Championships at Central Park, Plymouth, last Saturday, regained the World S9 Record with an outstanding swim in 32.77.
David, who is on the World Class Disability Potential Programme, joined Kelly College last year and has broken the world record twice since then. He also took three seconds off his personal best in the 100m backstroke, where he swam up an age (15 and under) and achieved excellent points for Kelly College by coming in fourth.
David and the Kelly College Swim Squad were in good company at this competition as Exeter City Swimming Club had Ryan and Liam Tancock, both international swimmers, competing for them.
Kelly had a good start that set the standard for the rest of the day with young Amy Bayliss producing a second personal best in the girls? 11 and under 50m freestyle to take fourth place.
Kelly?s first win of the day came from Sarah Thomas in the girls? 15 and under 100m butterfly. Other winners were Adam John in the boys 11 and under 50m backstroke, Oliver Smallwood in the boys? 13 and under 50m breaststroke, Rachel Banfield in the women?s 100m backstroke and Thomas Howe in the boys? 13 and under 50m freestyle. With 18 points awarded for a win, 17 for second, 16 for third - right down to 1 for 18th place.
After 17 events Kelly led with Plymouth Leander, who had two disqualifications, second. The last five events were mixed relays and Kelly, depleted with some of their top swimmers missing through illness and Jack Cockerton with a broken hand, put on a good show coming in the top three in all the relays.
The final relay, a cannon, with one girl and one boy from each age group, making a team of eight, was exciting with Kelly playing some unconventional tactics by swimming their fastest swimmers first and their younger swimmers last.
Kelly set the pace and were leading right to the last leg where Michael Wallis (11) was up against Plymouth Leander?s Mark Robinson (23). Although Michael put up a good show against the might of Mark, his lead was just not enough and Plymouth Leander swam in to take the relay and the Inter-Club Title.
Final positions: Plymouth Leander (504) first, Kelly College (483) second and Exeter City (462) third.
Kelly College Swim Squad will be competing next at the Devon County ASA Championships and Age-group Competitions beginning at Central Park, Plymouth on Saturday/Sunday February 15 and 16.