The Tornadoes of South Dorset had yet another successful weekend in their third year competing at the South West Biathlon Championships held at Millfield School in Somerset. Twenty of the athletes qualified for the National Championships to be held in Manchester on Saturday 13th May. The swim is at Manchester Aquatics Centre and the run at the Athletics Centre, Sportcity (the warm up track used at the commonwealth games!).

The Tornadoes team had 29 athletes, for 9 of them it was their first try at this sport, each year more and more children are encouraged into the sport at the club as they see their peers gaining success at both regional and national level. Head coach Phil Daniels is delighted with the success the club has had at this sport, reward for the training programme’s set for the athletes and the hard work, hours and commitment put in by the children each week.

The day started in the 50m swimming pool with the youngest first, some of which have not raced 50m before let alone in a 50m pool. This did not faze the youngest of the Tornadoes swimmers (youth E – 9 -10yrs), the girls team Sophie Dawe, Laura Chitty and Ellen Bevan were in 1st position after the swim, with Sophie winning the swim in this age group in a time of 36.26. The boys team Connor Aitkin, William Bowen-Ashwin and Paul Bevan also swam with confidence and their team were placed 2nd after the swim. In the afternoon the six youngster’s were nervous before their run out on the athletics track another new experience, but all showed great determination and both teams held onto their positions with the girls taking the gold and the boys the silver. Individual places Sophie 2nd, Laura 3rd, Ellen 5th, Connor 3rd, William 6th and Paul 7th.

Next up was the Youth D category, age 11 -12yrs, for the younger swimmers in this category it was their first time racing 100m. The girls team Harriet Stewart, Natasha Cain and Beth Letherby all swam with strength and determination and were in 2nd position after the swim. The boys team Oliver Bowen-Ashwin, Marcus Crew, Chris Galloway and Adrian Bevan matched the girls and after the swim were also placed 2nd. Out on the track in the afternoon saw some impressive running and personnel best times by most of the athletes. Best performance in this age group was by Bethany Letherby who completed the 1000m in 3.40min but was pipped on the line so having to settle for 2nd overall in the run. Both teams held onto their positions and finished 2nd with individual places of Harriet 4th, Beth 5th, Natasha 8th Oliver 5th, Marcus 9th, Chris 12th and Adrian 13th.

Always the largest category is the Youth C, 13 – 14yrs with some strong competition. In the pool in the morning the Tornadoes swimmers showed their strength the girls team Joanna Puckett, Lauren Podger, Abbie Letherby and Megan Bevan were placed 2nd after the swim, the boys had two teams in this age group Thomas crew, Tom Lewis and Ollie Lewis and Jon Mowlem, Tom

Cain and William Day. After good swims from all the boys there teams were placed 2nd and 3rd. Out on the track in the afternoon again we saw some strong running despite the weather changing becoming increasingly wetter and windier! The girl’s team finished 2nd and the boys 3rd and 4th. Individual places were Jo 3rd, Lauren 4th, Megan 5th, Abbie 7th, Tom Crew 5th, Jon 7th, Tom Lewis 9th, Ollie 10th, Tom Cain 12th and William 14th.

Lastly was the Youth B category, 15 – 16yrs. The girl’s team Jenny Galloway (Girls biathlon team captain), Jess Rodari and Geraldine Day all had excellent swims with Jenny winning the swim in a time of 2.21.29 which put them in first place with an enormous lead. Out on the track all three girls ran huge personal best times securing them the team Gold with individual positions of Jess 2nd, Jenny 3rd and Geraldine 7th. Finally, the boys team James Baker (Boys biathlon team captain), Niall Laming and Ashley Hall all showed enormous strength in the pool and out on the track despite the driving rain and wind to match the girls with a team gold. Individual places were Niall 2nd, James 3rd and Ashley 5th.

To qualify for the National Biathlon, they select the top two teams and the top 6 individuals, so this gave the Tornadoes 20 qualifiers, plus there would have been 3 more but they were too young to qualify. The Tornadoes medal total finished with an impressive 3 Golds, 7 Silver and 6 bronze.

Results

Youth E – Swim 50m, Run 1000m

Sophie Dawe - swim 36.26sec, run 4.23min

Laura Chitty - swim 40.92, run 4.20min

Ellen Bevan - swim 49.67, run 4.29min

Connor Aitkin - swim 38.97, run 4.05min

William Bowen-Ashwin - swim 51.47, run 4.37min

Paul Bevan - swim 56.05, run 4.53min

Youth D – Swim 100m, Run 1000m

Harriet Stewart - swim 1.14.28, run 3.56min

Beth Letherby - swim 1.30.75, run 3.

40min Natasha Cain - swim 1.21.61, run 4.12min

Oliver Bowen-Ashwin - swim 1.20.74, run 3.51min

Marcus Crew - swim 1.18.28, run 4.15min

Chris Galloway - swim 1.32.97, run 4.17min

Adrian Bevan - swim 1.45.18, run 4.03min

Youth C – Swim 100m, Run 1000m

Joanna Puckett - swim 1.06.61, run 3.33min

Lauren Podger - swim 1.10.34, run 3.31min

Abbie Letherby - swim 1.18.41, run 3.25min

Megan Bevan - swim 1.08.69, run 3.34min

Tom Crew - swim 1.03.09, run 3.28min

Tom Lewis - swim 1.11.80, run 3.32min

Ollie Lewis - swim 1.11.13, run 3.34min

Jon Mowlem - swim 1.09.54, run 3.31min

Tom Cain - swim 1.16.75, run 3.30min

William Day - swim 1.11.73, run 4.00min

Youth B – Swim 200m, Run 2000m

Jess Rodari - swim 2.26.46, run 7.49min

Jenny Galloway - swim 2.21.29, run 8.13min

Geraldine Day - swim 2.33.75, run 9.11min

Niall Laming - swim 2.11.27, run 6.55min

James Baker - swim 2.12.89, run 6.54min

Ashley Hall - swim 2.17.32, run 7.04min