British Squad Ready for European Junior Champs

LONDON, July 4. A young British Swimming squad will be put to the test in Palma de Mallorca, Spain this week when they take on the rest of the Continent at the European Junior Swimming Championships from July 6-9. The 32-strong team, a mixture of experience and newcomers to the European scene, will be out to match Britain's previous best at an overseas championships – 12 medals from Moscow in 1999.

Looking ahead to the competition, Head Coach Bill Pilczuk said: "We want to perform here the way we know we can when we're on home soil. We're definitely looking to match the Moscow medal tally of 12. One of our key aims for this championship is to get as many swimmers as we can placed in the top eight from the heats, so good heat swims will be very important. If we're top eight, we're in the final and then we're in striking distance of a medal. Once we're into the final we can race for a medal, if we're not there we can't."

LEN rules dictate that to progress from the semifinals to the final swimmers must finish in the top two in their semifinals or be one of the four next fastest, unlike competitions at the Olympic level where the fastest eight go through despite which semi they swim in. So racing well in the heats will be crucial. The British squad looks strong on paper with several swimmers already making the senior ranks with selection to the European Championships (50m) later this month.

"The fact we are competing in all six relays shows the strength of the team," added Pilczuk. "I'll be looking to the swimmers who are already breaking into the senior ranks to inspire the rest of the team to raise their game too."

The four-day competition takes place in an outdoor pool at the Son Hugo Swimming complex and begins on Thursday. Swimming outdoors is a real challenge, for backstrokers especially, and even the most experienced senior swimmers can have trouble keeping straight in their lane with no roof beams to spot from. Backstroker Georgia Davies, from Swim Swansea, is competing in her first European Juniors and had the opportunity to hone her outdoor skills during the recent Mare Nostrum tour.

"I've found swimming outside confusing," said Georgia. "Training has been going well but once you pick up racing speed it's harder to see. My strategy is to stay close but on the lane rope and keep a look out of the corner of my eye. I'm really enjoying the trip so far and can't wait to see what it's going to be like when all the other countries arrive. I'm looking forward to the atmosphere and want to swim really well."

The Team is being given every advantage possible to produce the best performances with a strong support staff also travelling to Palma. With nine coaches, Pilczuk has been able to put the swimmers into small groups allowing coaches to focus on each swimmer's needs.

The British team comprises: Alexandra Warren (Bath University), Ceri Unwin (Hatfield), Charlotte Barnes (Bath University), Chloe Ross (Beckenham), Emma Bird (Nova Centurion), Fran Halsall (Co Liverpool), Georgia Davies (Swim Swansea), Helena Thornton (Nova Centurion), Jazmin Carlin (Tigersharks), Jemma Lowe (Bo Stockton), Jessica Dickons (Bo Stockton), Jordan Tomlinson (Lincoln Vulcans), Lauren Collins (Co Birmingham), Lizzie Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans), Natalie Durant (Ealing), Rachael George (Hatfield), Sasha Matthews (Nova Centurion) , Zoe Hester (Reading), Adam Brown (Hatfield), Andrew Rodgie (Carnegie), Chris Middleton (Co Sheffield), Christopher Chasser (South Aberdeenshire), Daniel Coombs (Gallica SC), David Waslin (Kingston on Hull), Grant Turner (Tigersharks), James Clarke (Millfield), Joseph Keane (Derventio), Lewis Smith (Warrender), Marco Loughran (Guildford City).

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