Club Captains Kalei Andrews and Lewis Clifford-Stephenson both became London Region Champions as the competition returned to recently refurbished 50m pool at Crystal Palace.

Despite the pool showing few signs of the recent £17million makeover, except for new starting blocks and an electronic results board, it was a much improved London Championships that returned to Crystal Palace following its closure in 2007.

Seventeen year old Kalei started the weekend with a win in the 400 medley and finished it with a dominant display in the 200 ‘fly that saw her pull clear of the field in the final length to claim victory. She also picked up a bronze in the 200 backstroke.

Competing in the 15/16 years combined age group 15 year old Lewis had success winning the 100 Breaststroke and would likely have repeated the feat in the 200 metre race if not for a hotly disputed disqualification. However Lewis did pick up silver in the 50m breaststroke and completed his full set of medals with an excellent swim in the 200 m medley to take the bronze medal spot.

Killerwhales only other medallist was 16 year old Katinka Merchan competing in the open age group who won bronze in the 50 backstroke. Katinka was also placed 4th in the 200 backstroke and made the finals of the 100 backstroke in a new personal best time and again within the national finals qualification time for that event.

Julia Braybrooke, also competing in the open age group, returned to her best with in the butterfly competition taking 4th spot in the 200m and 6th in the final of the 100 metre event.

Fifteen year old Tom Webb ‘s top finish was in the 50m backstroke where he took 5th spot in the 15/16 age group and produced an excellent swim in the 50m freestyle sprint to claim 7th spot in the final.

Henny Andrews was the busiest swimmer of the weekend featuring in no less than eight events over the two days. Eighteen year old Henny took 5th spot in the 200 breaststroke with a gritty performance and was one place further back in the 100 metre version.

Georgia Shaw put on an impressive 50m backstroke which saw her take 10th place spot whilst at two years younger 14 year old Lianne Kennedy placed 14th in the 100 & 200 freestyle.

Despite a long and hot weekend at the National Sports Centre it was good to return to the venue which saw a much higher standard of competition than in previous years. The younger Killerwhales will get their chance to impress in the Age Group Competitions held at the same venue in June.

Report of ASA London Region Youth Championships 2nd and 3rd May 2009.