COMPETING recently over two consecutive weekends saw 12 year old Henry Cawte represent Gainsborough Dolphins at the Midland Age Group Championships in the 50m pool at Coventry. With qualifying times for this event becoming increasingly tough the Kexby based swimmer was the only representative to enter for Dolphins against the fastest swimmers from across the Midland region. Qualifying for seven events Henry opted not to compete in the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke, allowing him to concentrate on achieving success in his favourite breaststroke events. In both the 100m and 200m breaststroke he qualified for the final after placing eighth and seventh respectively after the heats. The 200m saw him finish in eighth place where only tenths of a second separated him from a fifth place in a very close finish. His time was just outside his personal best as it was in the 100m where he bettered his position to finish seventh in the final out of the much detested lane 8. Henry had started his campaign in the 400m freestyle and was again just outside his life time best as he finished 14th overall after being seeded 20th. Unfortunately for Henry his 200m Individual Medley came hot on the heels of his 200m breaststroke final and despite a brave effort he was unable to produce a new personal best as he finished 20th. Luck deserted the youngster again in his final event as the dreaded lane 8 was drawn for him in the 200m freestyle. Following a very good first 100m he tired slightly to finish 30th overall out of a field of 38. Unfortunately for current Lincolnshire champion he also missed out on qualifying for the National Age Group Championships in August by tenths of seconds in both the breaststroke events. For more information on the Club please visit www.gainsboroughdolphins.co.uk.
