DEVON COUNTY MASTERS WIN NATIONAL INTER COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
The Devon President, Esther Rookes, flanked by the two ‘Swimmers of the Meet’ Helen Kula -Przezwanski and Rob Shaw, along with the rest of victorious Team Devon.
2024 NATIONAL INTER COUNTY COMPETITION
After the Devon team’s success in retaining the regional shield on 10th November at Millfield, their points were put forward for inclusion in the National Inter County event.
The team knew that they had put in a really strong performance but it was not until the national positions were revealed that we learned that Devon had once again won this prestigious national competition.
Devon amassed an incredible 1972 points to take the Championship, beating Surrey into second (1963.5 points) and Hampshire in third (1951.5 points)
It was an excellent team performance with so many standout swims.
Simon Veale had an exceptionally successful afternoon, dominating his age group. He put in three stellar individual performances; in the 65+ age group he secured three national first places with exceptional swims in the freestyle, backstroke and butterfly.
More excellent swims came from Zoe Cawsey, Helen Kula- Przezwanski and Warren Barrett. Zoe Cawsey claimed the top slot in the 25+ fly and freestyle, second place in breaststroke and third in backstroke; Helen Kula Przezwanski took first place in the 65+ freesyle and fly with a second place in the backstroke and Warren Barrett claimed two national firsts in the 35+ backstroke and fly.
Other podium places were gained by Kalon Veale, winning first place in the 25+ backstroke and third in the 18+ backstroke (not bad for a 33year old!) with Ben Winter taking first in the 55+ backstroke and third in the 55+ freestyle. Rob Shaw came first in the 35+ breaststroke and second in the freestyle, Freddie Clampett took second in the 18+ fly and Rebecca Newson was second in the 35+ fly. Katie Pateman placed third in the 35+ breaststroke, with Matt Henry third in the 25+ fly and Alex Goulden also third in the 35+ breaststroke.
There were many other great swims.
Marcus Smallbone and Charlie Smith in the 45+ age group both took fourth in the fly and the backstroke, with Jodie Dilks taking fourth place in the 18+ breaststroke, Sonny Trigg fourth place in the 25+ freestyle and Rebecca Newson fourth in the 35+ backstroke.
Rebecca Jenkinson, Darren Beer, Cameron Williams, Terry Windeatt, Jenni Henry, Graham Cridland and Tegan Drew all managed top-10 positions and their individual events.
As well as some fantastic individual swimming, Devon showed the strength and depth of its team this year by taking second place in four relays, third in four relays and gaining 13 other top 10 placings!
In fact looking at the results, there wasn’t a relay that didn’t feature a Devon team in the top 10 places.
Relays taking 2nd place:
120-159 yrs medley relay women
Emma Challis
Katie Pateman
Rebecca Newson
Kim Sadler
100-119 yrs freestyle relay men
Sonny Trigg
Matthew Henry
Freddie Clampett
Clive Marquis
120-159 yrs freestyle relay men
Thomas Howe
Warren Barrett
Rob Shaw
Kalon Veale
120-119 yrs medley relay men
Kalon Veale
Cameron Williams
Warren Barrett
Matthew Henry
Relays taking 3rd place:
120-159 yrs medley relay men
Kalon Veale
Warren Barrett
Rob Shaw
Thomas Howe
120-159 yrs freestyle relay women
Kim Sadler
Emma Challis
Katie Pateman
Emma Bickley
72- 99 yrs freestyle relay men
Cameron Williams
Freddie Clampett
Matthew Henry
Sonny Trigg
160-199 yrs medley relay women
Emma Challis
Katie Pateman
Rebecca Newson
Rebecca Jenkinson
Full Devon team 2024
Stuart Baker Warren Barrett
Jane Bickley Emma Bickley
Darren Beer Zoe Cawsey
Graham Cridland Emma Challis
Jodie Dilks Tegan Drew
Alex Goulden Pete Hayward
Matthew Henry Jenni Henry
Thomas Howe Rebecca Jenkinson
Helen Kula-Przezwanski–
Clive Marquis Matthew Mew
Rebecca Newson Andrea Norris
Katie Pateman Jamie Page
Kim Sadler Marcus Smallbone
Charlie Smith Rob Shaw
Nigel Travers-Griffin Sonny Trigg
Dolly Trigg Kate Veale
Kalon Veale Simon Veale
Terry Windeatt Cameron Williams
Ben Winter
The team’s thanks go to Kalon Veale for his skill (and perseverance) in team selection and to Devon President Esther Rookes, Jane Brimacombe and Sara Rolle who gave up their time to officiate and support Devon.
Also, thanks should go to Robert Clark for recording the team’s individual splits on the day.
The two swimmers chosen as ‘Devon Swimmers of the Meet’ were Rob Shaw for swimming two lifetime bests and Helen Kula-Przezwanski for winning all four of her individual events at Millfield.
But of course it was a team event, so many, many congratulations must go to every swimmer on the team who brought home this national trophy to Devon once again.
What a fantastic result.
Sue Haigh
Devon Masters Representative
Full results can be found on the Swim England website