Ruslan flies Sutton SC flag in Riga

The championships attracted competitors from a number of countries and all events were Open Age Group, meaning 14-year-old Ruslan was swimming against some of the best swimmers in Europe.

His best swim of the meet was his final one in the 1500m freestyle when he swam a huge personal best time of 16.59.97 (converted to 25m pool time, a PB of 16.39.6) to finish in an incredible third place.

Even more impressive was the fact that this was another British National qualification time to add to his National breaststroke events.

In the 50m freestyle Ruslan finished 59th in a time of 26.60, in the 100m butterfly he finished 19th in 1.01.91. (converted to 25m pool time, a PB of 1.00.7), in the 400m free he came fourth in 4.19.37, in the 200m freestyle he finished 17th in 2.04.62, in the 400m individual medley he was fifth in 4.54.61 and in the 200m butterfly he came fourth in 2.18.03.

Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club’s 14 years and under swimmers are in their final training ready to compete against the best talent from across both the combined East Midland and West Midland regions and the North East Region in two weekends of intense competition at the British Gas Regional Age Group Championships at Coventry and Leeds.
Representing both Sherwood Colliery and swimming as part of Nottinghamshire’s Nova Centurion SC and the City of Sheffield SC, squad members Abbie Scott, Bailey Ward, Declan Smith, Elliot Clogg, Evie Timms, Holly Whitehead, Jade Young, Jake Biggs, Lily Boseley, Owen Ottaway, Owen Wakefield, Rebecca Hyatt and Thomas Fletcher will compete in both individual and team events for regional champion titles and medals after successfully achieving the tough qualifying times.

Away from the regional events, Sherwood’s swimmers continued their unbeaten gala record in local leagues, with the A team taking a further win in the Notts ASA Stage Three League gala and the B team a well-deserved fifth place after a tough league draw alongside A team opponents.

Additionally, continuing the defence of their 2013 league title, Sherwood’s younger swimmers, aged 12 years and under, swept to an emphatic 59 point victory in round two of the Derbyshire and Notts Junior League.

In the second of a three gala series, held at Worksop, they dominated from the outset where the first and second places kept coming and didn’t stop.

Individual and relay victories added serious points to the scoreboard to secure their place in the finals on 21st June.