Asda Athletes

On 6 June I flew out to Canet in the South of France to compete in the Mare Nostrum which is an international swimming event. I was excited and nervous as I had never competed in an open air swimming pool before and doing backstroke outdoors is not easy. I didn’t swim so well on the first day but my coach told me to observe the world class swimmers around me and learn how to compete at that level.

My second day went much better and I managed to qualify for two B Finals which was really good as the competition was of a very high standard.

There was an after party and it felt fab to be so close to so many fantastic swimmers. On Friday 10 June we flew home again to get right back into hard training for the Scottish Nationals in a few weeks time.

I was so excited and proud to be selected to represent Scotland in the Celtic Tri-Nations but then I realised I had my Chemistry standard grade that day. Luckily Mary from the Institute of Sport stepped in and arranged for me to sit my exam in the Holiday Inn at Glasgow Airport so that I could make it to check in at the airport with the rest of the team. My exam went fine, it just felt strange not being at school.

We flew down to Cardiff on Thursday 25 May for 3 days of competition. On the first day I won a gold medal in the 50m backstroke and broke the Scottish Senior, Junior and 14 year old female record. The next day I won a gold medal in the 100m backstroke but I was just outside my time but still I got maximum points for my team. On Sunday I got a bronze medal for the 200m backstroke. We all swam well and the team came second to Wales.

We travelled home after the competition on Sunday night tired but we all had a great time.

Since I last wrote on my blog I’ve had a few ups and downs. I travelled down to Manchester to compete in the British Swimming Championships full of ambition but unfortunately it didn’t all go my way. I did manage to qualify for a semi-final in the 50m backstroke and broke the Scottish Age Group and Junior record but I had hoped to do better. Disappointed I returned home and went back into hard training focusing on our next meet, the Scottish Age Groups held in Tollcross Glasgow.

I had no idea how I was going to do at this meet but my fears were soon resolved. On the first day I won the gold medal in the 200 IM and 100m backstroke. I also broke the Scottish record for 100m backstroke. On the second day I won a bronze medal for 100m butterfly and a gold medal in the 200m backstroke, again breaking the Scottish Age Group record. On the last day I won the gold medal for 400 IM which is 100m in each of the four strokes.

I was delighted with my performance at the Scottish Age Groups this year, coming away as Scottish Age Group Champion in 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 200 IM and 400 IM.

At the end I was very pleased to be presented with a trophy for the Best Female Performance of the meet. I was exhausted but very happy.

2010 was a great year for my swimming. I swam well at the Scottish National Short Course in January 2010 just missing out on a medal in backstroke. In March I was selected to represent Scotland at WISE Schools International which was held in Glasgow. At the Scottish Nationals in June I broke the British record for 50m backstroke for 13 year olds. In July at the British Age Groups at Sheffield I won gold in the 100m and 200m backstroke becoming British Champion in both. I was really pleased to be selected to represent Scotland North & West at UK School Games held in Sunderland. I was also selected to swim for Scotland West at Intercounties at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

I swim for Falkirk Otter ASC and I am in FIRST squad and our squad and FIRST Junior travelled to Calella in October for a weeks training in a 50m outdoor pool. It feels great swimming with the sun on your back but unfortunately we also had rain but it was great fun.