Published: 26 July, 2012
by STEVE BARNETT

THE strength in depth within Camden Swiss Cottage Swimming Club was on display in a weekend of gold medals and national finals.

Experienced swimmers Nuala Muir-Cochrane, 48, and Peter Jaggs, 53, both struck gold at the National Masters 3km Open Water Championships in Rother Valley Lakes.

Peter won the 50-54 age group in 47mins 37.21 and, competing in the 45-49 age group, Nuala’s win came in 42.22.43, giving her  an overall fourth place in the entire competition.

At the same South Yorkshire venue, Tudor Puszet, 15, gained his first national qualification as he finished 12th in the boys’ 15/16 1750m open water event at the National Youth Championships.

Meanwhile, only 10 miles away at the Pond’s Forge 50m pool in Sheffield a team of 12 of the club’s younger swimmers were competing at the National Youth Long Course Championships.

The most outstanding performance of the tournament came from Sophie Rittenhouse, who finished seventh in the girls’ 17/18 100m backstroke in a best time of 1.04.78.

The 17-year-old finished just ahead of team-mate Rosie Hughes, also 17, who finished 10th. Rosie swam strongly in the team events, with a good relay split in the 4x100m freestyle of 59.97.

Bogac Ayhan and Leo Jaggs, who are both 18, were disappointed with their eighth place finishes in their respective 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle events as the close margins at this level just got the better of them.

Competing at such a strong level, Bogac also did well to reach the semi-finals of the 100m butterfly and the 200m backstroke, while Leo reached the semi-finals of the 50m and 200m freestyle.

They both swam better in relays though, with Bogac leading off the 4x100m freestyle relay in 53.83 and Leo swimming the anchor leg in 51.40.

Will Rittenhouse, 16, set a new 100m backstroke best of 1.02.31 and swam both the boys  4x100m medley and 4x200m freestyle relays.
 
Jessica Hobbs, 18, produced lifetime bests of 1.00.35 and 2.12.13 respectively as lead off swimmer in the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays.

Paloma Friedrich, Lao Pok Wong, Amelia Brown, Kelly Hookway, Scott Broadis and Joan Sebastian Tello also represented Camden.