Many congratulations to our record number of pupils who have qualified for the IAPS National Swimming Championships. After competing in a qualifying round towards the end of March, they anxiously waited to hear who had made it through. With only 20 places available for individual events and 16 relay places, with over 200 schools competing, qualifying for the National Final was always going to be a challenge.
We were delighted to hear that CPS will have 15 competitors in 14 events. The finals this year will be held at the London Aquatics Centre, home to the London 2012 Olympic Games, creating a fantastic opportunity for our young pupils to experience racing in the same pool as their heroes.
Every age category will be represented, from U10 through to U13, with both individual events and relay teams contesting for podium places. For some pupils, it will be their first time competing at the finals, for others it will be their last chance to race at the IAPS National Finals. For the rest, it will be an opportunity to gain valuable experience for future events.
Will Philpot, Head of Swimming, says ‘It’s a fantastic result for the swimmers and for the School. The commitment and hard work our pupils have shown, both in school and with their clubs, has been fantastic and they thoroughly deserve this opportunity to compete in the National Finals.
We have swimmers in top 10 positions who have a chance of racing out of the heats and into the final, whilst we also have some who could be medal contenders. However, the focus right now is to back in the pool as soon as possible and begin preparations.’
