Ollie Carter from Cupar became the first physically disabled swimmer to break one minute for 100 metres freestyle at the Scottish Senior Championships for physically disabled and sensory impaired swimmers at Grangemouth Sports Complex. Ollie swims for Carnegie Swimming Club and is coached by Morag Mitchell. In total the Bell Baxter HS teenager won five national titles from five individual swims but the new Scottish Senior Championships record was the highlight of his outstanding day.
The three INCAS swimmers who were part of the seven strong Fife team are coached by Garrie Roberts. Cara Smyth from Dalgety Bay is Scotland’s number two junior physically disabled swimmer. Cara had four excellent swims against Scotland’s number one Beth Johnston from the Borders. Cara’s personal best performances were a clear indication that the young Inverkeithing HS pupil is improving with every major meet.
Kirsty Brunton from Dalgety Bay in her first season with INCAS had four swims and four titles in by far her most impressive national championships to date. Cameron Hemphill has only recently joined INCAS but within a short period he has demonstrated considerable improvement across all his strokes. The young Bell Baxter HS pupil swam as a junior guest and recorded a series of PBs at the championships.
Scotland swim squad member Steven McCormick from FINS picked up two silver medals on his way to another successful national championships. Experienced Michelle Hill from Strathmiglo won double gold in the women’s events for swimmers with a severe physical impairment and Connor Brown from Woodmill HS in his first national championships had similar success with double gold in backstroke and freestyle.
Team Fife finished runners up behind a dominant West of Scotland Team but the highlight of the day for Fife was that excellent national record for Ollie Carter.
Richard Brickley MBE
President Disability Sport Fife