Commonwealth Games Prep the Pool Event - Devon Report

3 Devon club para swimmers were part of the 32 selected para swimmers across England to participate in this event.

• Abi Daly from Devonport Royal
• Alexander Hobbs from Mount Kelly 
• Sebastian Williams from Mount Kelly

All 3 were in different teams and were part of a 4 person para team for their host nation. All para swimmers were competing in the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke to test the blocks and backstroke ledges they also competed in the 4 X 100m freestyle mixed para relay and 4 X 100m para medley relay.

The event was classed as a commonwealth games Test event. So transportation to and from the athlete village (Birmingham University campus) was also tested as well as marshalling and competitor seating. The timing boards, starting blocks, backstroke ledges, announcing system, results screen and security was all tested. 

For the swimmers they were all mixed ages, from different clubs with coaches and team managers they never met. For some coaches and team managers it was the first time they had coached disabled swimmers.

All 3 swimmers swam really well and coped with all the changes. They got into finals for their individual races. 

Next up for Devon swimmers in June is the following 

World para championships for

• Reece Dunn Plymouth Leander 
• Cameron Vearncombe Plymouth Leander 
• Leo Mcrea Mount Kelly 

and National junior para champs for

• Abi Daly from Devonport Royal 
• Rachel Balling from Devonport Royal 
• Alexander Hobbs from Mount Kelly 
• Theo Reynolds from Barnstaple 

Then Abi Daly is representing Swim England as a Baton Bearer on the South West leg of the Queens Baton Relay on Monday 4th July