Scottish National Age Groups

Shetland ACSC (Hurricanes) and Delting Dolphins jointly took 8 swimmers to Aberdeen for Scottish National Age Groups (SNAGS). This event, which takes place over 5 days, is the premier event for swimmers aged 18 and under, and is a great experience for the swimmers with teams taking part from throughout the UK and even some from further afield. 

This was the first time at a National competition for 5 of the 8 swimmers and between them they made 5 finals and achieved 14 new personal best times. Both clubs finished in the top 50 of the clubs at the competition with Delting Dolphins finishing 34rd overall. 

Julian Okroj, aged 13, swimming for Delting Dolphins, in the 13 and under age group had a great first SNAGs, he swam well in all his events, making finals in 100m and200m backstroke and 100m and, 200m freestyle finishing 4th in the 100mbackstroke and 5th in the, 200m freestyle. He also took on the 3 longer freestyle events 400m, 800m and 1500m recording new best times in nearly every event he swam and finishing in the top 10 in his age group in all the events bar one. Lockie Bullough, age 14 swimming for Shetland ACSC, in the 14 year age group swam new best times in all of his events. He made the final of the 100m butterfly, finishing 7th overall, with a nearly seven second improvement on his best time. A six second best time saw him finish as first reserve for the final of the 200m butterfly. He swam well in both backstrokes and in the 100m freestyle. Tyler Coutts age 15, swimming for Shetland ACSC in the 15 year age group took on 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 100m butterfly he swam a new best time, in the 50m freestyle. Magnus Bullough, age 17, swimming in the 17 to 18 age group for Shetland ACSC, was swimming in his last SNAGs. Coming back from a recent injury he swam strongly in all events. Signe Bullough, age 12 swimming for Shetland ACSC in the 13 and under age group was another swimmer at her first SNAGS. She was part of the relay team and she also swam strongly in her 100m breaststroke individual race. 

Shetland ACSC had a relay team in the 13 and under age group for the first time in along while. The team of Ellie Thompson age 12, Niamh Loynd age 13, Lexi Tulloch age 12 and Signe Bullough age 12 swam a tremendous 4 x 100m freestyle relay, improving on their entry time by 5 seconds and finishing 9th overall.

 Both clubs would like to thank NorthLink Ferries for their continued sponsorship and to Sports Scotland and Shetland Islands Council for the ATAS scheme funding. Delting Dolphins would also like to thank Shetland Community Benefit fund for their sponsorship towards the trip for their club.