Kendal swimmers conquer the contest at Coniston races

Max Ainsworth and Charlotte Stainer were in great form and they put in great performances during the contest.

Conditions were not exactly ideal with choppy surface water and cross winds which tended to leave the swimmers getting swept into contact with each other.

Ainsworth was first away in the one-mile category and he got a good start and quickly settled into his rhythm and joined the challenge for places. As usual in the mass charge to the turn there were plenty of clashes and although not deliberate Ainsworth suffered one or two blows to the face from rivals’ leg kicks. Not to be deterred however he stuck to his task and using his superb stroke pattern he continued to show controlled aggression and drive forward. Turning for home he began to inject more pace into his efforts in order to make his bid for success. Having saved his greatest effort for the run in he dug deep into his reserves through the pressure zone and finished in a terrific time of 27.33 and a 26th place in an overall field of 145 contestants, a result with which he was extremely pleased. Stainer was also in sparkling form and fast becoming a highly experienced open water swimmer and contesting the open ladies 500m category. she was able to adapt to and cope with the conditions of the water comfortably.

SWIMMING: Charlotte Stainer

Full of self-confidence she got her race underway, taking it on and making some early challenges which put her up amongst the leading pack. Outward bound she stayed completely composed and held off a number of threats from rivals and put herself on a path for personal success. Into the return stretch she moved up a gear and began to wind it up.

Matching challengers’ stroke for stroke she accelerated her stroke pattern and burst into the pressure zone and finding that little extra injection of pace finished in her best ever time of 7.42 and a brilliant ninth place out of the seventy entries.

More Laser X races kept the club in competition with the girls 100m Butterfly attracting a solid entry with Rosemary Swallow, Molly Moran and Lucy Klijn battling it out for the top honours.

Swallow was able to take an early lead and powered her way to a storming finish to win in an impressive time of 1:13.50.

The boy’s event was another exciting race with Jacob Klijn and James Escolme locked in contention, matching each other stroke for stroke. Adam Stansfield also got in the mix and hitting the wall in a blanket finish it was Klijn who took the win with Escolme and Stansfield settling for the minor places.