School sports: Records fall at thriving team event

SWIMMING: With a new date and a famous Edinburgh venue, a bumper number of swimmers took part in this year’s Brodies Scottish Schools Team Championships – and the records tumbled.

Just a month before the newly-renovated Royal Commonwealth Pool hosts Team GB’s Olympic holding camp, a record 329 teams from 65 primary and secondary schools took part in an excellent event.

The championships are normally staged alongside the individual events, but the day-long stand alone relay championships were highlighted by five new records. Two were set by Robert Gordon’s College, two by Douglas Academy and the fifth came from the senior 3/4 girls from George Heriot’s School.

Robert Gordon’s Arron Kamiskas, Jack Ness, Christopher Yule and Lewis Proctor set records in the boys’ 4 x 50m senior 3/4 medley relay (1:52.64) and the boys’ 4 x 50m senior 3/4 freestyle relay (1:42.01)

Douglas Academy’s Callum Tait, Ewan Govan, Jack Thorpe and Michael Tang gained new marks in boys’ 4 x 50m Open medley relay (1:49.55) and in the boys’ 4 x 50m Open freestyle relay (1:37.48)

The Heriot’s girls – Jennifer Ricthie, Lois Stewart, Ali Adams and Katie Laverick – claimed the new record in the 4 x 50m senior 3/4 medley relay (2:06.88)

It might not be too long before some of the competitors reach the very top of the sport. James Young High School’s Craig Benson took part in this year’s championships – and he is competing in the Olympics next month.